The Authority of the Local Congregation

As I read through John Pipers message to his church entitled, "Who are the Elders" I can't help remembering the fact that Jonathan Edwards church voted him out of the pulpit for fencing off the communion table. I admit that understanding "authority" must also be coupled with understanding fallibility and the sovereignty of God.

Interesting stuff to ponder as we think biblically about "Church Authority".

Priests and Ministers


All the members of Christ's body are priests and ministers.


1 Peter 2:9, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."


Revelation 1:5–6, "He loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."

The New Testament knows nothing of a priesthood of the clergy. 1 Timothy 2:5, "There is one God and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." We all go directly to God through Christ, not through professional priests nor through Mary. Every Christian is a priest under Jesus Christ.


And every Christian is a minister. The word "minister" does not define my pastoral office in the church. It defines my function. And it defines your function. Ephesians 4:12 says that pastors and teachers exist to "equip the saints for the work of the ministry." You are all ministers (cf. 1 Peter 4:10–11). And you are all priests (cf. Matthew 23:8–11).



The Authority of the Local Congregation


Under Christ the local congregation is the final authority in the church.


I don't mean that the congregation is above the Scriptures, because the Scriptures are the word of Christ. We submit to Christ by submitting to his word in the Bible. Nor do I mean that the congregation is above the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. We submit to Christ by submitting to his Spirit in the church.


What I mean is that under Christ—his Word and his Spirit—the congregation, and not pastors or elders or deacons or bishops or popes, is the body that settles matters of faith and life. This is not only implied in the priesthood of all believers, but illustrated in Matthew 18:15–17 where the church is the last court of appeal in church discipline:


If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:4–5.)


So the church—the congregation—is the final court of appeal in matters of church discipline where decisions about membership are made. Since this is the most basic authority in the church under Christ, this shows that the congregation as a body is the final authority in the local church. This does not mean local churches shouldn't form associations and fellowships for mutual encouragement and guidance and ministry. It only means that the local congregation decides its own matters under the Word and Spirit of Christ.


So far then, Christ is the head of the church. All members of his body are priests and ministers. And therefore these members, as a congregation, are the final authority in the church under Christ, that is, under his Word and Spirit.