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Church Order

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1856

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 8, No. 25.

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Church Order.

By J. B. Frisbie

REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY BRO. HUTCHINS.

Question.—“By what rule shall we determine who is, and who is not, a member of the true church of God?” and how “to exclude offending members?”
Answer.—1st. By baptism. Acts ii, 37–39, 41, 42, 47; Rom. vi, 4, 17, 18; 1 Cor. xii, 13, 27, 28; Gal. iii, 27. Bible baptism is of equal importance with faith, and is for the remission of sins when obeyed from the heart by faith, when we are made free from sin by obedience. By this act, as appears from the above scriptures, the Lord adds members to his church.
We esteem baptisms of the different men-made churches as they are esteemed by themselves; that is, of no saving value; while we must regard Bible baptism to be saving, because the Bible says so. Mark xvi, 16; 1 Pet. iii, 21. Then they should be counted as members of the church of God and fellowshiped as such. All will be moved upon to attend to this duty without urging.
2. By their walking in the light and newness of life. Rom. vi, 4; 1 John i, 7.
4. By their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. vii, 20; Gal. v, 22, 23; 2 Pet. i, 5–8.
5. By keeping the Commandments. John xiii, 34, 35. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” By the same rule may we know one another.
This prepares us to answer the second question.
2. What shall be done by the Church (if any action is taken) when a member about to be labored with for his past wrongs, withdraws from the Church? This has been done by one who had long been a sore grief to the Church wherever his case was known: since which I learn he has professedly been teaching and preaching the Third Angel’s Message, yet no action has been taken by the church.
Answer.—It has appeared that it should be the privilege of any one to withdraw from the Church at any time before there has been labor or charge brought against him or her. But after there have been charges brought which can be sustained, fellowship should be withdrawn where scriptural steps have been taken; but in all cases labor should precede withdrawal. But if in case the church have neglected to do their duty, as in the case referred to, and that individual is preaching the Third Angel’s Message upon his own responsibility, and does not pretend to belong to the Church, let this generally be understood by the Church and world where he is acquainted. But should he trouble the Church, then let that Church that he left publish him, that the churches or brethren may not be imposed upon. Will not this be sufficient?
But the scripture rule is for the Church to withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not the disorderly to withdraw from the fellowship of the church. This will meet the case where the church have done their duty.
3. In case of existing trials in the Church, is it scriptural for one or two, or more, to leave the Church before any settlement of difficulties has taken place, and refuse to be subject to the voice of the remaining members, and also to the advice and counsel of a disinterested committee, yet still claim to be in fellowship with the Church in other places? Do not such individuals rather, virtually withdraw themselves from the entire Church?
Answer.—As all the church of God are the one body, how it can be that a member should withdraw fellowship from the body and still belong to the body, is more than we can tell. There can be no doubt that he who withdraws from the fellowship of one Church, does from all. This is my opinion by the best light that I gain in the Scriptures at present.
It does not seem possible that any who love the present truth, and feel for the real good of the cause, could be willing to leave the fellowship of the Church when their help is needed in the settlement of any difficulty. And they who cannot be fellowshiped at home, where they are best known, certainly should not be abroad, where they are not known; for he who is well received at home should be well received abroad.
It is sometimes the case that some who walk with the Church will find fault and threaten a withdrawal, if the Church does not disfellowship certain ones, when it is their duty to attend to their case themselves.
Yours in the love of the truth. J. B. FRISBIE.