The Ecclesiastical Brutus Or Para-Church Organizations

By  Elder Thomas Waters

One day as I was reading some of my mail, I heard myself gasp, “NO!”  You know.  An unplanned and irrepressible gasp one makes when startled by an unexpected event.  I read the passage again.  Again, I could not suppress my verbal amazement.  “No! No! No! No! No!"

I was shocked and disappointed by the words I was reading.  I couldn’t believe this person meant what he wrote.  Surely this was just a blunder, an unguarded thought unfortunately committed to paper.  This is a honest, God fearing, dedicated, biblically astute person who sacrificially spends many hours promoting the name of Christ.  So, what were the words that startled and grieved me?

 “We have a few helpers who send almost their whole tithe to this ministry.  And no, that’s not unbiblical.  God gives you the choice of where to place your offering, as long as it’s kingdom work.”

This statement was issued by a  “para-church” organization (i.e., one outside of the local church).  I believe such organizations, no doubt many with many with well-meaning intentions, pose a direct threat to the one institution Christ ordained upon the earth - THE CHURCH!

The Apostle Paul wrote,  "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men . . . And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (Eph. 4:7-8, 11).  So, should we not recognize, support and respect each others gifts and works?  Yes.  We should be thankful, respectful, and supportive of all gifts Christ gives.  But why does Christ give these gifts, these ministerial offices?  "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12).

 Christ does not give spiritual gifts, ministerial gifts for the use of an individual, or private organization, but for His body, the Church.   Ministerial gifts are for the promotion, growth, and nurturing of Christ’s body, the Church. Simply put, ministerial gifts are given by Christ unto the church, for the benefit of the church, for the work of the church, for the promotion and maturity of the church.

Paul’s ministry is an example of this principle.  His conversion and call to the ministry were of such a nature that they qualified him as an Apostle and strengthened him when men assaulted, jailed, and attempted to murder him.  Paul’s  missionary journeys into Galatia, Europe, and Asia Minor are legendary.  Notice, however, in spite of Paul’s extraordinary calling, it is a local church whom the Lord addressed and said concerning Paul, “separate . . . for the work . . . I have called them”  (Acts 13:2-3).

Observe, in spite of Paul’s credentials, he was not running to and fro on his own, but was SENT, SUPPORTED, and REPORTED to a local church.  Observe at the completion of Paul’s first missionary journey, he reported to the church at Antioch.  "And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.  And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." (Acts 14:26-27).  Observe this same concept in Acts 15 when the church at Antioch sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem; and, in Acts 18:22 which records the  end of Paul’s second missionary journey.  I’m convinced only his imprisonment prevented him from reporting to the church at Antioch after his third missionary tour.

Christ ordained and commissioned the church to continue His work throughout the world until He returns.  Christ did not ordain, commission, establish, or promise continuance to a para-church organization.  Men ignore this ecclesiastical order at a great peril.  We live in a time when the church is being abandoned for other alternatives.  We live in a time where anyone, for almost any reason, can start a “ministry” and demand equality with the church, and, unfortunately, receive it.

When I speak of para-Church organizations, I AM NOT referring to denominational or “inter-church” organizations who are supported through the joint effort of several churches.  “Inter-church” groups differ fundamentally from “Para- church” groups.  Inter-church organizations are cooperatives while para-church organizations are independents and often privately owned.   For example, most denominational organizations (mission boards, schools, youth camps . . .) are supported financially by local churches - not by acquiring revenues before they reach the church.  Many inter-church groups have directors or delegates who are elected from and report to a local church.  Many para-church “ministries” consist of one person or perhaps a group of people who operate outside the support and watch care of a single or group of local churches.

Walter Chantry, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Carlisle, PA has authored a brief but much needed pamphlet on this subject entitled, “Missionaries Should Be ‘Immersed’ In Church.”  Chantry notes,

 

“As the Lord Jesus undertook His earthly mission, His church was on His heart  . . . All missionaries should be sons from the womb of the church sent as messengers of the church . . .  Too many individuals and activists have had a “better idea” than the church.  With disparaging remarks about the weaknesses, failures, and inefficiencies of the church, movements are begun “beside” the church.  Claims are made that such persons or agencies are working “alongside” the church, stressing that their efforts are “parallel” to and “supportive” of the church.  However, that which is “alongside” is still “outside” the church.  How zealous and self-promoting are such “para”-church organizations.  Para-church works can only justify their existence by criticism of the church . . .  It is a strange phenomenon that para-church organizations, whose reason for existence is the failure of the church and their superior ability to carry out the tasks Christ gave to the church, cannot continue in existence without taking men and money from the church.  Those who are saying, “We can do what you cannot,” are constantly appealing to the church to give them their best men and support them with gifts.  In this way, those who criticize the church further sap her strength.  Even so, para-church groups find the “weak” church’s resources sufficient to keep them from demise.”

Amen.  It does matter and it is unbiblical to drain the church of resources and her God-given identity and authority by sending one’s tithes to a para-church organization.  A private ministry, no matter how honest it may be, IS NOT THE CHURCH - NOR SHOULD IT BE RECOGNIZED AS AN EQUAL PARTNER WITH THE CHURCH.  I am not suggesting that no para-church group is doing good works.  Nor am I suggesting all para-church organizations are dishonest or only interested in money.  There are many sincere para-church ministries that have done a lot of good.  But at what costs?  Draining resources from the church?  Claiming equal authority and identity as the church?

Para-church organizations are, by their very nature and existence, divisive and destructive.  They take resources from the church and exist and operate independent of the church.  On the one hand they commend the church, but in the other hand they grip a dagger.  May God help us understand, promote and defend the Church of the living God, the bride of Christ, the house of God, the pillar and ground of truth.  Let us encourage ministries outside, alongside, or beside the church to get INSIDE the church, under the banner, watch-care, and accountability of the church where they belong.  May our zeal be like Christ’s,   "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me" (Psa 69:9).