TO BE OR NOT TO BE

TO BE OR NOT TO BE
Christians should seek to be a part of a local body of believers.
(if you think I wrote this because of you, you are wrong. If it applies to you, then that is between you and God).

EXCEPTIONS
Sometimes this is not possible. A church planter or a missionary often goes to a place where there is no church, or to a place that needs more churches, but for a period of time the Christian worker does not have a local church, of which to be part.

Sometimes believers are doing the will of God, even where there is not a local body of believers, to which they can commit. This is true in frontier situations (both domestic and foreign).

MORE THAN APPEARANCE
An assembly of believers is not necessarily a local church, in the New Testament sense of the word. It is possible for a pastor to have a group of people, even Christian people, but not have a local church in the New Testament form. Likewise it is possible for a believer to be where God wants him to be, and doing the ministry that God wants him to do, even if there is no viable local church.

SOME SCENARIOS
There are various scenarios that fit this idea. Young people who get saved, and then are relocated because their unbelieving parents move to a new area, may find themselves in a community that does not have a Biblical local church. This could be true for a believing wife. God may lead anyone to an area for a period of time, to do a certain work, although there is no viable church in the area. A believer in this situation does not becomes antagonistic to the Biblical church model, but he cannot commit to that which is contrary to basic Biblical truths. Being part of an organized group that calls itself a church does not verify that group's authenticity as a church.

SELF EXEMPTED
There are great numbers of people who go to assemblies, but are not truly part of a New Testament local church. They are so deeply committed to being part of a church (as perceived by the community) instead of being part of a church (as conceived by God), that they stay with the outward form instead of committing to the inward reality.

GOD ADDS TO THE CHURCH

God wants His people to be part of a viable local church. God will use the pioneer to help plant a church. But no one can force a church into existence. nor should they submit and be part of a group that is not Biblical.

BEING BIBLICALLY CHOOSY
I am not saying that a person should be looking for a perfect church with no problems, but I am saying that a Christian should not commit to a group if that group or that pastor is not meeting basic Biblical standards of a New Testament church.

THE CHURCH IS GOD'S PLAN
Although a person can be a faithful follower of Christ, and be pleasing to God in a place or time that does not have a viable local church, that person cannot reach his/her full potential in ministry without a local body of believers. This is true whether the person is a pastor or not.

God's plan is the local church. Our objective should always be to be part of that plan.

I know this article leaves room for questions, criticisms. I just hope it answers some also.

PERSONAL VIEW
If I was not called to be a pastor, and if God called me to a new location, there are certain things I would require in a local body of believers, before I would be part of it. There would be doctrinal issues, relational issues, practical issues, ministry issues. This does not mean I would not worship and serve God. It does not mean I would not try to find others who would be part of a Biblical church setting. It does not mean I would not hope to be part of planting a Biblical church in the area.

SOME SHOULD MOVE
I believe some people should move from an area that does not provide a Biblical church (especially families) to an area with a New Testament local church. I believe there are rare occasions when God may lead a person to stay in a place, even if they do not have a local congregation and pastor.

REMAIN FAITHFUL
I do all I can to encourage other people to come to our ministry, but I do not condemn them because they choose otherwise. I encourage people, who live in other places, to find and be part of a local church, though I realize that is not always possible. I encourage those believers to get all of the help they can get, so that they can be the light in their dark community.

SELFISH REFUSAL
I also know there are people who do not want to be part of a local church, because of personal, self oriented reasons. This would be an entire article, which I may address on another occasion. But basically, they do not like to submit to either God, pastors, Biblical standards or other believers. These people will find excuses for not being part of a local church.