Examples
Reprinted from Servants’ News Published by Norman S. Edwards (Perry, Michigan)
Example #5: In the familiar Acts
15 meeting, the members were involved all the way through.
In Acts 15:4, Paul and Barnabas were received by the church, and the apostles
and elders. Verse 7 says Peter addressed "men and brethren. Verse 12 says "then all the multitude kept silence". In verse 13 James
says "men and brethren". Verse 22 says "then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church". The letter they wrote in
Verse 23 starts out "The apostles and elders and brethren". Verses 24-25 then go on to use the words we, us, and to send, indicating
the "sheep" were involved in the decision and in the sending. Verse 27 says "we have sent".
Example #6: Two or three witnesses
are not to go to the ministry.
Christ himself gives us instruction in Matthew 18 of how to handle a brother who has trespassed against
us. In verse 17 we are told to first go alone to our brother, next Christ says we go with two or three witnesses, then, if still not
settled,... we go to the ministry? NO! We are instructed to go next to the whole, church, to the collective body. "Then if the man
who has trespasses refuses to hear the church, then let him be as a heathen man".
Christ in these very clear instructions does not
indicate a two-class system or that the members are inferior. Instead we can see the responsibility and power given here to the collective
body.
Example #7: When an elder sins, the matter goes to the congregation, not the ministry.
1 Timothy 5:19-20 says "them" (the
subject is elders) that sin rebuke before all. How many Churches of God follow this simple and clear instruction? It is interesting
to note that Paul followed this instruction in Gal. 2:14 when he rebuked Peter before all. We again see the responsibility given to
the collective body.
Example #8: The Corinthian church, not the ministry, was told to put out the adulterer.
1 Corinthians is
addressed to the church at Corinth-to the saints. In chapter 5:4 the collective body is told when "you are gathered together" to put
out the fornicator. The point again is the collective body, not the ministry, was given this responsibility.
Example #9: It is
NOT the ministry that is told to Judge two or three inspired speakers.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul gives some instruction to the church.
Verse 29 says "Let the prophets speak (two or three), and let the others judge". To make the point again, it is not the elders who
are to judge, but the collective body; all of the members.
