12 Hard Nuts For Universal Church Proponents
1. A universal invisible church defies the Greek
definition. By definition of the Greek word used, a
church (ecclesia) must be an organized gathering (assembly) of
persons with a common interest and
common officers. This is the N.T. usage as well as the Septuagint
and secular uses. There can be no such thing as an assembly that
does not assemble.
2. The invisible church definition is based on unsound exegesis.
To make up a second definition for
the word church (or any other word) to fit preconceived doctrinal
notions is not sound Bible exegesis. Such a practice allows any
doctrine to be taught simply by saying that a word means one
thing in one place and quite another in a different place. If
“ecclesia” means a gathered, organized assembly of
persons called out from daily duties, to assume that Christ or
Paul used it differently is unsafe, unless Christ or Paul
explained such a different usage – which neither did.
Personal bias is no justification for saying that there is a
second definition for the word “ecclesia”.
3. Pentecost nowhere stated or hinted to be the birth of any
church. Universal church theorists often teach that the church
was born on Pentecost. there is no Scriptural proof or even hint
that any kind of church was on the first “Christian
Pentecost,” a Jewish feast day.
4. The day of Pentecost not the end of the law. The Old Testament
did not end on Pentecost. While Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to all who believe, Jesus Himself said, “The
law and the prophets were until John” (Luke 16:16). So then
the law system ended years before “Pentecost.”
5. An invisible church requires more than one baptism. John
prophesied that Jesus would baptize
with the Holy Ghost. Christ was to be the administrator, the Holy
Ghost was that into which they would be immersed. To try to
manufacture a “baptism” by which the Holy Ghost
baptizes one into the mystical body of Christ [?] would make the
Holy Ghost the administrator and this “mystical body”
the element into which the believer would be immerse – an
altogether different thing. An invisible church requires an
invisible “baptism.” The Bible teaches only ONE (kind)
of baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Which will it be, real water baptism
like the New Testament church or Protestantism’s spirit
baptism?
6. The universal invisible church popularized by Martin Luther.
The teaching of a “universal
invisible church” was popularized by Martin Luther, some
1450 years after Christ. (He did so to counteract the
“universal VISIBLE church” teaching of the Roman church
from which he had just been excommunicated. Since he had been
ejected from the “universal VISIBLE church” he had to
come up with some kind of church of which he could be a member so
that it would not appear that he was starting one of his own
– which in fact he was.)
7. A church born on Pentecost would have a different founder.
Jesus promised to “build” (literally
“to build up or continue to build”) His assembly
(church) as opposed to any other kind of gathering. He did not
promise that the Holy Ghost would do it on Pentecost. He was no
failure. If the church began on Pentecost, its founder would be
the Holy Ghost and not Christ.
8. A church born on Pentecost must have “Old Testament
baptism.” John instituted baptism. Jesus
personally baptized no one (John 4:2). If the first church was
born on Pentecost and necessarily with it the New Testament
dispensation, it must reach back into the Old Testament era for
baptism, for baptism was instituted prior to Pentecost and thus
according to this theory, prior to the birth of the church.
9. A church born on Pentecost must have an “Old Testament
supper.” If the first church was born
on Pentecost and with it the New Dispensation, it has an Old
Testament supper. For the Lord’s Supper is an Old Testament
ordinance since it, like baptism, was instituted according to
these theorists in the Old Dispensation – that is, prior to
Pentecost.
10. A church born on Pentecost has no commission from Christ. If
the church did not begin until
Pentecost then she has no commission, for the Lord Jesus gave the
second and “Great Commission” PRIOR to Pentecost. It is
unthinkable to have a New Testament church operating under an Old
Testament commission!
11. An invisible church must be a corrupt church. Christ’s
church is pictured as His “bride.” Paul
said of a “local” church (the only kind addressed in
the New Testament), “...I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (II
Cor. 11:2). Purity, loving service and fidelity are hallmarks of
such a church. A universal church cannot be pure for all the
redeemed are members of such a church, even one excluded from
churches for idolatry, immorality, etc. How can a pure bride
(church) be made up of excluded church members? The Romish church
is pictured in Revelation 17 and 18 as a grossly immoral woman
having daughters like unto herself. A universal invisible church
must of necessity include in it persons who are part of the
Harlot and/or her Harlot daughters. How can a pure bride be made
up of an impure Harlot?
12. An invisible church can do nothing. Just what does an
invisible church do? It cannot meet. It
never gathers for fellowship or worship. It cannot send out a
missionary. It cannot ordain a preacher. It cannot ordain a
deacon. It cannot baptize converts. It cannot exclude a member or
discipline its members in any manner. It cannot receive tithes
and offerings. It cannot observe the Lord’s Supper. It
cannot agree on doctrine, nor even support the most basic of
Christian truths. It cannot do any of the things churches in the
New Testament did. It can do nothing.
Surely every truly repentant believer in Christ is saved and
safe. All God’s elect shall be someday with Him in Heaven.
Salvation is not related to church membership. A church is a
“body” constituted for service and is a “pillar
and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3: 15). Are you a member of
one of Christ’s churches where you can serve Him in a way
that is acceptable unto Him?
~ by Curtis Pugh