p. 62 | CHURCH ORDER by J. B. Frisbie

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1856

CHURCH ORDER.

By J. B. Frisbie

Our minds have long been exercised with this most important subject of church order. Trials have sometimes arisen from bad treatment of offenses, rather than from the offenses themselves, simply considered. It has become highly important at this time that the church of God make themselves thoroughly acquainted with this part of their work. We sometimes fear that this branch of duty is too much neglected by us. There will be a company who will come into the "unity of the faith," as we learn from the following scriptures:

"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began."

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion."

"Till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he (Christ) cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." There will be a little flock who shall be waiting for their Lord's return from heaven, who will come into the unity of the faith; when the watchmen shall see eye to eye at the restitution of the church of God.

1. The order that Christ established among his disciples. Jesus was "chosen of God." 1 Pet. ii, 4. "And he (Jesus) called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; and they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Mark vi, 7, 12, 13.

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Luke x, 1. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you. John xv, 16; Luke vi, 13; Mark iii, 14. God is the head of all, and he chose Christ, and Christ chose his disciples, and ordained them, and sent them out to preach, two and two, in the dark places of the earth, with power to cast out devils. Jesus' last commission to them was: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matt. xxviii, 19, 20.

This shows who Christ intended to minister the ordinance of baptism, &c., and that this commission was not to cease with the disciples, but to continue to all his teachers down to the end of the world, even to his second coming. 1 Cor. xi, 23-26. Till I come. Acts ii, 39. To all that are afar off. John xiv, 16, 17. He may abide with you forever.

2. The order of the apostles.—1st. We have recorded the doings or order of the eleven, in filling a vacancy in their number. Acts i, 20-26. They appointed two, prayed and cast lots, to know which of the two the Lord had chosen.

2d. The next order we consider will be that of Paul, the chief apostle of the Gentiles. "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God." 1 Cor. i, 1. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, &c. Acts ix, 15. I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. Rom. xi, 13. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate (or set apart) me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed, &c. Acts xiii, 1-4. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle. 1 Tim. ii, 7. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2 Tim. i, 11.

Here we have the authority of the call, appointment or ordination of Paul. This may be as full a history of primitive order as we can find for the ministry.

3. Who are called of God to preach the gospel? Answer. Those who have the qualifications given in the word of God and feel the woe upon them if they preach not the gospel.

Some of the qualifications may be found to be, a thorough knowledge of the truth, good character, experience in the things of God, ready speech, patience, meekness, sound judgment, good government, and having the Spirit of God, &c.

How the knowledge was gained.—Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts iv, 13. The disciples had learned of Jesus.

But the apostle Paul says, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after men. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. . . . Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me." Gal. i, 11, 12, 17. Paul received the gospel by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. xii, 1. By visions and revelations of the Lord.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. . . . Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. ii, 2, 15. Till I come give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Tim. iv, 13, 16.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers. Titus i, 9.

This shows how to get the theoretical and doctrinal qualification. Good character. But there is another and higher qualification to be attained, which is a practical one. "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord." This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice; (or one newly come to the faith, margin; for he is a babe. Heb. v, 12, 13;) lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 1 Tim. iii, 1-7. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Tim. ii, 24-26.

For this cause left I thee at Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain

elders in every city, as I had appointed thee; if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot or unruly; for a bishop (the same as an elder) must be blameless as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus i, 5-9.

This scripture gives the full qualifications of an elder, and there can be no risk in ordaining such, or those who are fast desiring to be such, out of a pure heart.

(To be Continued.)