Fifteen Points

In 1939, a noted religious who founded one of the largest Sabbatarian Christian organizations and whose influence (for good and ill) has spread far and wide throughout the world in many religious organizations to this day made the following fifteen points. I will list them here and comment on each of the points.

1) The assembly is not an institution or an organization, but a society of believers.

This is quite true. While a religious organization can be useful, even necessary, to act in these rather over-regulated times, one must never confuse an organization, which is a business entity meant to fulfill legal obligations (usually involving tax law) with the assembly of believers (the actual "Church of God"), which forms a spiritual organism rather than a physical organization. This spiritual organism (which the NT authors, in particular Paul, were fond of comparing to a body) may include members in a variety of organizations (or none at all) and includes those who have been called at all times, and those who are yet to be called into the family of God. It is obvious that such an entity cannot ever be contained within one physical organization.

2) The church is not hierarchical, that is, in descending order of minister, elders, deacons, male laity, male children, women, and female children.

This point should go without saying. The offices of the Church of God (see Acts, Ephesians, Titus, etc.) are not ordered in a hierarchial form, but are rather defined in a functional manner depending on the various gifts that God gives us. While each of us has some gifts in excess of the usual (whether teaching or organizational skills or language and so forth), all of us, regardless of supposed rank, are to develop our spiritual skills in all areas to the best of our abilities as we seek to become like God. Even our savior Himself did not place Himself on a hierarchy above us. Jesus considers Himself our elder brother, and elder brothers are not to lord it over younger brothers. Rather, they seek to lead their younger siblings by example in a spirit of loving service and gentle instruction. If Jesus Christ does not lord it over us (when he could claim the right to do so), then no human leaders can justify a hierarchial society.

3) The Christian's relationship to the church is organic, not organizational.

See commentary to point #1 above. The Bible is consistent in treating the church as a body of believers (both in the sense of an organism and in the sense of an assembly), rather than in the organizational and beaurocratic terms which our benighted generation is so fond of. This is plain to any who open the Bible and read it with eyes open.

4) The church has no office and elects no officer.

Properly speaking, religion is an avocation not a vocation (thanks Mr. Ed for the lively commentary on that difference). Just as the rabbis in the first century were trained for a trade as well as their religious instruction, those who serve congregations were not intended to do so for filthy lucre. Paul himself, for example, refused to take monetary support from congregations when it became a problem (such as in Corinth), an example that few today seem to follow. It is sad that many today who draw salaries for religious service are unqualified for any other gainful (read: professional) employment. This should not be. In addition, the Church of God (as it is an organism rather than an organization) cannot elect an officer. For one, Jesus alone is head of the church, and any who would usurp Him have a lot to answer for. For another, those officers chosen in an organization are not done often for godly reasons, and are entirely lacking in a spiritual matter, simply existing for the good of the members and not reflecting any great spiritual understanding or excellence. When the first seven deacons were chosen by the early Church, it was for the purpose of serving the needs of the brethren in the collection to allow the apostles to spend their time preaching rather than waiting on tables. Such a position did not signify that the said deacons were in any way superior to others, but they were placed in responsibilty due to their prior reputation for diligence and reliability and faithful honesty.

5) Elders and deacons are not officers.

This is true (see above) because elders and deacons are servants and not masters.

6) There is no such thing as "instant elders" created by official act. In the pursuit of the Christian vocation members become elders as a matter of growth and maturity.

Those who have been ordained elders without demonstrating the proper wisdom and moral excellence for their position (not an easy task) bring discredit on many others.

7) Elders are not "over the church" and members are not "under the elders."

This should go without saying. The Bible (see 1 Peter 5 and elsewhere) teaches mutual submission, as everyone is to respect and honor everyone else, rather than behave as baboons do in a dominance-subodination hierarchy.

8) Overseers are "in" and "among" rather than over the assembly.

Again, this is an obvious point given the biblical doctrine of mutual accountability.

9) Overseeing does not involve control and carries no authority -- that is, the power to rule and to decide.

Overseeing is a responsibility for the benefit of the members, rather than a position of authority over the members.

10) "Elders" are simply senior members, male and female, who have matured through years of service. Ideally, there should be as many elders as there are older members, with no case of arrested growth.

This is quite true, although sadly this is not the case because there are vast majority of elders in age who through arrested growth are not cable of mature service but who still require milk and not meat.

11) "Deacons" is simply a generic term describing members, male and female, who serve. In New Testament times deacons ranged from apostles to lower members.

Again, this is quite true. A deacon was a word for a servant or waiter (for waiters then and now are servants who bring us food--whether spiritual or physical). The prominent leaders of the NT church (see Paul, Peter, James, Jude, etc.) were fond of calling themselves the servant or slave of Christ, which meant that they were the servants and slaves of the members as a whole. Many early church leaders were literal slaves as well, from early histories, and our current church leaders are so in at least a metaphorical sense.

12) Deacons in the church do not constitute a special class or have a special rank, or do any special work. They are merely servants devoted to the life of the Christian community.

This is obvious given the example of such servants in Acts and elsewhere in the Bible. However, as we are wicked and desire rank and position for ourselves, like the carnal 12 disciples before the death of Christ, we have twisted this into a base and false hierarchy.

13) Permission of elders is not required before anyone may engage in any Christian work or share in the activities of the church. Denying a member any active participation in prayers, songs, teaching, or exhortation is a gross usurpation of power contrary to the Bible.

No comment.

14) No man or group of men has any authority in the church by virtue of office which does not belong to other members.

Amen, and amen.

15) Nothing shall be done which affects the whole church without every member being heard before the decision is made. The quorum necessary for any action by the church is the entire membership. Quod omnes tangit, ab omnibus approbetur-- "What touches all, is to be approved by all." This is not a matter of passive assent or silence, but the result of active participation.

This is correct, and it is regrettable that many decisions are not made in the light of day, but rather in darkness and secrecy. Kudos to those leaders who seek not only the passive acceptance but the active participation of their brethren, and follow the example of the early church (read Acts 15 for a particularly enlightening account of a conference were apostles, elders, deacons, and members (all discussing as equals) came to agreement on what could have been a violent confrontation).

When I read these fifteen points, I shake my head and wonder how we wandered so far into the darkness when the truth was there in the light all along.