6. Congregational Church Polity: By this Baptist teach that the body of Christ, the church, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the final authority in church government. Not some small group of men that meet and decide which direction the church should go. The BF&M says,
"Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic process. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord." (Article VI. The Church)
In the book, Why I Am A Baptist, Bro. Mark Dever gives some compelling Scriptural evidence for congregational government in the church:
In Matthew 18, when Jesus taught on church discipline and the correction of a sinning brother, He said, "tell it to the church" (Matt. 18:17) not to a pope or a bishop, a conference, and elder, or even the pastor...but rather the church! The church was "the final court of appeal."
In Acts 6 when the Greek widows were being neglected at meal time and a murmuring arose with potential to split the church...who did the apostles appeal to in order to solve this problem in the congregation? The congregation! "Wherefore, brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business"
In 1 Corinthians 5, who did Paul call upon to remove the incestuous member of the church? The church!
In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul acknowledged that the congregation had acted to remove the incestuous member by a vote of the majority. "The punishment of the majority is sufficient for such a person"
In Galatia some were teaching damnable doctrines and appealing to angels and the authority of men to authenticate their message. Paul appealed to the "churches of Galatia" not to receive their message. It was the church Paul addresses...not some group within the church. Paul was teaching that no angel or apostle should be received by the church unless the message lined up with the Word of God.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul blamed the churches for not "enduring sound doctrine." The blame did not rest on the elders or the deacons...but the church as a whole!
I believe the Baptist model for church government is biblically correct. The church, under the Lordship of Christ, is the final authority on matters relating to the church. The church is overseen by pastors and served by deacons but the final say must remain with the body of Christ.
Through the years I have heard numerous arguments against congregational rule...and certainly it is not a perfect system. One such argument is that the church can vote not to follow the pastor's leadership. While that is true, in my 15 years of pastoral ministry, I have never once had a church vote go against me as pastor. I believe this is because by the time I bring something to the church it has been so bathed in prayer and godly counsel that the church sees the validity in my request.
I also take comfort in the fact that no clique, schism, or power group can hold me or this church hostage from following our Head, the Lord Jesus. If that is ever attempted, I will take my case to the church and let the body rule! I will rest in and accept the will of the body...but I'm not comfortable with a few exclusively determining the direction of the church.
If we did not have congregational rule here I would probably no longer be your pastor. There was a time when a small group of men wanted me gone. There was a time when if the could, they would have terminated me. But they knew that the by-laws of our church called for a 75% majority vote to remove the pastor and that there was no way they could get that...so they themselves left. Congregational rule saved the day!
Congregational church government is on reason I am a Baptist.
7. The Autonomy of the Local Church: The BF&M states, "A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel." (Article V. The Church)
The word "autonomous" means independent, self-directed, self-governing, or self-ruling. In layman's terms...no one can tell our congregation what to do except our congregation! This is a foundational principle of the Baptist faith and goes all the way back to the Protestant Reformation...it is also one huge reason I am a Baptist!
No Cardinal, Pope, Bishop, Session, Council, Board or Agency can impose their will upon us. No on can interfere with our church as we seek to follow the Lordship of Christ. We are accountable to no "higher authority" on this earth, but are directly accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the "head of the church and the Savior of the body" (Eph. 5:23)
Even our association with the Southern Baptist Convention is strictly voluntary! We can change, alter, or suspend our partnership with them at any time if we as a body deem it necessary!
We have had several discussions already about our frustration with the Tennessee Baptist Convention's liberalism and direction of the money we send to them each month. We have the power to stop giving , give more, designate our giving away from objectionable things. No one in Nashville can impose their will on Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church. They are our denominational servants! Their only reason for existence is to serve us, the local church.
This is a non-negotiable for me! I cannot tell you the blessed privilege it is to pray, ream my Bible, seek godly counsel, and then lead you as a church without some "superior" over me check-mating all my decisions. I could not work that way. I must be directly accountable to my Blessed Lord and this local church...no one else! I am a local church man to the core of my being. This is why I am a Baptist!
