What Is An Independent, Fundamental Church
To many an independent church is a strange phenomenon. Being accustomed to the various denominational groups such as Reformed, Methodist, Presbyterians, and other, they cannot comprehend the nature of a church that is not affiliated with any of these. For that reason an independent church is looked upon with some suspicion. Surely a church that stands "all by itself" must be very unusual.
Actually independent churches have existed since apostolic times. Long before the Protestant Reformation began there were independent churches in both Europe and Asia. An independent church, therefore is nothing new or novel. It has an ancient and glorious heritage. Though in various periods of church history members of independent churches have been persecuted and even slain for the faith, such churches continue until the present day. There are many hundreds of independent churches in all parts of the world.
"What are the distinctives of an independent church?," you may ask. They could concisely be set forth under four major headings.
I. A church that is Self-Governing
The churches established by the apostles of Christ were all independent churches, that is, they were free from any outside control. The New Testament does not reveal the existence of any synod, conference, association, presbytery, or other form of human organization exercising control over the local congregation. Each local church was viewed as a self-governing body.
An aggregation of local churches was never looked upon organizationally as a "church," but always as "churches," emphasizing the individual prerogatives of each congregation (Rom. 16:16; I Cor. 11:16). Each local church chose its own officers (Acts 6:1-6). Each exercised its own discipline (I Cor. 5:13). Churches were not responsible to any higher ecclesiastical body, but were subject only to God (Rev. 2:4-5). Internal problems were handled by the individual congregation (1 Cor. 6:1-5). The maintenance of pure doctrine was the responsibility of the local assembly (I Tim. 3:15; Rev. 2:14-16).
The Holy Spirit directs each local group of believers (Acts 13:1-2). Such a church cannot be politically pressured because it owns its own property (in contrast to many denominational churches whose property is owned or in some measure controlled by the denomination).
Independent churches choose their own name, hence the tiles "Bible Church," "Gospel Church," and various other names are employed. There is also a freedom in the details of local church organization, each church determining before God what it believes to be a Scriptural organization.
In the important matter of calling a pastor an independent church is cast upon the Lord for guidance. While they may seek counsel from neighboring pastors or Christian schools, no one can force them to accept a man they do not want. The congregation must prayerfully consider the merits of a candidate and decide whether or not he is God's man for them. Similarly, the church may, without embarrassment, invite visiting speakers into its pulpit regardless of their denominational affiliation as long as they are sound in the faith.
Another important characteristic is the liberty enjoyed in the matter of missionary support. While pressure is exerted upon many denominational churches to support their own denominational missions, independent churches may seek the will and direction of God regarding this. The same liberty is afforded them in their choice of Sunday School and other education literature. Their position may be summed up thus: they are absolutely free to obey God as they see His direction and are under no obligation to any other church or group of churches. In each phase of their service for the Lord they must exercise spiritual discernment.
II. A Church that is sound in doctrine.
A fundamental church is one that stands for the historic, conservative Christian faith. Many churches in recent years have moved away from the original teaching of the early Christians. They have substituted human theories for Biblical authority. Independent fundamental churches continue to uphold the Bible as the divinely-inspired authority for Christian faith and practice.
A fundamental church places proper importance upon correct Biblical doctrine. Among the doctrines emphasized are the following: the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible, the virgin birth, absolute deity, sinless life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, His high-priestly work in heaven, salvation by grace through faith, the reality of Satan and his work, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the premillennial coming of Christ for His church, a period of great tribulation on earth, the return of Christ to establish an earthly kingdom, the judgment and eternal doom of the lost, and the eternal reward of the saved.
Independent churches stand as a protest to the religious unbelief (often called "modernism") that has engulfed so many of the large denominations. Men claiming to be ministers of Christ deny the verbal inspiration of Scripture, question the virgin birth of Christ, deny the necessity of faith in the shed blood of Christ for salvation, accept the theory of organic evolution, and in many other ways oppose the historic Christian faith. Yet such men are accepted as ministers in good standing in some church groups. In obedience to the Word regarding false teachers (II Tim. 3:5; Eph. 5:1, etc.) independent churches refuse to cooperate with denominations and councils of churches that condone the presence of such unbelieving religious leaders.
III. A church with a Bible-centered Program
One of the fist things many people notice about independent churches is the fact that almost everyone comes to church with their Bibles. Not only do they bring their Bibles, but they use them in the regular services of the church. The Bible is looked upon, not as an obscure religious textbook to be studied primarily by a priest or minister, but as the guide for every Christian and the source of instruction for his daily life.
The pastor uses the Bible in his pulpit ministry. He reads from it and his congregation follows him in searching out various passages. He is not endeavoring to foist upon the people some human observations concerning 'religion' but rather he is seeking to unfold the exact revelation which God has given us in the Bible. Preaching in independent churches is not simply delivering some ethical or social precepts, but is an exposition of the written Word of God as found in the Bible.
The educational program of the church is likewise centered around the Bible. Every Sunday School teacher teaches from it. The printed Sunday School material used by the teacher in preparation for classes is all based upon the Scriptures. The varied youth programs of the church are all calculated to thoroughly prepare the young people to know and to live by the teachings of the Bible.
The same emphasis is seen in the missionary program of the church. Both home and foreign missionary efforts are geared to one purpose-the winning of the lost to Jesus Christ. All medical, educational and other arms of missionary endeavor are simply a means to the end of bringing people to read, understand, and obey the Word of God. The primary aim of all missionary and evangelistic effort is not social betterness but spiritual regeneration-personal salvation.
IV. A Church With Distinctive Emphases
in addition to the things already mentioned there are at least four important and Scriptural distinctives of independent fundamental churches.
A Regenerated Church Membership
Only those who have personally, consciously received Christ as their Saviour have a right to local church membership. Acts committed by a parent, priest, or minister for a child cannot and do not save the child. Children dying before they are old enough to be accountable to God go to heaven. Acts 2:47 clearly states that "the Lord added to the church daily such as were being saved.' In other words, a personal experience of the new birth is a prerequisite to church membership. For this reason independent churches require evidence of a person's salvation before they are received into the membership of the church.
Open Communion
Some churches restrict those who can partake of communion to members of their own church or denomination. No such restriction, however, is found in Scripture. All who are truly born-again are welcome to remember the Lord at the communion table.
Scriptural Giving
Many churches support their work by fund-raising schemes such as church suppers, raffles, and sales. Some assess each member a certain amount each year. All such practices are totally unscriptural. The local church should be supported by the free-will offerings of saved persons, not by commercial or worldly appeals (cf. I Cor. 16:1 and II Cor. 9:6-8).
Spiritual Unity of All Believers
There is a church which transcends all earthly denominations and organizations. It is called in Scripture "the body of Christ" (Eph. 1:22-23) and is the universal church composed of all who have trusted Christ as Saviour. To this true church belong all believers regardless of earthly affiliation. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body ..." (I Cor. 12:13).
It is the recognition of this truth that causes independent churches to place loyalty to Christ and His Word above loyalty to an earthly organization. Everything is tested by the Word of God, not by its relation to a denominational program.
Independent fundamental churches are seeking, as enabled by God, to perpetuate New Testament local churches, remembering that the local church is the "pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3:15).