LectureshipIssue.com

How Many Arks Did Noah Build?

A Study Of Modern Institutionalism

by Chris Peltz

Have you ever considered what would have happened if Noah had built a smaller, dingy ark to do the same work which God had specified for the ark which is planned and designed by God Himself in Genesis 6? It is understood there is no authority for a second ark. In fact, it is understood that the attempt to build such a dingy ark would have displayed a lack of faith and confidence in God's plan. In short, it would have been sinful.

Let us consider the local church. By definition, a local church is a collectivity of saints who meet and labor in a given area. The scriptures call these local collectivities "churches of Christ", each church having overseers and a common treasury (Rom 16:16; Phil 1:1; 1 Cor 16:1-2). This collectivity is ordained, planned and even purchased by God (Acts 9:26; 20:28; Eph 3:10). The local church was not an afterthought, but intended in the mind of God from the beginning (1 Cor 2). We have no other command, example or inference of brethren forming collectivities with oversight and a treasury, doing the work of evangelism, edification and/or benevolence. The "Truth Foundation" is the equivalent to the dingy ark, planned by men, organized by men, attempting to do the work of God without authority (Matt 7:21-23).

What About Individuals?

The argument has been made that "Truth Foundation" has the same authority as any individual to spread the gospel. This is a path which has not been well thought out. Please consider the following: 1) once two or more brethren organize with oversight and a common treasury they are a collectivity, NOT an individual! 2) there is authority for local churches to support individuals in preaching the gospel (Phil 1:5), but no authority to send monies to the foundation. 3) an individual acts as he personally thinks best, the foundation acts as the collectivity (board members) think best. If you can see through a ladder, you can see the difference between an individual and a collectivity.

Do The Men Associated With "Truth Foundation" Deny The Sufficiency Of God's Plan?

If you were to ask Mike Willis, Dan King, or other men associated with the foundation if they believe the church is sufficient to do the work God gave it to do, I am confident they would answer "Yes". But please consider the following quote: "We believe the scriptures are adequate to establish faith and practice and are all sufficient and God breathed". This same statement, as well as similar statements, are found in denominational creed books such as the Baptist Manual, Methodist Discipline, Lutheran Catechism, etc. However, by the very fact they have their creed books they deny their own statement.

Now consider the following quote: "We believe the local church is all sufficient, the way God planned and organized it, to do the work which God has given it to do". I know of no Christian who would object to this statement, yet by the very fact that brethren are using a foundation to preach the gospel, they deny the sufficiency of the church. Brethren, if the word itself can not be changed or added to (and it can't), than neither can the plan and pattern set forth in God's word.

It is a sobering thought to imagine if we tried to survive the flood in a dingy ark which was prepared to serve the same purpose as God's ordained and all sufficient ark. In all things, God will be glorified; as we are obedient servants according to His plan, or in judgment because we tried to do things our own way (Lev 10:3).