The Organization of the Church

The very first church, the church of Jerusalem, was without property in which to assemble. So they would gather at times at the Temple (Acts 2:1, 46; 4:31 perhaps), but most often in smaller groups in people’s homes (Acts 2:46).

When it was discovered that there were many needy people among the believers they organized a fund from sales of property that was meted out by the apostles to the poor among them (Acts 32-35). In the same way they made an organized provision for the widows among them that was managed by several men chosen by the congregation (Acts 6:1-6).

The church at Antioch organized a mission team to be sent to Asia Minor, carefully praying and listening to the Holy Spirit as to which of their leaders should be selected and then funding them for their journey (Acts 13:1-3). Paul and Barnabas, the two chosen, made a circuit of the region planting churches and appointing leaders in each of them (Acts 14:23).

All of these are examples of the organization that developed in the church from the very beginning. There was leadership organization, financial organization, ministry organization, and mission organization. There should be no complain about organized religion from the standpoint of organizing, because it is essential to organize. Would you rather have disorganized religion?

Paul makes an apologetic for organization when he sets a rule for how the church service at Corinth should be conducted:

²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. (1 Corinthians 14:29-33)

Organization arises from the need to do things right. In the Church that means the need to do things in love and righteousness. Organization can err if it is too loose or too tight, both of which fail to do love and righteousness.