Our society is changing quickly and radically. The last rites of the UK as a ‘Christian country’ is likely to take place in the next decade or so with the disestablishment of the Church of England.
The need to return to Scripture and learn again what God’s Word says about church could not therefore be more relevant.
A church of believers
This is precisely what this year’s Carey Conference sought to do with its theme of ‘The Believers’ Church’. It was the first conference out of the blocks this year, beginning on 2 January at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire. The early start and the current flu epidemic meant the numbers in attendance were down slightly. But, sensing the times, a new generation of pastors is seeing the increasing necessity of Baptist church polity and there is a new momentum about the conference.
The conference first of all dug into history. Matthew Bingham is an American who has recently completed a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast on the development of the ecclesiology of the 17th-century Calvinistic Baptists. As he unfolded over two sessions how this movement came about, with many Puritans realising the mistake of having a National Church, he explained how many moved initially into a Congregationalist position, but later concluded that a congregation composed of believers who are admitted to the church via a profession of faith expressed in baptism (Matthew 28.19; Acts 2.41) is the only church the New Testament contemplates at a local level. The State Church idea was the foundation of infant baptism and, once that had been rejected, anything other than a believers’ church turned out to be fraught with anomalies and instabilities. His closing thrust was that Baptists should not be over-awed by the fact that magisterial Reformers like Luther and Calvin hung onto the Catholic stance of paedo-baptism. Baptist church polity is both scriptural and logical and has proved historically durable.
Interdependent churches
Continuing with the historical perspective, Robert Strivens, until recently the Principal of London Seminary, recounted how the early Baptists were not isolationist, but worked with others and especially formed associations across different areas of the country. Through these, churches helped and cared for one another without trying to exercise power over each other. Ideas were mooted concerning the need to revitalise such associations today. Some say big churches can do what little churches cannot. But I have heard it said that big churches can do nothing which little churches cannot do in association with one another. Baptist churches are meant to be both independent and interdependent.
Leading and growing
The first session by Ray Evans of Grace Community Church, Bedford was about leading a believers’ church. From Acts 2 he highlighted the devotion and enthusiasm of the early church. This can only be imparted by the Holy Spirit. Therefore leadership must begin with prayer. But, moving on to Acts 6, an enthusiastic, growing church needs organisation or it will soon run into difficulties. Many recent books for leaders take an ‘either/or’ approach to church, but Ray argued for a ‘both/and’ approach. We can be both enthusiastically spontaneous and organised. He warned leaders of the temptations of power. Those wishing to be seen as powerful leaders are often not good listeners. This brings trouble to churches. When we see this, alarm bells ought to ring.
His second paper concerned growing a believers’ church. He began by emphasising that pastors need to equip their people for serving God in the whole of life, not just in the church. Sunday at church must equip for Monday at work – and for life with friends and family. Making everything about evangelism distorts churches and distorts Christians. There are different approaches to evangelism. He mentioned as examples ‘Come and see’ invitations to church, ‘Care and service’, which build bridges for the gospel, and ‘Go and tell’. Once again we don’t have to choose ‘either/or’ – ‘both/and’ is perfectly possible. Different people are equipped to help the growth of the church in different ways. His papers contained a rich treasury of teaching.
Space does not permit me to say much more, but Bill James, the new Principal of London Seminary, produced a sparkling exposition of Matthew 5.13-16 on the believers’ church as salt and light in the world. John Benton spoke on Christian freedom in the church from Romans 14 and 15. Ruth Shaw from Emmanuel Church, Chippenham produced some fine material for the women’s track on caring and supporting one another in the church. Luke Jenner spoke movingly from Colossians 1 on the mutual indwelling of the believer, and on the believers’ church and Christ. All these messages should be available soon to download from The Reformation Today website.
