Church Polity and Practice

CHURCH POLITY AND PRACTICE

INTRODUCTION: The Bible prescribes a definite pattern of polity (government) and doctrine to be practiced by all true New Testament Churches.

I.      It is important to know how church affairs are to be conducted according to the Word of

God.

A.   Each practice in the church must have a scriptural basis.

B.   Paul wrote Timothy and instructed him to teach others Biblical order and doctrinal prac-
        tices in the church.

C.   There are four main practices which will be considered in this lesson.

II.     The practice of voting in the church is revealed in the Word of God.

A.    This is a Biblical practice that is taught by example in the Scriptures.

1.     The Jerusalem Church voted when selecting a man to fill the office of Apostle, Acts

1:22-26.

a.  Notice that they nominated two men.

b.  Then they prayed to determine God’s will.

c.  Then they voted according to their convictions.

2.     The Jerusalem Church first refused to receive Paul as a member, Acts 9:26.

a.  Paul had tried to join the church, but they were afraid of him.

b.  Barnabas confirmed Paul’s conversion, and they received him, Acts 9:27,28.

c.  Notice the procedure by which the church first rejected Paul and later accepted
      him as a member. (This was obviously done by vote.)

3.     The New Testament Churches elected messengers by voting, II Corinthians

8:18,19,23.

B.    Voting is a necessary practice and is taught by example in the Word of God.

1.     All churches have a certain amount of business which must be transacted.

2.     It is necessary for the church body to receive new members.

3.     The church body itself must determine who will be chosen as pastor, deacons,

teachers, officers, etc.

4.     This is done by democratic vote of the church body.

C.    New Testament Church government is a pure democracy.

1.     Church members have equality; all have the privilege of voting on every item

brought before the church.

2.     This cannot be said of churches which are governed by pastors, bishops, ruling

elders, boards, committees, etc.

III.    The practice of closed communion in the church is taught by example in the Scriptures.

A.   Communion is a local church ordinance. There were many saved people during Jesus’
        personal ministry, but he took communion with His church, Luke 22:14,15.
        1. This restricts communion to the membership of the local church.
        2. It was never intended for the world at large, or children of God in general who are
        not fellowshipping in a true New Testament Church, I Corinthians 11:2,23.
        3. The Lord’s Supper is one of the two ordinances in the New Testament Church and
        the second is water baptism.

4.     The church is local and visible, and not universal and invisible; therefore only

members of the local church can scripturally partake of the Lord’s Supper.

B.   The Lord’s Supper is clearly defined and regulated in the Word of God.

1.     It is restricted to saved, scripturally baptized church members, Acts 2:41,42.

a.  Let it be observed that Judas did not take the Lord’s Supper.

b.  The Lord dismissed him from their assembly before He instituted the Lord’s
      Supper, Matthew 26:25; John 13:27,30.

c.  Judas participated in the passover but not in the Lord’s Supper.

2.     It is further restricted to members living a godly, orderly life, I Corinthians 5:11,12.

3.     It is also restricted to those who pass the test of critical self examination, I Corin-

thians 11:27-29.

4.     The Lord’s Supper is finally restricted to the proper elements, which are unleav-

ened bread and the fruit of the vine, Matthew 26:17,26-29.

IV.    The practice of discipline in the church is taught in the Word of God.

A.   It is commanded in the Scriptures, II Thessalonians 3:6.

B.   There are three types of offenses which necessitates church discipline.

1.     Private or personal offenses, Matthew 18:15-18

2.     Public or moral offenses, I Corinthians 5:9,10

3.     Heretical or doctrinal offenses, Titus 3:10; Romans 16:17

C.   It is necessary to have discipline in the church.

1.     Discipline maintains the sanctity of the church.

2.     Discipline preserves ethical, moral, and doctrinal standards, I Corinthians 5:1,5-7.

3.     Discipline is necessary to retain spiritual power in the church.

V.      The practice of granting and receiving letters by the church is taught in the Scriptures.

A.   Paul commended Phoebe to the church at Rome by letter, Romans 16:1,2.

B.   Paul commended Onesimus to Philemon and the church that met in his house, Philemon
        10,12.

C.   Barnabas gave a personal recommendation to Paul to the Jerusalem Church, Acts 9:27,28.

D.   A church letter is a recommendation of an individual for church membership from one
        church to another.

1.     Granting and receiving letters prevents needless re-baptisms and also protects

the church from alien immersion (unscriptural baptism).

2.     People joining New Testament Churches from other groups must be baptized.

3.     Church letters prevent two or more churches having the same individuals on their

membership rolls at the same time.

F.    Granting and receiving letters from sister churches acknowledges them as true New
        Testament Churches.

G.  Only New Testament Churches have the authority to baptize, Matthew 28:18-20.

1.     This is why we cannot receive letters from any one except New Testament Churches.
2. “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without
        end,” Ephesians 3:21.