Adventist Media Response and Conversation

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

what biblical mandate for church orgainization

With the sending back of the PROCEDURES FOR RECONCILIATION AND ADHERENCE 4 IN CHURCH GOVERNANCE to committee instead of going up for a vote I found it interesting this section of the document. Note the numbers represent line numbers.

The New Testament Church faced challenges but made decisions together to solve those 7 challenges (Acts 6, 15). The establishment of a system of elders and deacons was one of the 8 factors in the organization of the church that kept it focused on its mission and faithful to its 9 biblical ideals (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16; Acts 2:41, 42, 48; Acts 6, 15; 1 Tim 2, 3; 2 Tim 10 4:1-5). Commenting upon Christ appointing the disciples, Ellen G White shares this divine 11 insight, “The first step was now to be taken in the organization of the church that after Christ’s 12 departure was to be His representative on earth.” (DA 291). 13 14
Church organization is also a clear biblical mandate and foundational biblical teaching 15 for God’s end-time people (Eph 4:1-16). The organization of the Church is rooted in scripture. It 16 is one of the ways that the Holy Spirit unifies Christ’s Church. Church policy is an outgrowth of 17 church organization and governance. The policies of the Church are not infallible. They certainly 18 do not equate with or supersede biblical teachings and doctrines, but they do play a significant 19 role in helping the Church work in harmony.
The idea that "Church organization is also a clear biblical mandate and foundational biblical teaching for God’s end-time people" seems incredibly wrong and self-serving.  You really have to stretch to think those verses are about church organization.  Go ahead look up the verses.






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