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What Kind of Church Ought We To Be? NUMBER ONE
Together we form a local congregation. What kind of church are we? I am not asking what is our name, or even the doctrine we teach, believe and practice, although these things are vitally important. The world has varying ways of defining and identifying a church. It may be big or small in number; popular or unpopular; strict or loose; conservative or liberal; Catholic or Protestant; or other distinctions with which the world is acquainted. But regardless of man's classifications, the important question is, "Are we the kind of church the Lord approves?" This is what counts. If God does not approve, nothing else really matters at all.
We can know what God approves by studying the congregations of the New Testament. Those churches, like the one to which we belong, were composed of people. They had good points and shortcomings. In the Scriptures the good is commended and the bad is exposed, condemned and corrected. By closely observing the Lord's approval or disapproval through the teaching of the apostles we can know what God wants, expects, accepts and rejects. This teaching enables us to shun the evil and pursue the good.
There is no better church to serve as an example than the church in Philippi. That church never seems to have given Paul an anxious moment. We learn of it in Acts and the letter to the Philippians primarily, but from other books as well. Nearly everything said of it was commendable with words of encouragement which make it a good church to imitate.
Established
Acts fifteen and sixteen records the establishment of the church in Philippi. Paul was on his second missionary journey, having visited several churches he had established on his first journey. The Holy Spirit directed him from Asia to Troas. In Troas Paul saw a vision of a man from Macedonia saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." He obeyed that call, entered the continent of Europe, went to the city of Philippi and preached the gospel. The first converts were Lydia and those of her household. He found them worshiping alongside a river and gave them opportunity to hear the gospel. They heard, believed and obeyed the Lord in baptism. Later, Paul was in prison because he offended the local soothsayers. But this gave him opportunity to preach the gospel to the jailer who heard, believed and obeyed. These conversions marked the beginning of the Lord's church in that city and on that continent. The church in this city was composed of both Jews and Gentiles. This church was the kind that caused Paul to be thankful to God for them every time he thought of them. Philippians 1:3,4, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy." Are we the kind of church this inspired apostle would commend in such fashion? It was not the case of every church with which Paul was acquainted. But there were good reason for Paul's attitude toward them.
Organized
This church was properly organized. Philippians 1:1, "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." They showed respect for God's governmental arrangement for the church. A bishop is the same as an elder as is evidenced in Acts twenty where Paul asked the elders of Ephesus to meet him and he referred to them as bishops or overseers. There was not one bishop over several churches but a plurality of bishops over each congregation. We can conclude that these men were qualified to serve in this capacity. It is unthinkable that Paul would be grateful for a church that allowed men to serve as leaders who ignored God's qualifications as found in Titus one and First Timothy three. This church, and many since then, was blessed with the right kind of leadership. Just having men who are called elders is not sufficient nor proper. More attention must be given to those who assume the oversight of local congregations. For too long this has not been handled Biblically and men who are not qualified have occupied these influential places far too long and too often.
Liberal in Giving
The church in Philippi was also one that was liberal in giving. Paul help up the Macedonian churches as examples for the church in Corinth to imitate in the matter of giving (II Corinthians 8:1-5). They gave liberally even though they were poor. They urged Paul to accept their gifts. They even gave, Paul said, beyond their power. Do you think the congregation to which you belong deserves such a distinction? They were steadfast in their support of Paul in his labors. Chapter one, verse five, "For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." Chapter four, verse sixteen, "For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." This indicates their missionary and benevolent spirit. They gave of their own accord. As Paul stated in II Corinthians 8:5, "But first they gave their own selves to the Lord." If there is a "secret" to successful giving, this is it. One who has given himself or herself will likely, readily, willingly, actively and steadfastly give of their means. God approves churches who are like this church in this area.
Steady
The Philippian church was steady in its work. It was not "on fire" one day and lukewarm or cold the next. Paul noted, "from the first day until now"they had been aggressively active in their doing good. They were zealous, diligent, intent on growing in faith and standing firm and true. He spoke of their "progress and joy in the faith," (1:25), and how they were "standing fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel, in nothing affrighted by the adversary." (1:27). Churches can engage in good works authorized of God with zeal and fervor, but if they are not attentive, they can become sluggish and sloppy in their work. When such occurs, everything that can be done to revive its efforts ought to be done. It is hard to stay on "top" all the time, but good churches are reliable and dependable because they never slacken their pace but are always pushing the cause of Christ to the world. It is the constant and steady growth that endures. The spurts and explosions may provoke headlines in brotherhood "brag sheets" but the church in Philippi was not of that sort.
Love
Another quality of the brethren in Philippi that every church must desire was their brotherly love and devotion. They loved the Lord above everything and everybody else. This caused them to be devoted to His cause. This also made them love one another. Love for God leads one to love His Word, love the lost, and love the faithful brethren with a specialty. It was love that tied them together in unity in Christ because they stood together for the truth in doctrine and practice. Paul knew the value of brotherly love and also knew how limiting the lack of love is on any congregation.
There were several admonitions Paul gave these good brethren. Knowing that the devil never ceases to seek the undoing of faithful brethren, Paul spoke to them, not so much to correct as to assist them in preventing error. In chapter three, verses 12-14, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; hut this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Paul knew the necessity to keep on keeping on. He encouraged this in them because he knew faithfulness was essential.
Heart and Life
High in his thoughts was their unity. Chapter two, verses one through four takes note of the value of being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord and one mind. He urged humility (2:5-8) in the likeness of Christ. He reminded them to continue their working (2:12-16). Concerning their manner of life, he said, (1:27), "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ." As for fears, trials and harassments Paul gave them admonitions in Chapter four, verses six, seven and nineteen that would sustain them. Paul knew the concern for the inner man and the thought of the heart. Chapter four, verses eight and nine, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things Those things, which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you."
Such was the church at Philippi. It was organized, liberal in giving, mission and benevolent minded, consistent in work, always doing its best rather than a "hit and miss" program, growing in unity, standing steadfast in doctrine, known for its love and one that was considered by Paul to have respect for warnings and encouragements to faithfulness. Is this the kind of church we are where we are members? To what extent are we like they were? What efforts do we intend to make to improve the situation and be more like them? We can all do better and should resolve to be a part of efforts to make things more as they should be. Paul described what that church was to him. He called it an "odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God." (4:18). It is important how we rate before God.