LectureshipIssue.com

God's Missionary Society

by Aaron Erhardt

There is an important issue facing the Lord’s church right now involving human institutions, and whether or not they have the right to take on a spiritual work and conduct gospel meetings. This writer believes they do not. God has given that work to the church, not to human institutions.

Where is the passage that authorizes human institutions to conduct gospel meetings? I read about local churches, overseen by elders, doing that work. But where is the passage that mentions human institutions, overseen by board members, doing that work? There is no such passage.

In the New Testament I read about individuals (Acts 8:5) and churches (1 Thessalonians 1:8) propagating the gospel. However, I do not read about human institutions doing that spiritual work. In fact, the very thought of using human institutions for such work denies the sufficiency of God’s plan.

The church is God’s one and only missionary society (1 Timothy 3:15). It has the perfect builder, the perfect blueprint, the perfect head, the perfect law, and the perfect mission. Do you believe that, too? If so, how can you support human institutions that take on a spiritual work and conduct gospel meetings?

What The Issue Is Not

(1) Secular Businesses. There is nothing wrong with brethren operating secular businesses (Acts 18:3). That includes operating schools and bookstores. That is not the issue. The issue arises when those secular businesses take on a dual role and seek to do the very work God gave the church to do. At that point, they are no longer just secular businesses.

(2) Individual Action. There is nothing wrong with individuals propagating the gospel (Acts 8:5), even if they do so concurrently (Acts 14:1). That is not the issue. The issue arises when those individuals create human institutions to do the work. At that point, they are no longer just individuals.

My Fear

I fear that some brethren are so fond of certain human institutions (GOT, FC, etc.) that they will do whatever it takes to defend them. I pray it not so. Our loyalty should be to the Lord and His church, not to human institutions.

We must have divine authority for all that we do (Colossians 3:17). Where is the passage that authorizes human institutions to conduct gospel meetings? Where is the passage that authorizes board members to oversee gospel meetings? There is no passage. I encourage you to prayerfully study this issue.