If I Were To Gather a New Church Fellowship…

If…

No Church Incorporation

It would remain a local expression of the Bride of Christ, that is, the Body of Christ. In other words, I would never gather a Church that participated in the sin of incorporation with the State. A church does not receive her legitimacy, right to function, structure, government, or anything else from the government.

Furthermore, if the State ever required registration in any form with the government, as such is practiced in countries such as China, the Church must obey God and not man. I am not anti-government (Romans 13), but nowhere in Scripture does God permit the Church to become subject to the State through mechanisms such as 501(c)3 incorporation or the State to take authority over the Church.

Acts 5:27-29 

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

I can no longer, by conscience, worship in 501(c)3 incorporated churches, and I sure would never gather one only to compromise or participate in this sin.

Sola Scriptura

The Bible would be the sole authority for faith, life, doctrine, and practice. While confessions of faith and creeds are useful, they never take the place of the plain teaching of Scripture. Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) is what sets the Protestant Church apart from the Roman Catholic Church. The sole authority for Protestants is the self-attesting Bible. This gives the congregation, not only the right to question errant pastors, but the duty to do so when they teach anything that is not in line with the Bible.

Church Leadership

I think Church leadership is by the consent and agreement of church members. The Bible does not allow for anarchy, nor does it permit a dictatorship. The Bible does call some to lead a local congregation commissioned with the command to "tend the flock." Notice the balance:

Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:2-4

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17

The Centrality of Worship

The primary purpose of the Church is the worship of the one and only self-existing Triune God who revealed Himself in the self-authenticating Bible. Out of worship comes evangelism, discipleship, missions, apologetics, fellowship, and all the other functions God appointed for the Church. 

God Pleasing Not Seeker Friendly

While evangelism is essential, I disagree with churches that water down Christianity's central truths to not offend unbelievers if they happen to attend worship. I think worship should be concerned with what pleases God more than what makes unbelievers feel comfortable. I wouldn't beg or plead with people to come to Church. I'd rather worship with one or two other devoted Christians than a church filled with indifferent sinners.

Simple Worship

Worship would include:

Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:20+21

It would include what Paul talked about in 1 Timothy 4:13:

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Word and Sacrament

It appears the early Church gathered together on Sundays to worship, preaching, and enjoy a communion feast:

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them. Acts 20:7

And

When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged[i] ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[j] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for[l] one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:20-34

I think simple worship is best; prayer, praise, preaching, and communion/baptism.

Whole Family Worship

I don't think infants and children should be excluded from worship. Is it any wonder that children who attend "children's church" eventually never return to the adult worship service? I pastored a church for over 12 years where we had over 25 children, from infants up to teenagers, who attended worship every Sunday.

Feed My Sheep

In the end, I am not interested in competing with other churches. I would instead gather the lost and wandering sheep who have nowhere to go. This has been the heart of the 100th Sheep Ministries from the start; to reach those outside of the church. I'd gather together a simple fellowship of saints who love Jesus Christ and each other. If a person wants the program-centered, seeker-friendly, 501(c)3 incorporated church, there always is one right down the road.

The Biggest Fool of All

By the way, I am well aware of my shortcomings, sins, errors, and disobedience in my past. But I am even more aware of the reality of God's complete and total forgiveness. I would not even contemplate gathering people together if I didn't see that He used repentant adulterers, murders, slanders, deniers, and detractors. He indeed uses the foolish to confound the wise. (1 Corinthians 1:27) All I know is that He has called me to some form of service. It’s been church pastoral ministry in the past. Whether that is His will for me in the near future, is up to Him.

Questions?

These are not all my thoughts, but they are a start. I am not looking to gather a Church by begging, manipulation, cajoling, or any other human means. Either God is calling me to do this or He is not. I’m not 100% sure that He is. But this goes for anyone who doesn’t have a church home or is not uncomfortable for whatever reason with going to regular churches. If you think God is calling you to participate, email me with questions or thoughts. If not, I wish you well and pray God’s blessing upon you.