Church – What Is It Exactly? (Part 6)

This blog in my series on “Church – What Is It Exactly” part 6, focuses on how is the church governed and led according to the New Testament.

The church is governed and led by several means that Jesus has given us.

Those means are:

(a) Scripture (the Bible)

(b) the Holy Spirit

(d) Pastors and Teachers and Evangelists

(e) Men and women who are mature in the faith

(f) Holy Spirit given dreams and visions

So who brings correction?

All of those six points I have just mentioned.

(a) The Bible: The Bible is the written Word of God. And what does God say about it?

And I am reading here from the Amplified Bible which, as I have stated before, brings out the full various meanings of the text:

“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honourably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the people of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP)

Expressed in the plain thought of the New Living Translation:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT)

Do you get that?

God Himself has given us His written Word, the Bible, to bring correction if some idea or concept is ‘off the rails’.

(b) The Holy Spirit: As we individually, and together as a fellowship, listen to the Holy Spirit, He will guide us. And He does this by leading us to relevant passages of Scripture that speak to the situation at hand, and through His ‘gifts of the Spirit’ such as prophecy, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, and discernment of spirits.

(c) Apostles and Prophets: Apostles and Prophets bring guidance and governance as they are led along by the Holy Spirit.

We can see many examples in the New Testament where the Apostle Paul brings correction and guidance.

For example, in 1 Corinthians 11:17-33 where Paul brings correction about the Lord’s Supper.

In 1 Timothy chapter 5 where Paul brings correction and instruction about treating widows and the mature.

And in Galatians 2:11-21 when the Apostle Paul corrected the Apostle Peter over Peter’s hypocrisy on circumcision.

Likewise in 1 Corinthians 14:29-31 it is made clear that Prophets spoke guidance, instruction and encouragement to the New Testament church:

“Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attention and weigh carefully what is said. But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent. For [in this way] you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:29-31 AMP)

And in Revelation 19:10 where it states: “…….. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].” (Revelation 19:10b AMP)

(d) Pastors and Teachers and Evangelists: Likewise, these other three offices of the 5-fold ministry lead and guide and bring correction.

A Teacher through his or her ability to expound Scripture and bring to light and explain difficult passages of the Bible, or to bring out of the text various points and principles that previously may have been overlooked or misunderstood.

A Pastor through his or her ability to comprehend people and bring God’s Word to bear upon their lives. And a pastor’s ability to connect with people and gently encourage people to bring changes to their lives. Pastors have an ability to really care for the people of their congregation.

An Evangelist also brings correction and guidance, particularly when reaching the lost and unsaved ceases to be a priority for the church fellowship. An Evangelist is also gifted with the ability to encourage and teach others how to evangelise.

(e) Men and women who are mature in the faith: The way of the New Testament church is that ALL Christian believers play a role in the life of the church.

And those believers who are ‘mature’ in their faith help, lead, guide, and correct newer Christians who are just starting their Christian life.

The writer to the Hebrew church really draws this out:

“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. ……….” (Hebrews 5:11-12a)

Do we get that? Mature believers should be teaching other new believers. Mature believers are what the Bible calls “Elders”.

And all Christians have a responsibility to become ‘mature’ believers – to grow in their faith to where they know right from wrong, and can bring guidance and correction to others.

(f) Holy Spirit given dreams and visions: God said in Joel 2:28 ““And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”

And the Apostle Peter affirmed that in Acts 2:17

God will often give dreams and visions to Christians and often these dreams and visions will be for the purpose of giving direction to the church.

So we can see from these six ways that Jesus, as the supreme Head of the church, provided perfectly for the governance, guidance and correction necessary for His Body, the church.

Now it would be completely remiss of me not to say that however God provides direction, instruction or governance to the church, all things must align with Scripture, and the principles running throughout Scripture.

This is substantiated by passages like 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.

And 1 Corinthians 14:29 “Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.”

And the warnings of Jesus, and the Apostles Paul and John, that there are many false apostles, prophets and teachers in the world and, sadly by the way, in sections of the church.

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