|
 "Autonomy"
is a compound word, composed of autos, meaning
"self," and nomos, meaning
"law." An ordinary dictionary will tell us the word
means "self-ruled," so that an autonomous church is
"self-governed, without outside control."
There
are those who reject the concept of God and revelation, saying
ultimate authority is in man. To them there would be no
limitations placed upon self-rule. Of course most of our readers
accept Christ as King, and know that a church which wishes to
exercise "self rule" in all things is not the
church of Christ. But our brethren are far from clear on the
legitimate (scriptural) field of self rule, and how this affects
the relation of one church to another. Some seem to think
"autonomy" means the right to devise organizational
arrangements for which there is no N.T. authority; while others
think calling attention to such error violates the
"autonomy" of the erring brethren.
A
church can not "rule" on the importance of Christ'
death, the necessity of faith, the meaning and purpose of
baptism; for these are legacies of truth which Christ gave the
world and by which we are called. The church is the product of
the gospel, not its author. One would not violate some church's
autonomy by teaching along these lines, for no church as a
legitimate "say" in such things.
Does
God give a local church the right to decide the day of worship?
May they "rule" on the need for assembling, or the
so-called "items" of acceptable worship? It is
not clear that even in those things assigned as church
|
|
(team) activity, a distinction must be made in that which is part of
"the faith, once for all delivered unto the
saints" (over which the congregation has no rule), and
such details as are left to human judgement. The field of church
autonomy is that of human judgement, and that only.
As
an example: God's word indicates the day on which saints are to
partake of the Lord's Supper—but it does not specify the time
of day. The time is left to human judgement, and
therefore to the "rule" of brethren. A church
exercises autonomy when it sets its own time of
assembling—and we might add, that time rests upon human
authority, not upon divine mandate. Each church has this same
right and may choose different times. If one sought to unduly
influence or alter another's time of meeting, this would
be interfering with "autonomy."
But
if one church should declare Thursday the Lord's Day, others
could seek to teach them more perfectly the way of the Lord—and
violate no legitimate "autonomy" in doing so—for no
church has the scriptural right to "rule" in matters
God has settled.
When
brethren have honest differences in their understanding of what
God has said, one church may believe their "ruling" is
done in matters of judgement, while another may believe they
violate plain teachings of God. If both parties are equally
interested in serving God, neither will rest the case in
"our rights," but will be happy to study God's word
together so that God can rule supremely in all.
[Previous
Article]
[Next
Article]
|
