"THE PEACE OF CHRIST"

Making Peace With Churches

INTRODUCTION

1. Previously, we have seen that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, offers...
1. Peace with God, through justification and reconciliation
2. Peace with mankind, through abolishing barriers
3. Peace with oneself, one that surpasses understanding and guards our heart
4. Peace with families, when family members fulfill their duties to one another
5. Peace with brethren, working and worshiping together in love and unity
2. Jesus also offers peace with churches...
1. Where churches can co-exist in peace and harmony
2. Presenting a picture of unity in the eyes of the world

[Of course, such is generally not the case today. Which is why we need the peace of Christ, not just in our individual lives but in our churches...]

1. THE NEED FOR PEACE WITH CHURCHES
1. THE DENOMINATIONAL MESS TODAY...
1. According to one reckoning, there are 33,820 denominations today - World Christian Encyclopedia (2000)
2. By definition, a denomination is "A religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body a number of local congregations." - Webster
3. Two or more congregations under a single administrative and legal hierarchy create a denomination
4. Example of denominational hierarchies:
1. Churches under a single pope or archbishop
2. Churches united by a synod, council, or convention
3. Churches subject to the oversight of other "sponsoring" churches
-- The number of denominations continues to grow rapidly
2. THE SIN OF DENOMINATIONALISM...
1. It is unscriptural
1. There is no Biblical basis for local churches being divided into denominational bodies
2. No denomination can go to the Bible and say, "See that passage? There is our church (denomination)!"
2. It is anti-scriptural
1. It is contrary to Jesus' prayer for unity - Jn 17:20-23
2. It is condemned by Paul - 1Co 1:10-13; 3:3-4
3. It opposes the work of Christ on the cross - Ep 2:14-16
3. It harms the cause of Christ
1. Jesus believed unity to be "the final apologetic" (Schaeffer) - Jn 17:21
2. Religious division has been a stumbling block to many unbelievers
3. Denominationalism has led to the rise of many cults (Mormons, JWs, etc.)
-- No true disciple of Christ can sanction denominationalism in any form

[The religious confusion today does not come from God: "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." (1Co 14:33) On the contrary...]

2. JESUS OFFERS TRUE PEACE FOR CHURCHES
1. BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE...
1. Consider the religious climate of Jesus' day (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, etc.)
1. What kind of Israelite was Jesus while living under the Law of Moses?
2. He was simply a faithful Israelite, just as the Law of Moses intended
2. Suppose Jesus came today, to show us how to live under the New Covenant
1. What "kind" of Christian would He be (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc.)?
2. Would He not simply be a Christian? - cf. Ac 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16
-- Jesus would be a Christian, nothing more, nothing less!
2. BY HIS APOSTLES' DOCTRINE...
1. Early Christians were governed by the apostles' doctrine
1. From the very beginning of the church - Ac 2:42
2. Which they respected as the Word of God - 1Th 2:13; cf. 1Co 14:37
2. The apostles' taught a simple form of congregational organization
1. When fully developed, a church would have elders - Ac 14:23; Tit 1:5
2. Elders were also known as bishops and pastors - Ac 20:17,28; 1Pe 5:1-2
3. They had to meet stringent qualifications - 1Ti 3:1-7; Ti 1:5-9
4. There was always a plurality in each congregation - e.g., Ac 20:17; 21:18
5. They were assisted by deacons, also qualified - e.g., Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:8-13
3. Important to note is the limited oversight of elders
1. Their oversight was limited to those "among" them - Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:1-2
2. They had no oversight of Christians in other congregations
3. The only authority above the local congregation was Christ and His apostles
4. This resulted in independent, autonomous congregations
1. No hierarchy above the local congregation
2. No single bishop over several churches, no synod, council or convention
3. No sponsoring church where elders of one church oversee the work of another
-- By His apostles' doctrine, Jesus offered peace from denominational division

[Through His own example and His apostles' doctrine, Jesus offers true peace for churches. Let's summarize the nature of...]

3. THE PEACE WITH CHURCHES THAT JESUS OFFERS
1. PREVENTS HIERARCHAL CONTROL...
1. By uninspired men (unlike the apostles of Christ)
2. By unqualified men (where are the qualifications for such authority?)
3. By unspiritual men (for denominationalism is indicatory of carnality) - cf. 1Co 3:3-4
-- The Lord desires that each church be overseen only by its own elders
2. HINDERS THE SPREAD OF ERROR...
1. False doctrine accepted by the hierarchy quickly spreads to churches under them
2. Where congregations are autonomous, error spreads much more slowly
-- Can we not see the Lord's wisdom in designing independent churches?
3. PRESENTS A MUCH BETTER PICTURE...
1. Autonomy does not prevent the rise of error
2. But where congregations are independent, the error is not apparent
3. It is when denominations are formed over doctrinal differences that division become visible to the outside world
-- We may not all agree, but we hinder the cause of Christ by "airing our dirty laundry"

CONCLUSION

1. In a world of religious division, let us not forget...
1. Jesus prayed for unity among believers, that the world might believe - Jn 17:20-23
2. God is the author of peace, not confusion, in all the churches - 1Co 14:33
2. If we want to promote the cause of Christ, let us...
1. As individuals, follow the personal example of Christ (free of sectarianism)
2. As congregations, follow the apostolic doctrine regarding church organization

Only then can we hope to have even a semblance of peace among the churches of Christ...

"The churches of Christ greet you." - Ro 16:16