Government

Norton Street church of Christ

"People helping people to reach the likeness of God." (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Government

Church Government

The subject of church organization is not foreign to the Pages of Inspiration. The New Covenant reveals that the church is to be organized as God has declared. In Ephesians 4.11-12 the Bible declares, "And he [i.e., God] gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ." Church organization involves apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Now, we must keep in mind that the church of the first-century existed during the age of miracles. The Bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians 13.8-13 that the age of miracles would one day cease. Simply put, miracles (as defined and described by the Bible) were for the expressed purpose of confirming the Word of God (Mark 16.20; Hebrews 2.4). Today, the Word of God is no longer in need of confirmation, for it has already been confirmed and preserved for posterity (John 16.13; Jude 3). Therefore, of the five offices mentioned in Ephesians 4.11, two have passed away with the first century and the age of miracles, viz., the office of apostle and prophet; and there are three offices that remain--the evangelist, the pastor, and the teacher. Along with the offices of the church, we are also made aware of the responsibility of each office, "For the perfecting of the saints," "Unto the work of ministering," "Unto the building up of the body of Christ."