Mutual Responsibilities Of Churches

by R. T. H. Horne | Category: Churches Of God - Their Constitution And Functions | Jun 1951

In a past day God's people were constituted a "Holy Nation." The nation of Israel was composed of twelve tribes, each with its own tribal affairs and responsibilities and each accountable so to conduct itself as to contribute to the well-being of the nation as a whole. In the book of Numbers this people is seen in tile camp, concerning which the LORD said, "In the midst whereof I dwell." Because of the LORD's dwelling in their midst great care needed to be taken to see that the will of the LORD was carried out in all matters: whether in their service in the sanctuary; their behaviour one towards another; their treatment of sin and defilement in the camp; or in their relations with the nations around them.

That which affected a particular tribe affected the whole nation. Sin in one tribe was the concern of all the tribes who were responsible to the LORD to see the matter properly dealt with (Deuteronomy 13. 12-18).

How sin in one tribe so grievously involved the whole nation is seen in the sad story concerning Achan's transgression in Joshna 7. Not merely was the tribe of Judah troubled by this wrong-doing, but Joshua says (verse 27) "Why hast thou troubled us?" And then we read, "All Israel stoned him with stones."

If war was to be waged, then each tribe was required to make its contribution to the armed forces (Numbers 31.3-4).

In Joshua 22. we read of the concern on the part of the remaining tribes over what they feared was a trespass on the part of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, which so greatly disturbed them that "the whole .congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war." Happily their fears proved to be groundless, and so the affair ended peacefully.

Instances could be multiplied, but perhaps these may suffice to show that the tribes had common interests to be protected and responsibilities to be discharged if they were to continue to know the blessing of the LORD's presence in their midst.

The welfare of the nation depended upon the way in which the tribes responded to their common obligations in these matters.

When we come to the New Testament scriptures we find somewhat similar condition of things presented to us.

God's people are still constituted "a Holy Nation" (Matthew 21. 48, 1 Peter 2.9); not now composed of twelve tribes as in Israel's day, but nevertheless of companies of God's people gathered together in churches of God.

Individuals in the churches have duties one toward another assigned to them by the Lord, and what is true of the individual is also true of the companies of God's people.

It is evident that as the work of the Lord spread from Jerusalem to Samaria (Acts 8.14), and then to Antioch (Acts 11. 22), those who were already together of God in Jerusalem appreciated their responsibility and sent help to them, with the result that churches of God were brought into existence in those places; and in the case of Antioch, Barnabas who had been sent from Jerusalem, and Paul whom he had' associated with him, remained with the church after it had been planted for a whole year, teaching the doctrine of the Lord. Antioch had become partaker in Judea's spiritual things, and soon they had the opportunity of reciprocating, by ministering of their material things, to which they responded as Luke records "And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea; which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11.29-30).

When we come to Acts 15. we have an account of wrong doctrine being disseminated in Antioch by "certain men" who had come from Judea. As a result of this Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem about the matter. After the question had been considered by the apostles and elders together in conference, and one accord as to the mind of the Lord had been 'reached, men were chosen (verse 22) to go to Antioch and convey to the church there the decision of the conference in Jerusalem.

Nothing will work greater havoc and occasion more quickly the downfall of the Holy Nation, by causing disunity among the churches, than wrong doctrine if it is permitted to be held and taught. Wrong doctrine in one church will work like leaven and eventually, unless it is purged out, will affect the whole nation.

Hence arose the mutual concern in both Antioch and Jerusalem over this question. Nor was it a matter affecting only these two churches, as is clearly seen from chapter 16.1-5, where we read of Paul and his companions, as they passed on their way through the cities, delivering to the churches "the decrees for to keep, which bad been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem."

The result of this godly procedure was that, instead of disruption being permitted to develop, it is recorded :- " So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily."

Then again, how approvingly the apostle writes of the churches in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia fulfilling together their responsibility towards the poor saints in the church in Jerusalem (Romans 15.25-27), in ministering unto them in carnal things, of whose spiritual things they had been made partakers

What a delightful thing this mutual care and responsibility of one church toward another is! How beneficially it operates in the case of individuals in the churches is evidenced in the instance of Phoebe, who was going from Cenchrea to Rome and towards whom the latter church had responsibilities laid upon it to care for and assist her in whatsoever she had need (Romans 16.1-2).

As was the case in the church of God in Ephesus (2 Timothy 2.19), so in Rome (Romans 16. 17) they were responsible to separate themselves from those who were "causing divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine."

If the unity of the nation is to be maintained each church must recognize its obligation to resist wrong doctrine and retain its separated position from those who promulgate such doctrine.

The need in material things which had arisen for the second time among the people of God in Jerusalem became a matter in which responsibility rested upon the churches throughout the province of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16. 1); the church in Corinth (verse 2); the churches of Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8. 1); and, indeed, one in which the unity of the churches in these widely spread spheres is exemplified in that they together appointed brethren as "messengers of the churches" to carry the bounty to Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8.19-20, 23).

Only in a community constituted and ordered according to divine requirements can the people of God act together in unity so as to enable them to discharge the mutual responsibilities devolving upon the churches, in the matter of doctrine; of temporal need arising; in causing the word of God to be passed on from one church to another as in the case of the apostle's letters to Colossae and Laodicea (Colossians 4.16); in the event of saints moving from one town or country to another, and much else in which such mutual responsibilities exist.

How blessed are those who are, by God's grace, in a community where all these matters can be, and are, dealt with according to the instructions and precedents provided for us in the Holy Scriptures!

May the earnest care one for another, instanced in the portions we have referred to, ever be in exercise among the churches of God which in the goodness of God have been constituted "The Fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord," in this our day.

R. T. H. Horne | Jun 1951
Churches Of God - Their Constitution And Functions