By Pastor Jason Edwards

 

If you are like me, the concept of an association of churches is a bit new, at least as framed by John Cotton, Thomas Goodwin, Phillip Nye, Jeremiah Burroughs, John Owen, Benjamin Keach, Nehemiah Coxe, and Hercules Collins. We know of elders meeting as a presbytery. We also know of national denominational conventions. Still, what ought this look like for us of Reformed, congregational, and baptistic convictions? As I continue to learn and organize my thoughts, I want to offer twenty-two reasons why I have been persuaded that associating with fellow Second-London-confessing churches is a privilege, a duty, and a blessing. There are certainly more than twenty-two—please add your own; but these are the clearest in my scribbles at this time, organized under five categories: scriptural, confessional, creedal, common sense, and historical.

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I. Scriptural Reasons

 

Reason #1. This is the method provided by apostolic example for the protection of truth and peace within churches. Acts 15:2 says: “when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.” Paul and Barnabas knew the answer. They knew circumcision was not to be forced upon Gentile converts under the new covenant. Yet, they modeled humility and trusted that the Holy Spirit, indwelling the church in Jerusalem, would illuminate this matter with authority to protect the truth and peace within the church in Antioch. The Holy Spirit directed Paul and Barnabas to submit themselves and this matter to the counsel of other churches, including apostles, elders, and the brethren (or the whole church), so that all churches in the centuries to come would have a pattern to follow. The most mature contenders for the common faith humbly brought the problems forward into the light of the broader kingdom of Christ and solicited the help of another church.

 

Reason #2. Christians work not for their own church alone, but alongside all God’s laborers. 3 John 8 says, “We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.” When representatives from one church ask the help of another, we remember that we ultimately labor side-by-side as part of the kingdom of heaven.

 

Reason #3. When one church asks another for assistance with a matter that threatens peace or truth, Christ expects churches to help one another. Acts 15:6-7 records: “Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute…” The church in Jerusalem “came together.” Church representatives showed humility. They involved the brethren, that is, the whole church, in prayerfully weighing the teaching introduced at another church. They made time in their busy schedules for this need. They accepted this other church’s request for help as a natural part of the scope of work as a local church. They put other tasks on hold for a moment. They called a special meeting of their church to “consider this matter” that was troubling another church. The consideration of the matter included the opportunity for “much dispute.” The concerns of one church became the concerns of all the churches.

 

Reason #4. King Jesus receives the help a church gives to His brethren as if it were a thanks offering directly to Him. Christ promises in Matthew 25:40, “the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

 

Reason #5. Healthy churches learn to obey all that Christ commands. As is true for the life of an individual believer, a church cannot obey Christ so long as it remains "incurvatus in se," bent inwardly on itself. Jesus commissioned His Church in Matthew 28:20, referring to disciples they baptized, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

 

Reason #6. It is a delight, a joy, and a pleasing privilege to discern and carry out the mind of Christ with other churches. Acts 15:22 says: “Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch…” These believers experienced a special pleasure, a blessing of arriving at resolution, clarity, and consensus together. The satisfaction of finding closure to the question and affirming this pleasing conclusion was enjoyed by all—church officers as well as “the whole church.” The elders did not act alone as an entity unto themselves: “It pleased the apostles and elders, with the brethren. All who participated in this lively process together were edified. All exercised the authority Christ gave them as Christians, as members of the local church, and as officers.

 

Reason #7. After churches prayerfully discern the mind of Christ together, when they declare His truth, it carries His authority. The whole church exercised the keys of the kingdom of heaven by sending a letter to the other churches in the hands of messengers. Acts 15:23 documents that “They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:” Their authority was a declarative statement of truth in line with God’s word.

 

Reason #8. Being a Christian includes caring about and praying for those outside your church. One of Christ’s commands is for each of His churches to pray for “all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 instructs, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Our actions will follow our prayers. Those churches we know, we will pray for. Those we pray for, we will want to help. In the same way, we, as a church, will ask for help from those we have come to trust through their profession of faith, truth, and practice. To “go it alone” means to miss out on other churches regularly, devotedly, and knowingly praying for us.

 

Reason #9. Learning to judge well within your church and in partnership with other churches is one of the ways God prepares His saints to rule judge in the life to come. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 6:2, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? (...) 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” The Lord likely gave Paul this glorious vision of the future reality for believers in the eternal state when God transported him to “the third heaven.” (2 Cor. 12:2) All the saints—officers and members—the whole church will rule over angels when Christ returns to reign over the new heavens and the new earth. These few years are our time—each of us—to actively participate in church life and gain practice in ruling well, both locally and as the Jerusalem church did, in Acts 15, in the service of other churches.

 

Reason #10. As Christ is the head over all Christians, we are bound to one another in Him already. Romans 12:5 reminds all Christians, “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Membership is expressed within a local body, but our union under Christ as Head extends beyond the locally constituted church. The sun never sets on the kingdom of Christ. While we cannot exercise our union with other believers fully on the other side of the world, we can and must do so with churches that mutually welcome this union, as our circumstances allow.

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II. Credal Reasons

 

Reason #11. We believe in the communion of saints as taught in the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed (1st-2nd Century) teaches that the ministry of the Holy Spirit unites believers to Christ in the global, invisible church: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the one holy Christian church, the communion of saints.” The term “communion” can include “Union of professing Christians in a particular church; as, members in full communion” as well as “Fellowship; interchange of transactions, a state of giving and receiving; agreement; concord.”

 

Reason #12. We believe in the one holy apostolic church as taught in the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) professes, “We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic church.” The Christian church is one. While “The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error” (2LCF 26:3), the rule for regulating church life and doctrine is the teaching of the apostles, canonized in the New Testament. An association of churches ought to uphold unified convictions about apostolic doctrines, never compromising truth in pursuit of an undiscerningly broad unity. Nonetheless, mutual interdependence with other churches is vital for bringing into practice our stated belief in the “one holy Christian (or catholic, meaning globally dispersed) church.”

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III. Confessional Reasons

 

Reason #13. Walking together with other Christians in particular churches is one way Christ is glorified through His churches in the world. The Second London Confession of Faith (2LCF) states, “Those thus called, he commands to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requires of them in the world.” (25:5)

 

Reason #14. The decision to associate, like becoming a member of a local church, is always in obedience to Christ and never coerced by men. Those whom Christ saved and organized into biblically-ordered churches, “do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.” (2LCF 26:6)
 

Reason #15. If a church associates with other churches that subscribe to the 1689 Confession, the authority of each local church is already safeguarded. “To each of these churches therefore gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he has given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he has instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.” (2LCF 26:4) Further, “As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.” (2LCF 26:12) And further yet, “No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.” (2LCF 26:13)

 

Reason #16. An association of churches provides an opportunity for peace, increase of love, and mutual edification, without which it is hard for church plants (especially) to survive. “As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.” (2LCF 26:14)

 

Reason #17. From time to time, any church may need help with discerning the mind of Christ on a matter of truth or practice. “In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not entrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.” (2LCF 26:14)

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IV. Light of Nature (Common Sense) Reasons

 

Reason #18. All Christians have remaining sin, so we ought to proactively seek out mutual submission and accountability. Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

 

Reason #19. An association gives us strength in numbers to withstand sin, Satan, worldliness, and wolves. Ecclesiastes 4:12 encourages, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

 

Reason #20. Too many churches who have “gone it alone” have closed. Sources estimate that “somewhere between 4,000 and 10,000 churches closed their doors permanently” each year in the USA. While this number includes churches that were part of a denomination, when a crisis hits a church that could threaten closure, it is self-evident that an association is a source of strength and security.

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V. Historical Reasons

 

Reason #21. The challenges our churches face today are not new. Reformed and baptistic congregational churches in the 17th Century also experienced a shortage of ministers; their members were combating worldliness, and the churches were unable to compensate their ministers sufficiently.

 

Reason #22. Regional associations of 1689-confessing churches are a time-tested help to local churches. Despite persecution from the government and exclusion from established denominations, British baptistic Congregationalists in the late 1600s survived and thrived by supporting one another sacrificially through regional associations of churches. More recent generations have proven the viability of similar associations in the Southeastern USA, Southern California, Texas, and New Zealand.

 

Final encouragement:

You have been gracious in considering these twenty-two reasons I have set forth. Remember, “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and he has left it free from human doctrines and commandments that are in any way contrary to his word or not contained in it…” No pastor or spokesman can require another Christian “absolute and blind obedience” which “destroy liberty of conscience and reason as well.” (2LCF 21:2) Only the Holy Spirit can illuminate His word and persuade His people. My prayer is that, Lord willing, these “ancient paths” our forefathers have marched will prove once again to be a source of God’s provision, accountability, and encouragement for churches like ours in this, our generation, and if God preserves our congregations by His presence, for many more to come.