Is It Biblical To Start A New Church?
by Mike Patterson (Facebook)
For one, if it was not, we would all be a part of the Catholic Church, but let’s look at this scripturally.
A WSL (one of our favorite preachers!) in a Bible study proposed the Corinth Church had terrible sinful situations going on and a new church was never started.
I was surprised that he specifically wrote this considering he started a new church in his country after coming out of the ICOC.
Nonetheless, why did Paul not need to start a new church?
First, we need to remember one of our core convictions of Bible interpretation: We are silent where the Bible speaks and speak where the Bible is silent.
If the Bible says something we shut up and obey it, where it is silent we are free to make choices.
The mainline Church of Christ theology “Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” This theology teaches there must be a command, or example in order to do something. (This is why the mainline Churches of Christ do not have musical instruments in their services or women cannot baptize, because there is no example of one).
Another one of our core convictions is we are a Bible Church and not just a New Testament Church. The Old Testament was the Bible of the first century church. Though we do not follow the mosaic law, the physical realities of physical Israel, help guide us in church governance of spiritual Israel the church.
Just because there is no example of a new church starting in the New Testament does not mean the Spirit does not address the issue in the Old Testament or that it is biblically forbidden.
This WSL’s Bible study seems to go to a mainline theology when convenient. Is there Bible precedent for starting a new church is like asking if there is Bible precedent for having a youth minister or doing Bible talks.
Let us address the Corinthians situation. The answer is very simple, it was not a leadership issue and could still be fixed. The leadership was godly and addressing sin. Paul writes he would fix the church by sending Timothy into the church which would remind them what he taught everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:14-17).
We can conclude that a church maybe filled with sin and a new church being planted is not necessary when a godly central leadership and overseeing evangelists (Paul and Timothy in this case) can go in and fix it.
The seven churches of Asia had issues and Jesus addresses each church through John’s letter in Revelation. John, a righteous leader, being the overseeing evangelist of the churches could hope to turn things around.
Our current ICC/RCW situation is not comparable to this. What do we do when the establishment is unchallengeable and the leadership is no longer righteous and tolerated sin?
Jesus confronted the leadership of his day. He made the issues known. This was not a rash decision as many suppose, but goes way back to 2014 of feelings many of us had and the way people were treated.
Matthew 18 has been brought up by some, but remember, this deals with interelational break downs in the church and getting resolved. Even if it did apply to this, we more than practiced it.
We teach the following scriptures in our church study on “Godly Division” and advocate breaking off a church that is no longer teaching doctrine or living the life (1 Timothy 4:16).
Luke 12:51-53
John 10:19-21
Standing for Jesus causes people to divide out. Divisiveness in a sinful way would be staying in the church creating dissention or teaching a false salvational doctrine.
“But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!” 1 Corinthians 11:19
Everything we are doing is right out of our “Church Study.” We do have a plea for unity and that is my ultimate prayer, but not all unity is godly. We need to be united on the Bible. Our goal is to just be the church that is in the book of Acts!
So is it Biblical to start a new church? Absolutely, we speak where the Bible is silent, and have biblical warrant to divide off of that which is corrupted (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). It is the exact same way the ICC was started. Let’s not forget the Bible and forget history and praise God for this purifying fire brought on His people.
Pray for us as we pray for you! Much love.
I agree with Jason. In revelations it talks about a lukewarm church and how God is about to spit it out. I am paraphrasing of course. Jason is not really changing the church, instead he’s taking a stand saying he is not going to follow hypocrisy and staying with those who won’t follow the purpose of being a disciple follow the example of a the first century church. Since the leaders we have now refuse to step down due to pride, then they left Jason no choice. I am in no way perfect in being a disciple, to say the truth I am probably the worst, but I am not so blind by pride that I cannot see this truth. ICC leaders need to repent of being lukewarm and be willing to get radical. ICC isn’t following first century church examples but instead become so much like a club and leads by feelings and fear instead of taking a leap of faith and remember why the movement first started. ICC needs to remember their first love and stop being hateful for Jason taking a stand for God. So yeah, if you want to say he started a new church fine, but the truth is he is breaking away from those who won’t repent and out of his love and respect changed the name of our movement
Say that again, even Paul and Barnabas were at loggerheads and they continue together, also Abraham and Lot were obliged to split. The church is God’s vision and not man’s.