In Ephesians 1:22-23, the Holy Spirit said that God “hath put all things under [Christ’s] feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.”
As the head of the church, Christ must be looked to as the source of authority for all church practices.
God demonstrated the need to heed Jesus’ authority when Jesus was transfigured. At that time, the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (Matt. 17:5).
Following Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18).
Authority in religious matters belongs to Christ. If He does not authorize a church practice, it is not authorized.
Upon learning this, we might wonder why it is said that the early church continued “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Notice, though, that what the apostles taught is what Christ taught them.
Before ascending into heaven, Christ commanded His apostles to teach “all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” (Matt. 28:19-20). The apostles carried out this command as they took the Gospel to the world. They were directly inspired by the Holy Spirit as they taught, and their doctrine was confirmed by God through miracles (Mark 16:20). They taught Christ’s doctrine (Gal. 1:11-12).
Only local churches that follow Christ’s doctrine (i.e. the apostles’ doctrine) as revealed in the New Testament are acting by His authority. If all those claiming to follow Christ would take this to heart, much division could be eliminated.
Instead of building “church gymnasiums” for fun and entertainment, churches would be focused on being the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
Instead of appointing councils of men to oversee multiple churches and establish doctrine, churches would follow the New Testament pattern of appointing elders in each local church who oversee that church’s work and follow Christ’s doctrine (Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2).
Instead of worshipping God with mechanical instruments to sound better to men, churches would simply sing and make melody in the heart in order to please God (Eph. 5:19).
These problems are among the many that would be solved if we would respect Christ’s authority. Just as we must obey Christ’s teachings as individuals, so must churches do when acting as a “unit.”
May we heed the inspired words of 2 John 9: Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
– Michael Hickox