What Constitutes
A True Apostolic Church?

What Constitutes a True Apostolic Church?

by Thomas D.W. Muir

FOR NEARLY 2,000 years there has been in the world that which claims to be the Church of God. From its earliest beginnings, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, its professed mission has been to represent God in the midst of men. Hence, it is quite natural to ask: "Is the Church, as we know it today, indeed representing Him? Is it carrying on the work for which it was called into existence? Are the results such as would be expected, from what is found in the Scriptures?" These and such like questions arise as one ponders upon present conditions, with apostolic precepts and practices before them as recorded in the Bible. For instance, in Scripture it is seen that:

First, the Apostolic Church was Heavenly in its character, testimony and destiny. They who composed it were "not of the world, even as [Christ was] not of the world" (John 17:14-16). Hence, the world knew them not, even as it knew Him not (1 John 3:1). They were in the world but not of it in the sense of being sharers of its ambitions, thoughts, purposes and ways.

Second, the Apostolic Church was a witness for God in the world (Acts 1:8). Like their Master, they testified that the works and ways of the world were evil and that judgment was ahead (John 15:18-25). Like Him, also, they did not seek to influence the moral or political conduct of the world by legislation but preached the Word of God, that the conscience and heart might be reached and the individual led to repentance (Acts 20:20-21).

Third, the Apostolic Church had one remedy for all spiritual ills-the Gospel. They preached the ruin of man by nature (Romans 3:10-19). They pressed home on men the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the claims of God's righteous throne and the Cross of Christ as the one all-sufficient answer to both human guilt and Divine righteousness (I Corinthians 1:23-24).

Fourth, the Apostolic Church had no questions as to the authenticity and credibility of the Scriptures of truth (2 Timothy 3:16). They freely quoted from the writings of Moses, David and the prophets and claimed that they were the words of God, pressing them upon the consciences of those who heard them, with telling power, so that men were "pricked in heart" and led in conviction and contrition to Christ (Acts 26:22-23).

Fifth, the Apostolic Church did not seek to entertain the world. Their mission was the salvation of men, not their amusement (Matthew 28:19-20). Fairs, bazaars, concerts (sacred or profane), whist drives, petty theatricals and such like had no place in the mission or work of the early Church. Hence, their meetings were punctuated, not with the laughter of delighted merry-makers, but with the sighs and groans of repentance coming from broken hearts that God was ever ready to heal (Acts 2:37).

Sixth, the Apostolic Church was poor-but powerful! The apostle Peter had to say to the helpless beggar at the beautiful gate, "Silver and gold have I none," but could add, "such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." And the man was immediately made strong and walked, leaped and praised God (Acts 3:6-8). Thus, the influence they had among men was not because of wealth or social position but because of the power of God that was with them.

Seventh, the Apostolic Church gave the Holy Spirit of God His place in their midst. They were absolutely dependent on Him for all things. He it was who convicted men of sin (John 16:8), quickened them into life (Ephesians 1:13), enabled them to walk with God (Galatians 5:16), energized them for service (I Thessalonians 1:5), and led and empowered them in their worship (John 4:24; Philippians 3:3). In other words, they had no ecclesiastical machinery that could run and do the work as well without God than with Him.

Eighth, the Apostolic Church was composed of saved people. "Saints in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:1, etc.) who had been washed, "sanctified ... [and] justified in the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11). They had been "born again" through the Gospel (1 Peter 1:23-25); hence, they were children of God by faith in Christ" (Galatians 3:26). They had been baptized in one Spirit into one body, of which Christ was and is the Head (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23). Certain might creep into their assemblies who were not true Christians, but they did it "unawares" (Jude 4). As a rule, the power of God was so amongst them that "of the rest durst no man join himself to them" (Acts 5:13). They neither asked nor received help from the world (3 John 5-8). And yet there was no claim to perfection, no indication of that "perfect church" that would-be reformers have sought to produce. They were composed of "saints," it is true, yet there was no halo about the head of any, as men would depict them. They were men and women "subject to like passions as we are" (James 5:17), yet saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8) and kept by power (1 Peter 1:5), but needing help, shepherding, instructing and correcting by the Word of God because they were real men and women liable to failure and error. Hence, while the Acts of the Apostles tells of the planting of churches of God as the result of Gospel testimony, the epistles are filled with matter to build them up and, where needed, to correct their behavior, that they might walk worthy of God.

Ninth, the Apostolic Church made much of the name of the Lord Jesus. They preached "repentance and remission of sins ... in His name" (Luke 24:47). They proclaimed salvation in His name, even as, in the power of that name, they had done works of might and healing (Acts 4:10-12). They brought down blessing on themselves and others in answer to prayer in His name (Acts 4:29-3 1). In His name they baptized those who had believed the Gospel (Acts 19:5), and they gathered together in His name (Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 5:4). If any among them gave a place to other names, even those of honored servants of Christ, the Spirit of God condemned it in unmeasured terms (1 Corinthians 1:12-15). The people of God were one, and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ was that which distinguished them, not from one another, as sectarian names do, but from the world, out of which God, in grace, had called them. As with Israel of old, they were called by the name of the "Lord" (Deuteronomy 28:10), which was to be a testimony to the world around them.

Tenth, the Apostolic Church were "as strangers and pilgrims," looking for the return of the Lord Jesus from Heaven (1 Peter 2:11-12). Hence, they made no attempt to settle down here. Some who had houses and lands sold them and used the proceeds for the spread of truth (Acts 4:34-37). A simple upper room or loft answered their purpose for a gathering place. Their "place of worship" was the "holiest of all," where Christ, their great High Priest, was (Hebrews 10: 19-22) and not any temple made with hands down here.

They believed the promise of the Lord that He was coming again for them (John 14:1-3). That He would come back again in like manner as He had gone, they had been assured (Acts 1:11), and so the attitude of the Church was one of waiting for Him (1 Corinthians 1:7;1 Thessalonians 1:9-10,etc.). Before the Book was closed, the Lord thrice reminded His Church that He was coming quickly (Revelation 22:712, 20). So that as long as the Church maintained her freshness and unworldly character, His "coming" was her hope. It was the motive power in service (1 Corinthians 15:58), the incentive to holiness of life (1 John 3:1-3) and their solace in days of bereavement (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

These, then, are some of the characteristics and practices of the Apostolic Church-characteristics that should appear today in that which claims to be His, practices that will still be found to have His blessing in the twentieth as in the first century of the Christian era. But do they appear? Are these the practices of our day? Alas, we must, with shame, answer, "No,"–for from being the chaste Bride of Christ which God purposed His Church should be (2 Corinthians 11:2), much of that which professes to be His is so truly in and of the world, that He calls the confused and confusing mass by the name it suggests – "Babylon," from which He commands His people to "Come out" (Revelation 17:5; 18:4).

Is it not true that what calls itself the Church today is, in most cases, simply part of the "religious world" – a term, by the way, very suggestive and appropriate? For while "religious" it is still "the world" of which the true church is not a part. Is it not true that instead of being a witness against the world and its ways, the Church feasts with it? That instead of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, every conceivable topic in social, commercial and political life is raked over, in the effort to find something "new"? That in an increasing ratio, men, claiming to be servants of God, are apologizing for, if not absolutely denying or overthrowing the Word of God, instead of preaching it? That, because of the majority who form the professing Church being "of the world," the entertainment and not the salvation of man is prominent, while material prosperity is sought rather than the power of God?

It is no longer necessary in most churches" to be able to declare how, when and where God saved one, ere the hand of fellowship is given. Hence, the oft-used term "the invisible Church" indicates that those who are most "visible" and prominent do not necessarily belong to the real Church. As for the blessed Hope of His return, how can it exist amid such surroundings? Where are they who are looking for Him? Have not thoughts of other kinds filled the heart? And, hence, that which God intended as a Heavenly witness for Himself down here has become a mere accommodation to the "religious nature of man," as it is called.

The remedy, therefore, we may say in conclusion, for all this failure, individual or collective, is to get to the Word of God, there to find what God says about the Church and His purposes concerning it; but only such as are children of God and are indwelt by the Spirit of God would have the desire to do so or the ability to profit by it.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).