If a fellow Christian came to you and told you that he was looking for a good “Bible-based” church to attend—and he was genuinely seeking God’s will in the matter—what would you say to him? This is a searching question. First of all, I think I would commend him for having such an exercise, because most Christians today, it seems, are unconcerned about where or how God would have them to meet together for worship and ministry. To come in contact with a person who was concerned about it is quite rare indeed, but it certainly is a good and healthy exercise for all Christians to have.
In trying to help a person who is genuinely seeking the will of God in this matter, I would avoid, as much as possible, putting down the various Christian denominations and groups in Christendom. This tends to put people on the defensive, and it can get them into an argumentative frame of mind—and we all know that very little that is profitable is conveyed in an argument.
Many Christian leaders would tell such a person, “Go to the church of your choice.” This, I believe, is a mistake, because it gets a person thinking on a wrong line. Hearing such a comment, he might ask himself, "What kind of a church fellowship would I like?" Or, "What kind of a church group would I do best in?" I don’t feel right about telling my friend to pick a church that he likes, because it makes the matter a choice of the individual, and I don’t see in the Word of God that it is a matter of our choice. God has a simple pattern in His Word as to how He would have Christians to meet together for worship and ministry; the choice is really not left up to us at all. It is God’s way for Christian worship and ministry that our friend should be seeking; therefore, I could not, with a good conscience, tell him to go out and choose a Christian church fellowship that merely pleased him.
Nor would I say to my friend, “Oh, come with us because we do it the right way.” I wouldn’t do that because I want him to get the truth from God directly so that he would not just be following me. If I, or anyone else, coerced him—regardless of how sincere our motives may be—when a time of testing came as to holding and walking in the truth of how Christians should gather for worship and ministry, he would likely let go of it, because at the bottom of it, it was just me who had convinced him of it. I wouldn’t want anyone to go away saying, “Bruce says this ... ” and “Bruce believes that ... ”—as if that were the standard. Even if what I told him was the truth, I don’t think that it would be a lasting work in his soul if he didn’t get it from God.
The Two Great Resources of the Christian
Therefore, I would say, as the Apostle Paul said to the Ephesian elders, “Now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:3232And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)). There are two things in this verse that I would draw his attention to:
• Commending a person “to God,” which implies going to Him directly in prayer and seeking His will in the matter.
• Commending a person “to the Word of His grace,” which is, of course, would be consulting the Holy Scriptures for light and guidance.
Prayer and the Word of God, therefore, are the two great resources that we have to guide and instruct us in the path of faith. It’s true that the Lord may use a human instrument to help us in the truth (Acts 8:3131And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:31)), but ultimately we need to get it from Him. God wants us to have the “truth” in our “inward parts”—then we’ll really have it, and we won’t let go of it later (Psa. 51:66Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:6)). The Lord warned that if we don’t learn the truth rightly, it could be taken away from us. He said, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have” (Luke 8:1818Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18)). This shows that those who merely know the truth in an intellectual way, but have not really made it their own, could have it taken away. Therefore, I would encourage my friend to get it from the Lord—then he’d really have it. When testing and trial comes, he will hold fast those things and will not be moved from them, because he has bought the truth and will not sell it (Prov. 23:2323Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)).
Willingness to Do God’s Will
Another thing I would emphasize to my seeking friend is that searching for the truth is a rewarding exercise. God will not disappoint us if we are genuinely committed to doing His will. The Lord said, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:1717If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)). The condition placed on this promise is that we must be willing to “do” His will. It is not enough that we would want to know God’s will; we need to be willing to do His will. In one sense, I suppose that everybody wants to know God’s will, but doing it is another thing.
This means that we need to have a pre-disposition of heart that we will do God’s will—whatever it may be—even if it runs in collision with our personal desires and ideas. This is a great point to reach in our souls—being willing to do His will, even if it hurts. The Lord will guide this kind of a person into the truth. “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Psa. 25)
Having an Understanding of the Times
Another thing I would tell my friend is that we need to have an understanding of the times. In 1 Timothy 4:1-21Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1‑2), Paul said, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.’’ He wanted Timothy to know that there was a time coming when those in the Christian profession would turn away their ears from hearing the truth (2 Tim. 4:3-43For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3‑4)). We don’t have to be a genius to know that we live in those times; one look around at things in Christianity today should convince us.
My point in mentioning this to my friend is that he needs to know that there has been much departure from the truth of God in the Christian profession in this present day. As a result, very little of what passes as Christianity today resembles the Christianity that we read of in the Bible. Therefore, it would be of little use for him to look at the present state of disordered Christendom to find the truth.
This means that we need to understand where we are in Church history. It’s kind of like going into a big shopping mall. The first thing you come across upon entering the mall is a directory, which will have a map of all the stores in the mall and paths to show the way to get to them. At the bottom of the map there will be a star with the words written, “YOU ARE HERE.” In these big malls you have to get your bearings as to where you are before you can determine where you want to go. And it’s the same when it comes to the confusion in the house of God today—we need to know where we are before we can know where we need to go.
To this end, Paul said to Timothy, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:1515This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2 Timothy 1:15)). He wanted Timothy to know the character of the day in which he was called to serve the Lord. Some Christians, even in those early times, did not want what Paul taught—and especially so when it came to the truth of the Church and its practical arrangements for worship and ministry. It is equally important for us to know the day in which we live. We are not in Pentecostal times, or even in times of great revival, as in the 1800s when there was a great interest in the truth. We are living in “the last days” (2 Tim. 3:1-81This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Timothy 3:1‑8)) when everything is upside down in the Christian profession, and there is much departure from the truth everywhere—both in principle and in practice. If there were Christians who didn't want what Paul taught in that day, we can be sure that there are many more in these last days who do not want it. He, and the Apostle Peter, said that the mass of the Christian profession in the last days would turn away their ears from the truth (2 Tim. 4:2-42Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:2‑4); 2 Peter 2:1-21But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1‑2)).
Separation in the House of God
I would hasten to tell my seeking friend that he need not despair on account of the great departure and confusion in Christendom, because God has anticipated the ruin and has graciously made a provision for such a day in what could be called, “the relief epistles.” These are the “second” epistles in our Bibles—2 Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, etc. These epistles deal with the ruin that has come into the Christian profession and order the believer’s path in relation to it. There are two things in particular that are prominent in each of these “second” epistles:
• Failure in the Christian testimony in one way or another.
• The need to separate oneself from the error that has come in.
This means that we need to recognize the departure in the house of God for what it is, and separate from it. In doing that, God will give us light for the next step in the path. A passage from one of the “second” epistles that I would direct my friend to is 2 Timothy 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22). “Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some to honour and some to dishonour. If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work. But youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.” Note the order here; the exercise is first to separate from everything in the great house (the Christian profession) that is inconsistent with the Lord, and then we will be given light in the path to find “those” with whom we can walk and have fellowship, who “call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.” This order is found throughout Scripture—separating first from what we know to be wrong, and then, finding the right path that is according to the truth (Isa. 1:16-1716Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:16‑17); Psa. 34:1414Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14); Rom. 12:9; 13:129Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:9)
12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12); 1 Peter 3:1111Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (1 Peter 3:11); 3 John 1111Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (3 John 11)).
Therefore, I would encourage my friend to act on the light that he has, and separate from what he sees in the churches that is inconsistent with the Word of God, and the Lord will give him further light in the path. Abraham passed through similar exercises when he “went out, not knowing whither he went” (Heb. 11:88By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)). When he answered the call of God, and made that step, God guided him to the place where He wanted him to be. However, he would not have been guided to that place if he had not taken that first step.
A Return to First Principles in the Word
Another passage from one of the “second” epistles that I would direct my friend to is 2 John 6-76And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 6‑7). It gives us another important guiding principle for these days. It says, “And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” The point here is that in days of departure, when there are “many deceivers” out there, the thing to do is to get back to what is “from the beginning.” We need to get back to first principles in the Word and have them as our guide. It would be hopeless to look anywhere else.
Because there has been a great departure from the Word of God in the Christian world, I would encourage my friend to sweep every pre-conceived idea he may have off the board, and “start from scratch” in his search for a Scripturally gathered assembly. Nor do I believe that “church-hopping” is the way for a person to be led in this exercise; he would probably get more confused than ever. The way to search for the truth on this subject is by going to the Word of God itself and learning what God has to say about it. I would, therefore, encourage my friend to search the Scriptures. This is a search that must be carried out on our knees in dependence on the Lord.
Two Parts to the Subject of Gathering Together for Worship and Ministry
I believe that searching for a Scripturally gathered assembly is a two-fold exercise. First, we need to see the pattern for a local assembly in the Word of God, and then secondly, we need to understand something of the Spirit’s work in gathering Christians together to where the truth of the assembly is practiced. The pattern for a Christian assembly is found predominantly in 1st Corinthians, as far as its order is concerned, but a number of other epistles in the New Testament, such as 1st Timothy and Hebrews, are helpful too. There are also many instructive illustrations in the book of the Acts.
As a means of helping a searching person for the truth on this subject, in Part One of this book, we will look into the Scriptures to see God’s pattern for Christians meeting together for worship and ministry. In Part Two, we will consider the Spirit’s work in leading exercised Christians to the place where the truth of the assembly is practiced.
PART I
A Profile of a
Scriptural Assembly