Who rules the church? For Rome the answer is the pope and his bishops. For many Protestant denominations it is a synod, an assembly, a conference or a convention. The Scriptures give a different answer. Each local church is governed directly by the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word, with no man, council or organization ruling over it. This is the doctrine of the independence of the local church, sometimes called the autonomy of the local church. It is one of the reasons we call ourselves Independent Baptists.
Christ Alone Is Head
The foundation of this doctrine is the headship of Christ. The church is His body, and He alone is its Head. He has not handed that authority to a pope, a bishop, or any body of men to rule the churches in His place.
The Lord Jesus warned His disciples against setting up ranks of masters among themselves: “one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren” (Matthew 23:8). A church that is ruled from outside by men has, in practice, put another head between itself and Christ.
What Is a Church?
In the New Testament the word “church” means an assembly, a called-out congregation. With few exceptions, it describes a local body of baptized believers who gather together in one place. Paul wrote “unto the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2), and “unto the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2) — not to “the church of Galatia,” as though the churches of a region formed one organization, but to the churches, each a complete congregation in itself.
The New Testament knows nothing of a national or worldwide church organization with authority over the congregations. It knows of local churches, each complete, each answerable directly to Christ.
Each Church Governs Its Own Affairs
The New Testament shows the local church carrying out every task of church life itself, under Christ, without any outside authority over it.
It chooses its own officers
When deacons were needed in Jerusalem, the apostles did not appoint men of their own choosing. They told the church to look out from among themselves seven qualified men, and “the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose” them.
The New Testament names only two offices in the church: pastors (also called elders and bishops) and deacons. “To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). The bishops were in the church, plural, serving that one congregation — not ruling over many churches from outside.
It exercises its own discipline
The Lord Jesus made the local church the final earthly court in matters of discipline. When a brother will not hear, the matter is to be told “unto the church,” not to a bishop or a higher council.
Paul did not discipline the immoral man at Corinth by his own authority from a distance; he told the church to do it when they were gathered together, and later spoke of the punishment “which was inflicted of many” (2 Corinthians 2:6).
It sends out its own missionaries
The first missionaries were sent out by a local church. At Antioch the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul, and the church laid hands on them and sent them away. When they returned, they reported to that same church.
It is addressed directly by Christ
In Revelation 2 and 3, the risen Lord speaks to seven churches. He commends each, rebukes each, and calls each to repent, directly. He does not address a regional bishop or a central body over them. Each church stands or falls before Christ Himself: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7).
What About the Council at Jerusalem?
Some point to the meeting in Acts 15 as proof that a central body may rule the churches. But look at what actually happened. False teachers from Jerusalem had troubled the church at Antioch, so Antioch sent messengers to Jerusalem, where the trouble had come from. The apostles and elders, “with the whole church” at Jerusalem (Acts 15:22), then sent a letter disowning those teachers and setting out the truth. It was not a standing court over the churches, but two churches meeting to settle a question that had arisen between them, with the inspired apostles present. Today there are no apostles, and no council of men has the authority they had.
Independent, Not Isolated
Independence does not mean a church must stand alone. In the New Testament, churches loved one another, greeted one another, sent help to one another, and cooperated freely, as when the churches chose a brother to travel with Paul carrying their gifts to the poor saints (2 Corinthians 8:19). Churches of like faith may still fellowship together, support missionaries together, and seek one another’s counsel in hard cases. But such fellowship is voluntary, and no association may rule over a church, own its property, choose its pastor, or overturn its decisions.
The Particular Baptists of 1689 put it well. They confessed that Christ has given to each church “all that power and authority, which is any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe.” When churches meet together through messengers to seek counsel, those messengers “are not entrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves.”
Independent of the State
The independence of the church also means freedom from the civil government in the things of God. Christians obey rulers in all lawful things, but the state has no authority over the worship, doctrine or membership of Christ’s churches. Baptists suffered fines, prison and worse for refusing to submit to state churches, and they were among the strongest voices for religious liberty.
Why It Matters
- It keeps Christ as Head. No pope, bishop or board stands between a church and its Lord.
- It guards the truth. When a denomination drifts into error, its churches are often dragged along with it, and sometimes lose their buildings if they refuse. An independent church answers only to Christ and His Word, and can stand firm.
- It keeps discipline faithful. The church that knows its members is the one charged with caring for them and correcting them.
- It protects liberty. No outside body can force a church to accept false teaching, unbiblical practices or unworthy leaders.
A Word of Caution
The independence of the local church is not the independence of the pastor. A pastor is to feed the flock of God, “neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). A church is independent of outside rule so that it may be ruled by Christ through His Word, not so that one man may rule it as he pleases. Nor does independence give any church freedom to depart from the Scriptures. A church is free from the rule of men only that it may be wholly bound to the Word of God.
Conclusion
The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). It is His church, built by Him and ruled by Him. Each local congregation of baptized believers, gathered in His name and walking in His Word, is complete in itself and answerable to Him alone. May His churches hold fast to their Head, and give Him the preeminence in all things.