Fractured Foundations #3: FANATICAL CONGREGATIONALISM

FRACTURED FOUNDATIONS (Areas in Which Baptist Churches Must Grow):

#3: Fanatical Congregationalism

For those who have been following this series of posts, you know that we have been exploring certain elements of the Baptist tradition that I suggest need to experience reformation. While within some segments of the Baptist movement there has arisen extreme, bizarre, and even heretical ideologies (such as Landmarkism), this series of posts is not designed to address these (unwelcome) new 'blots' on the Baptist landscape. Instead, I am addressing those fractured elements that were part of our original "DNA".

The third growth area is the issue of congregational government. To be Baptist, one must hold to some form of congregationalism. This is directly tied to (though not equivalent to) the doctrine of the autonomy of the local church. According to this structure, each church is locally autonomous, and therefore does not submit to any governing body outside itself. The congregation is considered the final human authoritative body, which is expected to willingly submit itself to the authoritative word of God.

So far everything sounds good. However, the problem arises when one considers the degree to which congregationalism is pressed. In other words, on which issues should the congregation deliberate, and on which issues must it submit to the decisions of the leadership.

Historically, there has always been a spectrum within the Baptist movement. Even today, there are Baptist leaders and thinkers that are all over the map on this one. It is my view that Scripture does not support an aggressive congregational form of government, but rather a congregationalism that is limited in focus and purpose.

In many Baptist churches it is believed that the congregation must vote on almost every issue. One need only think about churches that have fought over carpet color, lawn mower brands, or which flower shop to use. Simply read through the old (or even current) minutes of many Baptist churches and you will notice many silly items discussed and voted upon--and this is true of countless Baptist churches all over North America. In these churches every one has an opinion, and every issue is claimed to be something worthy of debate. "Business meetings" (a phrase I banned in my church) became places that fought over whether to give the sick flowers or a plant, which chair the visiting speaker should sit in, which color of bulletin paper is most appropriate, where the secretary should buy the office supplies, or which brand of toilet paper is best.

When something is not voted upon, the congregation (and many times the leaders) are quick to scream: "The New Testament teaches congregationalism!" Many even go so far as to claim that the Bible teaches that church government is a democracy! However, there is almost no attempt to thoroughly look into the nature of this supposed congregationalism. When one looks closely at Scripture, it is very easy to see that the supposedly "clear" congregationalism is almost nonexistent. Only a few vague references here and there.

Odd, isn't it. An entire doctrine of congregationalism supported by only a handful of indirect, nondescript biblical statements. Even if it assumed that Scripture advocates congregationalism (which I do), there is a deeper question which must be asked: "On what matters did the local church of the New Testament era vote upon?" The only answer I can find is the selection of leaders (particularly in Acts 6, with vague statements elsewhere....even the meaning of these passages are debated).

There is no recorded vote in the New Testament on any issue save the selection of leaders. It is interesting, then, that so many Baptist churches carry out what amounts to an unscriptural and excessive form of congregationalism.

If Scripture doesn't warrant such an approach, what is "feeding" or giving birth to this system? I would argue that Churches that practice excessive congregationalism do so not out of loyalty to Scripture, but rather out of an autonomous spirit that refuses to submit to human leadership (contra Hebrews 13). Insistence that the church must vote on every issue is really a declaration that one does not trust, and will not submit to, the very leaders they selected to lead them.

If the church is to be all that it is called to be, we would do well to return to Scripture's more restrained version of congregationalism.