This site has many articles that you can search on this topic, already. Still, some have a hard time with what the “called-out” is. So, I will produce another to clarify some more.
The called-out represents the class of people known as the “saints” (“set apart for God’s exclusive purpose). When those people are classified under one city, it does not create a new entity known as a local church. Instead, it represents, by definition, the same class of people but with the added description of where they live. The saints of Judea or any other region does not suggest the formation of a regional organization of churches anymore than a city would represent a smaller local organization.
The elders of these brethren were among the specially gifted men listed in Ephesians 4 who, along with the apostles, prophets, and evangelists, spoke and taught God’s word by direct revelation. These men were skilled in teaching and formed a team of inspired teachers during this infant and transitional period from one age to another. These men, along with the spiritual gifts, were designed to teach and prepare men and women for kingdom living, i.e., submitting to the rule of King Jesus and conforming to His image. Be cautious that you understand their purpose and duration before applying them some new entity called “church”. These men were not overseeing church organizations. They were overseeing souls. Such tasks may have been a bit overbearing if it were not for the fact that these men were guiding saints every day. They were in their homes and were provided by the saints who supported them in lodging, food, and clothing. In such a context, we can appreciate more fully why it was so important for the saints in a city to submit to them and to honor them.
Forcing a work upon men we call “elders” today, while removing this context and the work of the Holy Spirit in those last days, forces us to apply their “rule” to the administrative care and decision-making activities of an organization. The elders of the first century are in a totally different class than the elders, today. They don’t have the same skill, divine guidance, and purpose. But, if you force them into humanly devised organizations, you cannot give them the same role and function. So, if they “rule” (which is a terrible translation), they must “rule” over local churches. Their roles and work must be modified to fit their placement in local churches. Once that modification is made, we, then, read into the text an entirely different arrangement.
Well, what about the treasury? There must be a treasury, right? Answer: Only if there is a local church organization. 1 Corinthians 16:2 becomes another proof text for churches to prove that the church in Corinth were told to lay by in store on the first day of the week. It is thought that since this letter was written to a local church located in Corinth, this church had a treasury to which monies could be added. Upon a careful study, you will see that this passage is butchered like so many others by applying collective activity to a work that was always intended to be applied individually. The reflexive pronoun “himself” in the text shows that each individual was to lay “by himself” in store. Now, whether they collected it under one barn is not stated nor would it be necessary. Nothing supports the added feature of collecting what each individual had chosen to give into one storehouse. The thought that the text leaves us with is that Paul came to town with his wagon(s) and collected what each had stored or gathered in advance. When you create an organization, you have to read a local church treasury into 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
In addition, the collection was earmarked or set aside for a particular purpose. This is the only example we have of saints giving. It was never given into a “slush-fund” to be administered by the decision-makers of an organization. In fact, no decision about its purpose was necessary. Concerns about how the money should be spent was never a consideration. It’s only a concern when you create a local church organization.
If this is so, then, what fellowship or interaction did these saints have in these cities? Were they just independent souls who may have recognized the confession of faith but had little interaction with one another. This is one of the first questions I am asked. Later this week, we will return to answer this question. Stay tuned.