How about the sponsoring church arrangement?
Introduction. The scriptures present each local church as separate and autonomous. For instance, each local church is to have its own overseeing elders (Acts 14: 23). God's wisdom in church autonomy is seen in the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2; 3). Five of these seven churches had doctrinal and moral problems and were told to repent. However, because they were separate entities, two of the seven had no flaws. Moreover, even the five flawed churches did not all have the same shortcomings. Had they each been under the same human controlling board, as denominationalism typically is, they would have all been characterized in precisely the same way.
Man thinks he is smarter than God. As just stated, God set up each local church to individually function. However, man thinks he can improve on God's plan. "We must accept John Doe as our preacher, even though we know he is homosexual because the board that controls all our churches must be obeyed," we hear. Hence, religionists are "forced" to disobey God in order to keep their orders and creeds (Mk. 7: 13, 1 Cor. 6: 9-11).
A growing practice among some churches of Christ. More local churches of Christ are adopting denominational practices. The sponsoring church arrangement as seen in the Herald of Truth Organization is destroying the autonomy of some churches of Christ. This arrangement involves the pooling of resources into one common treasury. The Highlands church, the elders, oversee or sponsor the concerted effort. Based on this concept, I have received the following request: "Will your elders oversee our church?" As seen, elders are to oversee only the local church where they are members (Acts 14: 23; 1 Pet. 5: 1-3).
Conclusion. The sponsoring church is without biblical authority and is in sharp violation of the clear teaching of the independence of each local church.
Man thinks he is smarter than God. As just stated, God set up each local church to individually function. However, man thinks he can improve on God's plan. "We must accept John Doe as our preacher, even though we know he is homosexual because the board that controls all our churches must be obeyed," we hear. Hence, religionists are "forced" to disobey God in order to keep their orders and creeds (Mk. 7: 13, 1 Cor. 6: 9-11).
A growing practice among some churches of Christ. More local churches of Christ are adopting denominational practices. The sponsoring church arrangement as seen in the Herald of Truth Organization is destroying the autonomy of some churches of Christ. This arrangement involves the pooling of resources into one common treasury. The Highlands church, the elders, oversee or sponsor the concerted effort. Based on this concept, I have received the following request: "Will your elders oversee our church?" As seen, elders are to oversee only the local church where they are members (Acts 14: 23; 1 Pet. 5: 1-3).
Conclusion. The sponsoring church is without biblical authority and is in sharp violation of the clear teaching of the independence of each local church.