“rejoicing to see your good order”
(Col 2:5, NKJV)
In the previous manna we concluded that ekklesia presupposes Body and that Body presupposes three things – Godly order, directed function and intimate fellowship. We are now focusing on Godly order and pointed out that ekklesia is not a random amoeba-like organism. The fact that individuals gather in Christ’s name, means that His identity and order is called out over their gathering (1 Cor 14:33). An important element of this order is spiritual leadership (Eph 4:8; 1 Tim 3:5; 5:17) which functions in both the small and territorial ekklesia – “And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.” (Acts 15:4). We can thus accurately refer to the elders of the city, a term commonly used in the Old Testament (compare Deut 19:12; Jos 20:4; Ruth 4:2; 1 Sam 16:4; Esra 10:14). Job too was considered a “city elder” (29:7).
But in the New Testament it is those individuals functioning within the five-fold ministry that have authority over the spiritual matters of a city, and not the pastor’s fraternity. Accordingly Paul writes his letters to the territorial church: Corinth, Philippi, Galatia, Thessalonia, among others. This trend is further affirmed by the fact that when God writes to the end time churches, he does not specify their denominations, but rather their territorial delineations – Smira, Pergamus, Thiatire, and others.
There is thus clearly an authority structure in the ekklesia, but it can be likened to an internal skeleton, as opposed to an exoskeleton as found in crabs. It supports and positions, it does not control and dictate. It is not authoritarian, but rather subservient.
Secondly – the ekklesia has a directed function, which Eph 3:10 beautifully states as “that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the ecclesia to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places”. Remember – this “manifold wisdom” is the multiplicity of ministry which Christ (1 Cor 1:24) represents in his Body on earth (Eph 4:8-13). This includes all that Christ reconciles with everything else (Col: 1:21).
Thirdly – ekklesia presupposes intimate fellowship with Him and one another. The gathering is thus a space where those who have answered the call, celebrate their unity in Him, despite their differences. Therefore the Word is utterly prescriptive about our responsibility toward one another (1 Cor 12:26; Gal 6:2; 1 Pet 3:8) and toward our communal gatherings, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:25). Therefore: “Comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thes 5:11).
The ekklesia is an intimate group, never too large, where everyone knows one another and their lives are intertwined with the others’ and with God. We often overlook this vital principle.
- Sela: Are you part of the territorial church?
- Read: 2 Kings 12; Jer 13; 1 Cor 12 (this whole chapter is very important within the context of this teaching)
- Memorise: 1 Cor 12: 13
- For a deeper understanding: Read John van Breda’s City church … under construction?
