And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. -Ephesians 4:11-16
I think the internet is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I am grateful that so many people have so much access and can look up, verify, and get extra teaching beyond what the church offers. On the other hand, I think that people no longer respect the Biblical set-up of the Church, because we gather teachers for ourselves (through the internet) that tend to fit our mind-set. I am not talking of “itching ear” church-goers, who gather teachers for themselves that suit their own wants, wishes and desires. Often, preachers and leaders of other congregations, who would agree with the statements I am going to make in this devotional, have more authority in the local congregation than the elders and church leaders do within their own community because a well-intended and well-informed brother or sister listens to those outside influences more than their local leaders! (For today’s purposes, I’m going to focus on a more positive element of influence with negative effects than the negative influence of false teachers).
I say this because, whether spoken directly, or seen in action and influence, church members often argue with church leaders (and in settings like Bible Studies, or among other believers in a non-open discussion situation), saying “that’s just your opinion, Dr. So-and-so says,” or “I was listening to this podcast, and they would disagree with your assertion,” and, quite often, we get off in to discussions and arguments that do no good to those involved in the Bible Study or conversation. And, unfortunately, we outsource the leadership of local congregations to whatever amazing teacher captures our attention. Listen to good teaching. Get fed! Read books! Grow in knowledge and understanding of Christ! I, myself, listen to many teachings and Bible studies for these same reasons! After all, God has given me the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures! At the same time, however, I submit to my elders, and, as long as it is a Biblical church, and the difference of opinion are non-essential, I continue to submit.
God established the local body, with local elders and church leaders. Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John wrote to local leaders to help re-establish godly authority over Christ’s Church and to set the Church in order. A healthy Church is a place of Order, where the Elders are equipping and training the saints for the work of the Gospel, making disciples and encouraging disciples to make disciples. We all, as it should be, follow Christ, and division, dissensions, and arguments are not healthy to the Body as a whole. And, you’ll find, as we submit to what Christ has established in His Church, there is abundant freedom under that authority.
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 1
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
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