If you are a member of Parker Hills, the answer is YOU!
That’s because the Bible puts final earthly authority in the hands of the whole church regarding spiritual matters. The theological term for it is “congregationalism,” and it means the assembled congregation is responsible to render judgment together on the “who” and the “what” of the gospel—that is, what the gospel is and who is rightly confessing it.
It’s not hard to find this teaching in the Bible. Jesus Himself put authority for the “who” of the gospel in the hands of the congregation when He said: “If he [i.e., a sinning brother] 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.” (Mt 18:17) Jesus doesn’t say “Tell it to the elders” or “Tell it to the senior pastor.” He instructs the congregation itself to render a decision on the sinner. If the assembled congregation finds someone’s life out of step with the gospel, God has given them authority to render a decision—a decision that heaven itself ratifies, as Jesus indicates in the very next verse: “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 18:18). When it comes to the “who” of the gospel, what the church says goes.
We see a similar level of responsibility regarding the “what” of the gospel. When Paul wants to confront and correct false teaching in the churches, to whom does he write? The churches! In his letters, he addresses all the saints, not merely the elders: “To the church of God that is in Corinth” (1 Cor 1:2, 2 Cor 1:1). “To the churches of Galatia” (Gal 1:2). “To the saints who are in Ephesus” (Eph 1:1). He uses virtually the same opening address in Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, and 2 Thessalonians 1:1. The point is so obvious, it’s easy to overlook: Paul assumes problems in the churches are the responsibility of everybody in the churches.
Who’s in charge here? You are, Church Member!
So take this church and own it. (More on what that means practically in weeks to come. Stay tuned.)