New Theses, New Reformation

Thesis 79- We must be under the authority of a local church.

There’s a reason a Reformation is called a reformation and not a revolution. The key difference is the former builds from that which is good, while the latter burns the old to the ground and starts from scratch. Too often we find ourselves dissatisfied with the church, or at the very least, the churches near us, and decide to abandon ship and go it alone. There are usually more than enough reasons to be dissatisfied with both the church and the churches in our area. There’s a simple reason for that- churches are made up of people.

It is, however, precisely because people can be so terrible that it is vitally important that we be under the authority of a local church. Because we are people. Anyone saying, “I’m better off under my own authority than under anyone else’s” should hear their boast echoing all the way back to the Garden of Eden. This boast suggests that while people are terrible, we’ve somehow managed to escape the terribleness. Which shows just how terrible we all are.

To fail to be under the authority of a local church is to defy the authority of God’s Word. One cannot be in submission to I Peter 5 or Hebrews 13 if one refuses to be under the authority of the elders of a local church. I welcome all challenges to this simple claim. By all means, send me an explanation of how one can not be under the authority of a local church and be in submission to those texts.

Of course the elders at any local church are sinners. I know one elder at one local church that’s really awful- me. Which is why I know I also need to be under authority. I’ve been wildly mistreated by elders in authority over me in my past. I doubt anyone can top my horror stories. Never, however, have I ever thought, “I’m better off not being under authority.” Never did I live for a moment without authority over me.

Decades ago it was somewhat fashionable for teachers to sport bumper stickers with words to this effect- “Think education is expensive? Try ignorance.” While I don’t buy the contrast in the least, I would adapt the line of argument. “Think government is oppressive? Try anarchy.” It matters little which kind of government you apply the principle to- family, state or church. Anarchy is always the worst possible option.

Luther himself, years into the Reformation, saw himself as laboring to restore what the church had once been. He had no intention of starting something new. And we are no Luthers. Our complaints against our local churches and their elders are not worthy to be compared with Luther’s concerns with Rome and her prelates. Sheep, you need to both know and acknowledge which shepherds will one day answer for your care. And shepherds, only hirelings fail to know which sheep are their own. Get those sheep into a fold, for their sake.