Last post we looked at the inextricable reality of Congregationalism in the NT ekklesia, and covered what Jesus Himself had to say. Coming from the Master, if that was all we had to look at it should be sufficient! Fortunately, God knows our frame, that we are but dust, and He knows that when we have spent a couple of thousand years in the wrong direction He will need to repeat himself a few times. So we will pick up in the book of the Acts and see what congregationalism in the NT ekklesia actually looked like.
I had intended only one more posting on this topic, but necessity of length would seem to dictate the propriety of leaving the last section, Consensus, to a sixth post. The subject of the ekklesia is no minor subject!
To begin with we ought to examine the secular ekklesia in the NT. There isn't a lot of that since the NT is obviously about the Ekklesia of Christ, but there is a very instructive section in Acts 19: 23-41, where Demetrius the silversmith summons an ekklesia of tradesmen together to do something about Paul.
And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”
Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the ekklesia was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful ekklesia. For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the ekklesia.
Note: Demetrius 'calls' an ekklesia ("He called them together...") of craftsmen into the city theater. He presents a charge before them for consideration and judgment, which then touches off a city-wide uproar. The ekklesia is confused, not understanding why it was 'called out' to begin with. The city clerk indicates that proper inquiries are to be made in the 'lawful ekklesia' which currently is not at all what is happening, and dismisses the ekklesia before they get in real trouble with the Roman government. All the primary elements of the ekklesia concept are here in this passage (except that they aren't executed properly, in an orderly way). This is the exact form of assembly that Jesus Himself chose for us to be.
Now for the Ekklesias of Christ in God.
The disciples replace Judas Acts 1:15-26 (condensed here)
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas...Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection...”
...And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
There are at least two notable points here.
• Noting that the "number of names was about 120" (which likely could mean 120 men, besides women or children), if you will carefully read back through the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper you now will see why they needed 'a large upper room'.
• The whole number was involved in replacing Judas. I have heard people argue that this pre-Pentecost action was outside the will of God – which I think to be on shaky ground since the scripture doesn't say that. (In fact, considering Matt 16:19 and Matt 18:18-20 I think it quite probable that the courts in heaven considered this decision binding.) Regardless, it remains clear that Peter did not address the other apostles only, but the whole ekklesia, and nothing in the text indicates that the apostles did the choosing, but rather the entire 120. They considered the matter openly, agreed, and acted together.
Creating the Deacons Acts 6:1-7
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
• (The "twelve" summoned the multitude, which would include Matthias.)
• Though the they knew what they would do, the twelve left the selection to the ekklesia, "...brethren, seek out from among you..."
• "And the saying pleased the whole multitude." This clearly indicates that it could have displeased the multitude or there might have been division. The agreement of the whole multitude is an important point to the writer. Not only was this decision not made behind closed doors, but the agreement of the ekklesia is important.
•"And they chose...whom they set before the apostles..." The multitude chose, the multitude set.
Must the Gentiles Keep the Law? Acts 15 (just verses 4-30 here)
And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the ekklesia and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
‘ After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the LORD who does all these things.’
“Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole ekklesia, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
They wrote this, letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”— to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
• They were received by the ekklesia and the apostles and the elders. And the ekklesia is listed first.
• The Apostles and the Elders came together to consider the matter...but with all the multitude.
• The decision to accept and publish James' counsel '...pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole ekklesia..." Obviously, if it pleased the whole ekklesia, it could also have displeased the ekklesia, or their could have been disagreement. Clearly the apostles and elders led, but just as clearly the ekklesia participated in and mattered to the progress.
• They did not deliver the letter until the multitude was gathered.
The Ekklesia in Corinth Falls Down on the Job I 1Cor 5:1-13
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
• The ekklesia has a responsibility to remove unrepentant Christians from its midst. Here they have a member in open immorality and have done nothing at all. Not only have they disobeyed Christ in tolerating this fornication, but they reveled in their toleration as though that were a good thing (sound like any 'churches' you know?). Paul is clear that they should already have judged this man; in their failure he (being an apostle) issues judgment against the man as though Paul were gathered with them – in the ekklesia – ready for judgment. He commands them, when they are gathered together – as the ekklesia– to agree with him and render the judgment in unity against this man.
• Paul explains the reason why they must render judgment, and why it is an important ordinary function of the ekklesia, "...a little leaven leavens the whole lump." If sin is tolerated it will spread into the whole ekklesia.
• Paul reiterates the necessity of judgment in the ekklesia: "I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person."
The Ekklesia in Corinth Falls Down on the Job II 1Cor 6:1-11
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the ekklesia to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
• Judgment isn't restricted to immorality or gross sin, but any issues between believers are to be brought before the ekklesia if they cannot be settled otherwise, which is the absolute, final recourse for all believers. The Ekklesia at Corinth was also failing on this point.
• Paul affirms that a, if not the, primary defining ministry of the Ekklesias of Christ is judgment. The saints will judge the world, angels, and the smallest matters. Get with it saints! That silly "you catch 'em and God cleans 'em" routine is not of God. Judges are what we are; judgment is what we do! Look at the emphasis Paul places in this section!
• Paul chastises them because they should all be capable of and rendering judgment and can't they find even one?
The Ekklesia in Corinth Does its Job...and It Works! 2Cor 2: 5-11
But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
• Th ekklesia was obedient to Paul, fulfilled its purpose in Christ, and the sinning brother is brought to repentance! Huzzah! It won't always work out this way, but when we don't obey Jesus on this point (which is pretty much all the time in all 'churches' in America) we short circuit God's process. There is a dead monkey on the line, and we are that monkey! Time to stop monkeyin' around and act like men.
When the Ekklesia looks like an Ekklesia 1Cor 14: 26-40
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the ekklesia, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the ekklesias of the saints.
Let your women keep silent in the ekklesias, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in the ekklesia.
Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
• Where's the worship leader? Where's the order of service? Where's the 'preacher'? When do we 'have worship'? Who in the world is in charge here? Jesus. And apparently He trusts His Ekklesia to handle it among themselves in a genuinely interactive assembly without any polished professionals. Wow.
• And there's that judgment issue again: "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge." Who is judging prophecy? The ekklesia!
• These are the commandments of the Lord, for all ekklesias in all places. This means yours too.
Various 1Thess 5: 14-21
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
• Who is warning the unruly? Not the elders, but the brethren. Who sees to it that no one renders evil for evil? Not the elders, but the brethren. Who is testing all things? Not the elders, but the brethren.
More Judgment 2Thess 3: 6-15
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
• Again, not the elders, but the brethren are to...withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly...And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him...admonish him...
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