Purity of Doctrine

Status
Not open for further replies.

JML

Puritan Board Junior
How is it possible for independency / congregationalism to maintain purity of doctrine in the church as a whole outside of the local church?

I would assume that we would all agree that the church as a whole should strive toward purity of doctrine. I am just not sure how this can be accomplished through independency.
 
Christ is the head of of both the visible and the invisible church.

LBC Chapter 26

Paragraph 1. The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that fills all in all.

Paragraph 4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

Paragraph 7. To each of these churches therefore gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he has given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he has instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.

No true church is 'independent' of Christ. Christ, by His Spirit, rules and reigns over the local church as well as 'the catholic or universal church'.
 
History shows -and recent events are again proving - that a presbyterial and even confessional denomination still offers no guarantee that purity of doctrine will be maintained.
 
Presbyterian government goes to the well being not the being of a church; it is certainly a help for purity. But a single congregation may through wise policy and choice of elder-ship last longer in purity than a presbytery with policies and choices not so wise. :2cents:
 
No church system on Earth is perfect; however, I feel Presbyterian/Confessional churches have more layers of protection in maintaining purity of doctrine than independents do.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top