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DON’T FIRE YOUR CHURCH MEMBERS

THE CASE FOR CONGREGATIONALISM

JONATHAN LEEMAN

BECAUSE TRUTH MATTERS

BHAcademic.com

Don’t Fire Your Church Members: The Case for Congregationalism

Published by B&H Academic

Nashville, Tennessee

ISBN: 978-1-4336-8623-8

Dewey Decimal Classification: 262.7

Subject Heading: CONGREGATIONALISM \ DISCIPLESHIP \ CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Preface: The Importance of Polity

Introduction

Chapter 1: Who’s In Charge of What Around Here?

Chapter 2: A Covenantal Job Assignment

Chapter 3: The Keys to Office

Chapter 5: How the Holy Spirit Establishes Overseers

Chapter 6: Working with Other Congregations

Chapter 7: Getting to Work

Appendix 1: Quick Answers to Critiques of Elder-Led Congregationalism

Appendix 2: Sample Members’ Meeting Agenda

Name Index

Subject Index

Scripture Index

Preface

The Importance of Polity

Most evangelical Christians today, if pressed, will acknowledge that autonomous individualism is not the way of biblical Christianity. The vast majority would presumably acknowledge that Christians need some type of fellowship or community.

Yet most evangelical Christians, I suspect, are also indifferent toward the topic of church government or polity. And this suggests we might be more individualistic than we realize.

Individualism, that sociologist’s cuss word, is not rooted in being anti-community. Everyone loves the idea of community (except, maybe, the hermit). Rather, it roots in being anti-authority: I will gladly hang out with you, so long as you don’t tell me who I have to be or what I have to do.

To claim interest in Christian fellowship or even the church while paying little heed to church structures is like claiming to love family while paying no heed to the differences between parent and child or husband and wife. Part of what makes a family a family are those roles, and an important part of a church are its various roles or offices.

Church polity is a funny topic. People ...

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About Don't Fire Your Church Members: The Case for Congregationalism

Church membership is not just a status, it’s an office. Leaders shouldn’t fire members from the responsibilities given to them by Jesus—they should train them! When members are trained, the church grows in holiness and love, discipleship and mission. Complacency and nominalism are diminished.

Jesus gives every church member an office in the church’s government: to assume final responsibility for guarding the what and the who of the gospel in the church and its ministry. Similarly, Jesus gives leaders to the church for equipping the members to do this church-building and mission-accomplishing work.

In our day, the tasks of reinvigorating congregational authority and elder authority must work together. The vision of congregationalism pictured in this book offers an integrated view of the Christian life. Congregationalism is biblical, but biblical congregationalism just might look a little different than you expect. It is nothing less than Jesus’ authorization for living out his kingdom rule among a people on mission.

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Table of Contents