Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 04:2 (Summer 1961)
Article: Conclusion
Author: Anonymous

CenQ 4:2 (Summer 1961) p. 58

Conclusion

Any casual observer of the Protestant world can easily see that there is a rapid shifting from a state of many external organizational divisions, called denominations, which through the years have had a large measure of internal unity based on their fidelity to the Word of God, to a state of external organizational union in the National Council of Churches with increasing internal divisions. This has resulted in many denominational splits; in the development of three strong inter-church associational fellowships (The National Council of Churches, the American Council of Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals); in the withdrawing of many local churches from their denominations; and in general, the greatest era of confusion Protestantism has ever seen.

The papal system of the Roman Catholic Church has failed; the Episcopal System of Methodism, the Episcopal Church, and many others that own and control the local church obviously cannot preserve religious freedom. The Presbyterian System of representative democracy cannot be trusted because this Elder System still leaves the local church owned by a Presbytery or

CenQ 4:2 (Summer 1961) p. 59

Synod, and hence it is not free. Also, this system does not leave the pastor free.

For the many who wail about fragmentation in Protestantism, unnecessary duplication, wasteful competition, and the unchristian example to the world of the many denominations, they are extreme pessimists. Let us point to the value of wholesome competition; higher efficiency of smaller groups; the passion for truth and God’s will that engenders fragmentation instead of the indifference to truth that engenders union, and perhaps the paramount virtue of all is that it would be much easier to stifle, steal and destroy religious freedom if it were deposited in one big Protestant church.

New Testament Local Churches In History

The New Testament local churches that have continued since the days of the apostles were easily identified in four different ways. (For convenience we may call them Evangelical Separatists, who, like the New Testament Christians, maintained their testimony in local churches that were independent and autonomous, apart from any established church, Protestant or Catholic):

1. These local churches stood for three distinct Bible truths.

a. The Bible alone was accepted for faith and practice.

b. The priesthood of believers made man accountable to God alone.

c. Every regenerate Christian who accepted the Bible by faith was allowed to interpret it for himself.

2. These churches stood for three distinct princip...