As we look across the community we see a host of local churches. There are many denominations. Each emphasizes different messages and practices. There is much misunderstanding between these groups. This leads us to ask, "What is the Biblical pattern for the local church?" Also we ask, "What is the purpose of the local church?" And, "What function do denominations serve?"

Jesus spoke of building His Church (Matthew 16:18). The Greek word used is "ekklesia" which means, "an assembly called out". It is equivalent to the Hebrew word "knesset". Today the assembly of elected representatives of the people of Israel are called together to form the Knesset. The synagogue is called the Beit Knesset or the house of the assembly. This is the Biblical significance of the word church. So, we would say that the local church is a community which consists of a group of people called together by Jesus for His distinct purpose.

In his writings, the apostle Paul gave us the most detailed picture of the local church. Paul described the Church in terms of the "Body" of Messiah (Colossians 1:18). To understand what he meant, we must consider our own bodies which serve as the vessel for our manifestation in the world. Certainly we understand and believe that we are much more than just our physical bodies. Indeed, when we experience physical death, these physical bodies are buried and we believe, according to the Scriptures, that the real substance of our being goes to be with the Lord in the spiritual realm. Ultimately, we are promised new "spiritual bodies". Paul compared these physical bodies to the local church. Therefore, we conclude that the most basic function of the local church is to be the vessel of manifestation of Jesus the Messiah in the world just as these physical bodies serve as the vessels of manifestation of our individual beings in the world.

The fact that Jesus says "gathered in My name" means that Jesus called the assembly together.

Therefore, each local body of believers has the potential of bringing forth a distinct manifestation of Messiah Jesus into the local community. Paul said, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27b). The pronoun "you", as in other such references in the New Testament, is plural rather than singular. Today, much of the Church teaches that Jesus lives in each of us individually. If we are filled with and are walking in the Holy Spirit, there is a measure of truth in this concept. But the full essence of Jesus is seen only in the local body. Jesus said, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst" (Matthew 18:20). His promise is given to the group, the two or three who are gathered. These also have been gathered by Jesus Himself, not of their own volition. The verb "gathered" is passive meaning that those gathered are responding to another. The fact that Jesus says "gathered in My name" means that Jesus called the assembly together. This reveals the only legitimate way of forming new congregations.

Paul also wrote about "called servants" to the Church (Ephesians 4:11-12). These servants are categorized as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These special servants serve the local body of believers to help them grow up to their full potential as a local church. In other words, these special servants serve the local body to bring it to its potential of manifesting Messiah Jesus in power, spirit and truth.

Initially, the special servant functions principally as a point of faith about which other believers are gathered. Then, he serves to nurture growth in maturity as well as in number. He is the vessel of Jesus' direct authority in the local church. With that authority he must resist becoming Lord of the church, and he must guard that no one else becomes Lord except Jesus.

Each member of the local church must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is His only means of functioning. We are never called into the body of Messiah for our natural gifts. Paul described the functioning of the members of a local body (1 Corinthians 12). Each has a distinct role in the functioning of the whole body. Each is necessary. Each brings forth a distinct gift or manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the body are exactly the same as are seen in the ministry of Jesus recorded in the gospels. The only gift of the Holy Spirit not seen in Jesus is the phenomena of tongues. This gift is necessary in the church because of the individual limitations that we have as human vessels of Messiah. Jesus evidently was not so limited. So the gifts of the Holy Spirit bring forth the very expression of Jesus in His body.

Finally, Jesus is the head of the local body. Paul wrote that there are many ministries but one Lord (1 Corinthians 12:5). Every local church must, therefore, be directly responsible and responsive to Jesus. Jesus may elect to establish many local assemblies in one locality. Each may have a different ministry. One may not resemble another. Each does, however, bring forth a specific aspect of the ministry of Messiah. Taken all together from all across the world, since Pentecost, these constitute the manifestation of the Word of God in the world.

Clergy-Laity
By the second century, the Church had lost much of its original vitality in the Holy Spirit. The Church was divided into the clergy and the laity. The "gifts" of the Holy Spirit were only manifested through the clergy. The laity became spectators. This set the stage for the clergy or pastor to become the "chief man" of the church. He effectively stood in the place of Jesus. When this occurred, the clergyman became an idol in the church which tended to bind the movement of the Holy Spirit and undermined the true function of the local church.

Denominations
Another fallacy that the Church has fallen into is the tendency to form denominations. Denominations are attempts to form networks of local churches which can act in unison concerning common goals. Invariably, the denomination will define goals, purposes, and techniques that the local church is to follow. The denomination then takes the place of Jesus. In this way, denominations become idols in the Church because they take the place of Jesus. As this has occurred, the most basic function of the Church is undermined.

Are you a part of a local church? If you are a Spirit-filled believer, you should be part of one. It is impossible for you to serve the Lord in the fullest sense without being a part of a local church. This is why the Bible warns us of "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25 [KJV]).

When you assemble for worship, do all members become filled with the Holy Spirit with spontaneous manifestations of the Holy Spirit working in one and then another?

Is your local church truly functioning as an active body of Messiah Jesus? When you assemble for worship, do all members become filled with the Holy Spirit with spontaneous manifestations of the Holy Spirit working in one and then another? Or, is the primary manifestation of the Holy Spirit thought to be manifested through the "clergy" with the congregation basically being spectators or recipients? If so, you are falling far short of God's plan for the local church.

Does your local church function as a part of a denominational group? Is there someone beyond the local church who exercises the authority to define goals, objectives and techniques for your local body? If so, you are under the authority of an idol. Anything that replaces Jesus is a demon principality by definition.

Pray for discernment concerning these matters. The local church was conceived in the heart of God to be the very special vessel through which He would glorify His Son. The church that rejects this simple function is destined to become a part of the religious beast described in Revelation 13 that looks like a lamb but speaks with the voice of the dragon.