Guarding The Trust: Accountability to The Local Church
PART FIVE
Guarding The Trust- Accountability to The Local Church
63. Music, by Biblical definition, is a ministry. (1 Chronicles 16:37,42)
64. Ministry is defined as service to God and His creatures as we employ our Spirit-given giftedness, according to the instruction of Scripture as good stewards of the manifold grace of God for the advancement of His Kingdom; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4: 10-12)
65. God has designed genuine ministry to be inseparable from the life and leadership of the local church. Any ministry that does not strengthen one's commitment to the local church is inconsistent with the purpose of Christ. (Acts 2: 42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25)
66. There are five reasons why we should love and serve the church: Firstly, Jesus Christ promised to build the Church- therefore, my commitment should be to it. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:39-47)
67. Secondly, He purchased the Church with His own precious blood-therefore, I love those for whom He died. (1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3: 14-16)
68. Thirdly, the church is the predominate agency through which God's will is manifested on earth-therefore, it is the community with whom I labor. (Ephesians 1:9-10; Colossians 1:28-29)
69. Fourthly, the Church is the only earthly expression of heaven-therefore, we must daily grow together in conformity to the fullness of Christ.(2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 4:4-11; Ephesians 4:12-13)
70. Fifthly, the gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church-therefore, in light of the assured victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, our worship and toil is not in vain. (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58)
71. In response to these truths and to insure a life of godliness and holiness and to guard against blind spots in personal issues, vocation and theology-submission to the plurality of godly leaders within the church is essential. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
72. We are to obey, honor, and pray for the faithful pastors in the church who have been given this sacred trust. They are those who are instructed by the Lord to keep watch over souls as ones who will give an account. Woe to the shepherds who do not take their responsibility to shepherd the flock of God seriously. They dishonor the Savior. They disobey the Scriptures. They diminish their office and defame their calling. (Hebrews 13:7, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
73. In the case of a Christian being overtaken in sin, proper discipline must be exercised within the church to bring restoration and reconciliation (as prescribed in Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). This is to confirm repentance and to guard the purity of one's life personally as well as the entire body of Christ corporately.