A STUDY OF THE CHURCH (4):

Jurisdiction within the church

Victor M. Eskew

 

          The church is a divine organization that has a mission to accomplish.  This organization was not founded without an authority structure within it.  If there were no authority, there would be chaos and strife in the body of Christ.  A God who is good, a God who is just, and a God of order does not tolerate confusion, conflict, and division within His holy institution.  He knows that there must be a hierarchy of authority if the church is to succeed  (See Mark 3:25).  In this article, let’s look at the “Jurisdiction within the church.”

          When the church is seen as the body of Christ, Jesus is the Head of the body.  “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).  In that same epistle, Paul also wrote:  “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:  and he is the Saviour of the body” (Eph. 5:23).  To the Colossians, the apostle addressed these words:  “And he is the head of the body, the church…” (Col. 1:18).

          The head of man’s physical body is the control center of the emotions, the will, the attitude, the thoughts, the agendas, and the behaviors of the rest of the body.  The head gives commands, and the body follows those commands.  If there is no command from the head, the body is not supposed to act.  If it does, something is majorly wrong within the body.  In like manner, Jesus is the Head of the spiritual body.  It is He who commands the members of the body.  The body is not to act without His authorization.  Christ as the Head has revealed His commands to the church through the pages of His holy Word.  The members of the body are to do only what Jesus has commanded them in the Scriptures.  It was Jesus Himself who told His apostles to teach the disciples “all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20).  Paul taught this same lesson in Colossians 3:17.  “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” 

          There are many implications of this divine concept.  First, if there is authority for something to be done, it should be done.    In Acts 20:7, the disciples came together on the first day of the week to break bread, that is, to partake of the Lord’s supper.  Therefore, on the first day of the week, the church ought to follow that divine example.  Second, if there is no authority for something to be done, it should be omitted.  We have no authority for instruments of music in the worship of the church.  The only divine authority that Jesus provides us is to sing (Eph. 5:19. Col. 3:16).  Some will argue:  “Well, Jesus did not say we can’t use instruments of music.”  This is not how the Lord authorizes.  We can only do what is commanded.  If we operated on the principle that all things not forbidden are allowed, all kinds of man-made innovations would enter into the worship and work of the church.  Dear readers, Jesus is the Head of the body.  We, as members of that body, ought to be satisfied with taking our orders from our wonderful Lord.

          It is interesting that in every figure of the church, Jesus holds the number one position of authority.  He is the Chief Shepherd of the flock (1 Pet. 5:4).  He is the High Priest of the temple of God (Heb. 3:1).  He is the elder brother in the household of God (Rom. 8:17).  He is the Captain of our salvation in the army of God (Heb. 2:10).  He is the Bishop or Overseer of all bishops (1 Pet. 2:25).  Dear readers, the church must seriously understand the “all power” rests in the hands of Jesus Christ the Son of God (Matt. 28:18). 

          As the Head of the church, Jesus has the right to delegate authority to other individuals.  The apostles were delegated authority by Jesus Christ.  Listen to Jesus’ words to these twelve men.  “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me” (Luke 10:16).  To despise the apostles is to despise both the Father and the Son.  Why?  Because they have been given authority to communicate the divine message to the body of Christ.  This is the reason the gospel of Christ can also be called “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).  The words of the apostles and prophets are so authoritative that they are referred to as foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20).  It is important to understand that these men only had the authority to communicate that which was given to them by God (1 Cor. 2:9-13; 2 Pet. 2:20-21).  They simply acted as “ambassadors” of the King, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). 

          The church can be looked upon in two ways:  as the entirety of the church throughout the world and as local congregations of the Lord’s people.  The local church was formed in God’s infinite wisdom in order for the church to be able to focus its efforts in particular places in the world and to protect the church from error.  Jesus is the Head of every church, but each local congregation is supposed to have a body of men called elders or overseers who rule over the local congregation (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3).  These men have authority to make certain the will of the Lord is carried out and to make decisions in matters of option (1 Tim. 5;17).  Once these men have made their decisions, the members of the local church are to obey them.  “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:  for that is unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). 

          There is one other passage that speaks of one having authority in the church.  The verse is Titus 2:15.  Paul told the young evangelist:  “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thy youth.”  The preacher’s authority is not the same authority as the elders.  His authority rests in the words that he is to proclaim to the local congregation.  “Preach the word” were Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2.  This is the minister’s burden.  As long as he proclaims the truth of the gospel, he has the complete authority of the Godhead behind him.  Others are not to be allowed to despise him because he has a “thus saith the Lord” that undergirds his message.  His message did not originate with him.  He is simply proclaiming the truth God has revealed in His Word.

          Again, authority is essential within the body of Christ.  Christ is the Head of the entire body.  He has delegated authority the apostles.  Their authority lies in the written revelation of the New Testament.  Within the local congregation, elders have been given authority as overseers of the church.  Too, the preacher has authority to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in harmony with the precious gospel of Christ.  The ultimate authority, Jesus Christ, will hold both those in authority and those under authority accountable in the last day.  It behooves both to fulfill their obligations within the body of Christ so the body will fulfill its divine mission to take the gospel to the world and to keep the saved saved.