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Acts 15:1–35
“The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter” (v. 6).
Individual local churches, as we have seen, are to be led by elders and deacons. To put it most simply, elders focus on overseeing spiritual matters and deacons on physical issues. In truth, however, there is overlap between the spiritual and physical, so neither office is exclusively devoted to one or the other.
As we continue our examination of church structure and governance, we will now look at how individual local churches relate to each other. Throughout church history, many different forms of church government have been developed, including episcopacy, presbyterianism, and congregationalism. These three forms of government differ in many ways, but all of them have tended to see the importance of local churches’ being connected to one another in some way, even if only in loose associations.
In reality, because all Christians are united to Christ and to one another, all true local churches are united to one another as His body (1 Cor. 12:12–31; Col. 1:18). An invisible unity exists between us all, as we have noted in an earlier study. But this invisible unity comes to visible expression as individual churches form official connections with one another. Dr. R.C. Sproul writes that “churches should not exist in isolation or be unrelated to each other. Local congregations should be involved with other congregations in the broader church.”
Acts 15:1–35 has long been an important text for understanding the connectional nature of the church. When a disagreement arose in the early church over the place of gentiles in the body of Christ, the Apostles and elders met together in council to settle it. This provided a model for the early ecumenical councils and for the synods, general assemblies, and presbyteries in Protestant denominations.
Churches with a connectional system of government provide several advantages to members. If a local church errs in a judgment regarding a member, a higher court of elders can intervene to help. Dr. Sproul writes: “The Westminster Confession affirms that when decisions are made at the local church level with respect to doctrine, behavior, or matters of discipline, there is a court of appeal. If a person is convicted of something in the civil realm, he has the right to appeal to a higher court. Similarly, decisions made in a local congregation can be appealed to a higher court (the presbytery), and then to the highest court (the general assembly).”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Connectionalism, however it manifests itself, is good for Christians. When church leaders from different congregations gather together, many issues can be considered thoroughly and practical and theological help can be provided by the larger church. Let us thank God when we see like-minded churches working together.
For further study
- Numbers 11:1–30
- Proverbs 11:14
- Romans 16:16
- Galatians 2:1–10
The bible in a year
- Ezekiel 1–3
- Hebrews 10:1–25