INSTITUTIONALISM

1 TIMOTHY 4:1

TEXT

INSTITUTIONALISM

• “The ship of Zion has flounderedmore than once on the sandbar of institutionalism. The tendency to organize is characteristic of the age. This writer has been unable to appreciate the logic of those who affect to see grave danger in the Missionary Society but scruple not to form organizations for the purpose of caring for orphans and teaching young men to be gospel preachers. Of course it is right for the church to care for the fatherless and widows in their affliction, but the work should be done thru the church with the elders having the oversight thereof.”

(Guy N. Woods, ACC Lectures 1939, p. 54)

INSTITUTIONALISM

• SOURCE OF AUTHORITY– COL. 3:17– MATT. 28:20

INSTITUTIONALISM

• IS THERE A BIBLE PATTERN?– Age of the Patriarchs

• GEN. 2:15-17• GEN. 3:11• GEN. 6:22

INSTITUTIONALISM

• IS THERE A BIBLE PATTERN?– Age of the law of Moses

• EX. 25:8-9• EX. 25:40• EX. 26:30• EX. 27:8• ACTS 7:39-41• 1 SAM. 15:3, 8-9• 1 KINGS 12:33

INSTITUTIONALISM

• IS THERE A BIBLE PATTERN?– New Testament

• 2 TIM. 1:13• 2 TIM. 2:5• 2 TIM. 3:16-17

INSTITUTIONALISM

• BIBLE PATTERNS GIVEN TO US - NT– Is there a NT pattern for gospel obedience?– ROM. 6:17-18– If there is no pattern then baptism is not binding– If there is no pattern we cannot forbid infant

baptism or sprinkling instead of immersion– If there is no order or pattern then there can be

no disorder

INSTITUTIONALISM

• BIBLE PATTERNS GIVEN TO US - NT– Is there a NT pattern for worship?– ACTS 2:42; COL. 3:16-17– If there is no pattern then we can partake of the

Lord’s Supper on a weekday– If there is no pattern we cannot forbid pianos,

organs, beads and candles.– If there is no order or pattern then there can be

no disorder

INSTITUTIONALISM

• BIBLE PATTERNS GIVEN TO US - NT– Is there a NT pattern for organization?– ACTS 14:21-23; TITUS 1:5; 1 PET. 5:2– If there is no pattern then we can have the one

man pastor plan of the protestants - CEO– If there is no pattern we cannot forbid the

priestly caste of the Catholics– If there is no order or pattern then there can be

no disorder

INSTITUTIONALISM

• ESTABLISHING SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY– DIRECT STATEMENT OR COMMAND

• 1 COR. 11:24-26

– APPROVED APOSTOLIC EXAMPLE• ACTS 20:7

– NECESSARY INFERENCE• ACTS 20:7

INSTITUTIONALISM

• SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY

• COMMANDS GENERIC SPECIFICNoah Wood Gopher

Naaman Water River Jordan

Church Music Sing

Preach Organizations Church

Edify

Relieve

INSTITUTIONALISM

• BIBLE PATTERNS GIVEN TO US - NT– Is there a NT pattern for the work of the church?

• 1 THESS. 1:8• 1 THESS. 5:11• 1 TIM. 5:16

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE CHURCH?– Universal sense

• MATT. 16:18• EPH. 1:22-23• 1 COR. 12:13

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE CHURCH?– Local Sense

• ROM. 16:16• GAL. 1:2• 1 COR. 1:2• REV. 1:11

– NEVER IN THE NT DO WE FIND LOCAL CHURCHES MOVING OR WORKING IN CONCERT AS A SINGLE UNIT – NO “CHURCH-HOOD CONCEPT”

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE CHURCH?– Distinction

• 1 COR. 12:13• ACTS 22:16• ACTS 2:47• ACTS 9:26

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH?– Evangelism/Preaching

• ACTS 11:22• 1 THESS. 1:8

– Edification• EPH. 4:11-12• ACTS 11:26

– Benevolence• ACTS 6:1-3• 1 TIM. 5:16

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE ISSUE AMONG US TODAY?– EVANGELISM – – THE ISSUE IS NOT

• Should preaching be done• “How” this preaching should be done (means-

method)• May churches cooperate• May a place be maintained

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE ISSUE AMONG US TODAY?– EVANGELISM – THE ISSUE IS CAN CHURCHES

OF CHRIST BUILD AND MAINTAIN SOCIETIES/ ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THE WORK GOD GAVE THE LOCAL CHURCH TO DO

INSTITUTIONALISM

• EVANGELISM – THERE IS AUTHORITY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO :– Select the area– Select the preachers– Provide a place– Support– Facilities

INSTITUTIONALISM

• EVANGELISM – THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO SEND IT $ TO A MISSIONARY SOCIETY (President, Board, Treasury) and let them:– Select the area– Select the preachers– Provide a place– Support– Facilities

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE ISSUE AMONG US TODAY?– EDIFICATION – THE ISSUE IS NOT

• Should saints be edified• “How” this edification should be done (means-

method)• May churches cooperate• May a place be maintained

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE ISSUE AMONG US TODAY?– EDIFICATION – THE ISSUE IS CAN CHURCHES

OF CHRIST BUILD AND MAINTAIN COLLEGES TO DO THE WORK GOD GAVE THE CHURCH TO DO

INSTITUTIONALISM

• EDIFICATION – THERE IS AUTHORITY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO :– Select the curriculum– Select the teachers– Provide a place– Support– Facilities

INSTITUTIONALISM

• EDIFICATION – THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO SEND $ TO A COLLEGE (President, Board, Treasury) to train preachers– Select the curriculum– Select the teachers– Provide a place– Support– Facilities

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE ISSUE AMONG US TODAY?– BENEVOLENCE – THE ISSUE IS NOT

• Should we care for the needy• “How” this care should be provided (means-method)

INSTITUTIONALISM

• WHAT IS THE ISSUE AMONG US TODAY?– BENEVOLENCE – THE ISSUE IS CAN

CHURCHES OF CHRIST BUILD AND MAINTAIN BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES / ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THE WORK GOD GAVE THE CHURCH TO DO

INSTITUTIONALISM

• BENEVOLENCE – THERE IS AUTHORITY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO :– See the need– Appoint men– Provide a place– Support– Care - Facilities

INSTITUTIONALISM

• BENEVOLENCE – THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO SEND $ TO BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES/ORGANIZATIONS (President, Board, Treasury) for them to:– See the need– Appoint men– Provide a place– Support– Care - Facilities

INSTITUTIONALISM

• CONCLUSION– Has God given us a pattern?– Are we willing to follow his pattern?– Does your life conform to God’s pattern?