In looking back over 2000 years of church history, we ask ourselves, How has the church fared? Has she been a testimony to the one body in practice? Has she faithfully executed her responsibilities as to the house of God? We will examine what Scripture has to say as to these two questions. Nevertheless, if our eyes are opened to the condition of things, we must confess that the church has failed miserably. The church has not faithfully represented herself in this world — indeed, failure entered very early in her history. The ruin of the church is complete in this modern world, with its multiplicity of sects and range of doctrines.
The Part in Ruin
Before we proceed, it will be necessary to be clear as to what we mean when we speak of the ruin. It is also just as necessary to know what we do not mean. Some reject the expression, the ruin of the church, not so much because of what it describes, but rather, because of how it is expressed. By the ruin, we refer to the church’s testimony in this world — what people see and call the church; that which professes to be the body of Christ. We do not refer to that which God is establishing, which is perfect in His sight. J. N. Darby, who was opposed by many on this subject, wrote: “In one sense it is impossible that the church can be ruined; but there is confusion in some minds between the purposes of God, and present dispensation in which man is placed under responsibility. In speaking of the ruin of the church, we speak of it as down here, set to manifest Christ’s glory in unity on the earth, and we must remember that there we are placed, and as in this responsibility, there we must stay.”
The Perfect Part
Take a moment to consider the church as the body of Christ. That body is perfect, undivided, and Christ is its head. And yet, in practice, has the church represented this before the world? Has the church honored Christ’s headship? Has the church been diligent in keeping the unity of the Holy Spirit in the uniting bond of peace? (Eph. 4:3). When Paul writes: “That there might be no division in the body” (1 Cor. 12:25 JND) does that not carry with it responsibility? Paul is careful to say body, not assembly—the latter might have been ambiguous if one chose to make it so. No, it is that body of which he earlier spoke: “As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body” (1 Cor. 12:12).
We earlier saw that Paul in his first letter to Timothy, his young companion and co-worker, gave instruction regarding conduct suited to the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15). In that letter Timothy was directed to address the errors which were making inroads (1 Tim. 1:3-4, etc.). There was a good warfare and an earnest striving in the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12). The character of Paul’s second letter is strikingly different. Paul had fought the good fight and his course was almost over (2 Tim. 4:7). Timothy was now in need of encouragement (2 Tim. 1:4-6); he was in danger of being overwrought by the difficulties of the day. Profane babblings were leading to greater ungodliness; teachers had strayed from the truth, and the faith of some had been overthrown (2 Tim. 2:16-18). There was a form of godliness but the power of it was denied (2 Tim. 3:5). The house of God had become a great house admitting both doctrines and persons dishonoring to God: “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Tim. 2:20). There is no instruction now for purging the error from the house, but, rather, Timothy was to purge himself from all that was contrary to sound doctrine and godliness. We cannot leave the house of God, for we are a part of it; but we can find a quiet place, as it were, on the rooftop in the presence of the Lord. “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house” (Prov. 21:9).
The Failure During the Apostles Days
Failure began in the time of the apostles, and they documented it as a warning and for our instruction. Both the Apostles Paul and John had to counter false teachings—while some were seeking to blend legal, Judaizing principles with the gospel (Galatians), others were introducing the philosophical and mystical teachings of the Gentiles (Colossians, John’s epistles). Bad doctrine leads to a moral decay (1 Cor. 15:32). The parties and schisms created by false teachers resulted in conflict and, in the end, division (1 Cor. 1:10; 11:18). Ultimately, the house of God became the abode of truth and error, reality and profession, and a practical expression of the unity of Christ’s body was gone.
In exposing the impending ruin, the apostles did not intend to discourage us; nor did they write so we might have an excuse, but, rather, so we might have direction in an evil day. It is not our place to take up with vain religious debates which foster contention and doubts (1 Tim. 1:4; 2 Tim. 2:23). And yet again, the believer is not to yield to the rising tide of error. There is a positive path of obedience laid out for us in the Word of God. Timothy, for his part, was to rekindle the gift that had lain dormant (2 Tim. 1:6); he was to teach faithful men so they could teach others (2 Tim. 2:2); finally, he was to purge himself from the vessels of dishonor. For himself, he was to flee youthful passions—a path of obedience cannot be maintained while we are pursuing our natural lusts—so that he might be free to walk a path of righteousness, faith, love and peace with others who likewise called upon the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).
N. Simon