AUTHORIZED RELIGIOUS ACTION
- Introduction
- Colossians 3:17
All that we say or do religiously must be done in the name of the Lord.
- Acts 19:11-17
Clearly, calling on His name is not a mere magical incantation like "Abracadabra." Instead, it means that the Lord must authorize the action.
- 2nd John 9
We must be careful not to go too far.
- Matthew 18:15-17
- As exemplified in this passage, religious action takes place on three levels:
- The individual level, as a Christian (15).
- The conjunctive level, as a plurality of Christians, but not the church (16).
- The collective level, as a church (17).
- Our study is a simple examination of those things we ought to do in religion, and the ways in which they can be accomplished.
- Prayer
- Individually (A Christian)
- Matthew 6:5-6
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- Acts 12:12
- Collectively (A church)
- Acts 2:42
- Acts 12:5
- 1st Corinthians 14:15-16
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Song
- Individually (A Christian)
- James 5:13
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- Acts 16:25
- Collectively (A church)
- Colossians 3:16
- Hebrews 2:12
- 1st Corinthians 14:15
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Evangelism
- Individually (A Christian)
- Acts 8:4-13
- Acts 8:26-40
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- Acts 16:30-32
- Acts 18:26
- Collectively (A church)
- 1st Thessalonians 1:8
- Ephesians 3:10
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Exhortation & Edification
- Individually (A Christian)
- Philippians 4:8
- 1st Timothy 4:15
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- Acts 20:20
- Hebrews 3:12-13
- Collectively (A church)
- Acts 11:26
- Acts 13:1-3
- Acts 15:32
- Hebrews 10:24-25
- 1st Corinthians 4:17
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Discipline
- Individually (A Christian)
- Matthew 18:15
- Galatians 6:1
- James 5:19-20
- 1st Timothy 6:5
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- 2nd John 10-11
- Matthew 18:16
- Collectively (A church)
- Matthew 18:17
- 1st Corinthians 5:1-5
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Ministry To The Saints
- Individually (A Christian)
- 1st John 3:17
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- 1st Timothy 5:8, 16
- Collectively (A church)
- 1st Corinthians 16:1-2
- Acts 4:32-37
- Acts 11:29-30
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Preacher's Wages
- Individually (A Christian)
- Luke 8:1-3
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- Luke 10:4-7
- Collectively (A church)
- Philippians 4:15-16
- 2nd Corinthians 11:8-9
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- LORD's Supper
- Individually (A Christian)
- Unauthorized
- Conjuctively (A few Christians)
- Unauthorized
- Collectively (A church)
- Acts 20:7
- 1st Corinthians 11:17-21
- Alternatively (A college, a camp, a retreat, a foundation, a society, etc.)
- Unauthorized
- Conclusion
- In Christ, we may act:
- Individually, as Christians.
- Conjunctively, with other Christians.
- Collectively, as the church.
- The church is the only means whereby we may act collectively to perform our religious duties.
- Ephesians 4:11-16
The body must build itself up. We are to encourage each other's growth in the church.
- Ephesians 3:20-21
God is to be glorified in the church. The church is the setting in which we worship Him together.
- Ephesians 3:10-11; 1st Timothy 3:15
God's eternal purpose includes making known His manifold wisdom through the church, which is the foundation of the truth.
- Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23; Romans 12:15
There is one head - Christ, one body - His church, and the members are Christians individually. Where do organizations other than the church fit into this arrangement?
- Acts 20:28
The Lord shed His blood to purchase the church, not a college, camp, foundation, ladies' retreat, or missionary society.
- Matthew 15:13
- If God did not establish a certain religious entity, He will most certainly overthrow it.
- There is no authority whatsoever to establish other organizations or institutions to do religious work, such as:
- Colleges, with their mandatory chapel attendance, Bible departments, preacher training courses, and annual lectureships.
- Camps, with daily Bible classes and twice daily devotionals.
- Women's retreats, with singing, praying, and Bible studies.
- Privately funded foundations, with their annual lectureships.
Authorized Religious Action Chart |
Action |
Individually (Christian) |
Conjunctively (Christians) |
Collectively (Church) |
Alternatively (College, Camp, Foundation, etc.) |
Prayer |
Matthew 6:5-6 |
Acts 12:12 |
Acts 2:42, 12:5; 1 Corinthians 14:15-16 |
Unauthorized |
Song |
James 5:13 |
Acts 16:25 |
Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12 1 Corinthians 14:15 |
Unauthorized |
Evangelism |
Acts 8:4-13, 26-40 |
Acts 16:30-32; 18:26 |
1 Thessalonians 1:8; Ephesians 3:10 |
Unauthorized |
Exhortation & Edification |
Phillipians 4:8 1 Timothy 4:15 |
Acts 20:20 Hebrews 3:12-13 |
Acts 11:26; 13:1-3; 15:32 Hebrews 10:24-25 1 Corinthians 4:17 |
Unauthorized |
Discipline |
Matthew 18:15 Galatians 6:1 James 5:19-20 1 Timothy 6:5 2 John 10-11 |
Matthew 18:16 |
Matthew 18:17 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 |
Unauthorized |
Ministry to the saints |
1 John 3:17 |
1 Timothy 5:8, 16 |
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Acts 4:32-37; 11:29-30 |
Unauthorized |
Preacher's Wages |
Luke 8:1-3 |
Luke 10:4-7 |
Philippians 4:15-16 2 Corinthians 11:8-9 |
Unauthorized |
Lord's Supper |
Unauthorized |
Unauthorized |
Acts 20:7 1 Corinthians 11:17-21 |
Unauthorized |
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