Independent and Autonomous   Acts 14:23 and 1 Peter 5:2

This post concerns the independent and autonomous nature of the New Testament church.

Independent and Autonomous discusses how God established the New Testament church. Before Paul returned home from establishing churches in Antioch of  Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, he organized the churches as God desired, Acts 14:23. “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” As God directed, the New Testament church had elders in every congregation.

The Apostle Peter was also an elder of a local church. He wrote about what God wanted elders to do, 1 Peter 5:1-2 “I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight…” Thus, God directed that elders govern this localized organization. But note that elders only oversee one congregation, the one where they worship.

Each congregation directs its own affairs, deciding who to fellowship. The Jerusalem disciples were wary of Saul until Barnabus helped in his acceptance, Acts 9:26-27. “Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord,” Accordingly, each congregation governs who it will accept as a member.

Likewise, each church accumulates a collection of money and decides its use, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3. “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also… do. On the first day of every week, each of you… put something aside and store it up… so that there will… no collecting when I come… I will send those whom you accredit… to carry your gift to Jerusalem. Each church was independent in collecting money and its use.

With Jesus as the supreme commander, each church has its own elders as leaders and directs its own affairs. This God-given arrangement allows each church to stand alone.

So, what did we learn?

1.Elders direct each church.

2.Elders only govern the church where they worship.

3.Each church governs its own collection and its use.

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