Upholding the Truth
The work of the church is primarily to uphold the truth as God gave it in the Scriptures. “… but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). There are several things that the church is exemplified and commanded in the Bible, and therefore authorized to do in order to accomplish this work. I believe that in order to take the best advantage of our opportunities, we should know what these things are and practice them when appropriate.
Most commonly, the church upheld the truth as each member taught his neighbor. At first, of course, all were under the tutelage of the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42). But that quickly changed as the apostles became the focal point of persecution. As the disciples grew in spiritual maturity and knowledge of the revealed truth of God, all were active in declaring to his neighbor the gospel of God. Luke wrote of them, “And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42). I do not believe that this statement is limited to the apostles. Paul told Timothy, “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). Early Christians, impressed with the call of the Great Commission and filled with the compassion of Jesus for the lost, continually busied themselves teaching all that would listen.
Even those who “were scattered abroad went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Luke also writes, “They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:19-21).
Another thing they did was to work with a local evangelist in the work of the Lord in their area. His job was to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) to his brethren. It was his job to teach the saints, put them in remembrance of what they had already learned, and to reprove and rebuke those whose lives were not what they should be (2 Tim. 4:2). They were to be instant in season and out of season, speaking the things of God with all authority. In this he helps saints to prepare to live and teach others about Jesus.
The primary work of the evangelist it teaching. He is to teach the saints to build them up, he is to teach the lost so that their souls might be saved. Paul told Timothy, “But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). What is the work of an evangelist? “ … preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2).
So where does the church come in? There is no Scripture for the hiring or firing of evangelists. Therefore it is unscriptural to think or speak in these terms, though we almost always do. The preacher must preach, regardless where the money comes from on which he must live. Paul wrote, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). As he preaches, those who have the oversight in local congregations must decide if they want to support this preacher in the work that he has found. So what we have is not and employer/employer relationship. What we have is a partnership in the work.
Were any of these men “located preachers.” Yes, as a matter of fact, they were. Titus was some time in Crete, Timothy seems to have been in Ephesus for a long time. Then there is Philip the Evangelist. Philip got his start in the faith in Jerusalem (Acts 6), but it wasn’t long after Stephen was stoned that Philip went up into Samaria to preach. From there he went to Caesarea, and he was still there preaching when Paul went home on this third missionary journey some 20 years later (Acts 8:40; 21:7-14). I guess you could say that he was there for a good time. Local churches have the option, then, to partner with a preacher in the matter of support while he preaches to them and to the lost in their community.
Congregations also supported preachers in other places. The money that was sent was always sent to the preacher for his support, not to the church for theirs, or so that they might pass the money along to the preacher. Paul wrote the Philippians, “I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3-5). What had this church done to fellowship Paul in his work? “Howbeit ye did well that ye had fellowship with my affliction. And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only; for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need” (Phil. 4:14-16). So, while Paul was preaching in Corinth, the church in Philippi was paying to do so. But the church was paying Paul to preach, they were not sending money to the Corinthian church.
One other thing that the church was commanded to do in upholding the truth. They were told to pray for those who were actually engaged in the work. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:17-20). Support includes both encouragement and intercession. We need to “lift up the hands” of all who will engage themselves in such.
Over the years, the congregations that I have worked with have seen fit to support those who are not among us, yet they are teaching the truth as it is found in the Scriptures, and only in the Scriptures. Mesa is now supporting 6 men in other places. Four of these men, Gary Johnsen, Dennis Scroggins, Bart Campbell, and Mike Divis have preached for us in gospel meetings. That leaves Lowell Kibler, who will preach for us beginning Friday night in a week end meeting. The final man is Bryan Dockens, and Bryan will speak for us in the early Spring.
The fellowship that we have with these men reflects our endorsement of them, and our realization of the importance of their work. I would encourage all who are members of the church in this place to come and participate. These men serve the Lord, and they serve us well, also, as they strive in difficult places to help the church grow by their dedication to their preaching.
It is our work, it is our duty.
