12 Hard Nuts For Universal Church Proponents
by Pastor Curtis Pugh
1. A universal invisible church
defies the Greek definition. By definition of the Greek word used, a church
(ecclesia) must be an organized gathering (assembly) of persons with a common
interest and common officers. This is the N.T. usage as well as the Septuagint
and secular uses. There can be no such thing as an assembly that does not
assemble.
2. The invisible church definition is based on unsound exegesis. To make up a
second definition for the word church (or any other word) to fit preconceived
doctrinal notions is not sound Bible exegesis. Such a practice allows any
doctrine to be taught simply by saying that a word means one thing in one
place and quite another in a different place. If “ecclesia” means a gathered,
organized assembly of persons called out from daily duties, to assume that
Christ or Paul used it differently is unsafe, unless Christ or Paul explained
such a different usage – which neither did. Personal bias is no justification
for saying that there is a second definition for the word “ecclesia.”
3. Pentecost nowhere stated or hinted to be the birth of any church. Universal
church theorists often teach that the church was born on Pentecost. there is
no Scriptural proof or even hint that any kind of church was on the first
“Christian Pentecost,” a Jewish feast day.
4. The day of Pentecost not the end of the law. The Old Testament did not end
on Pentecost. While Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who
believe, Jesus Himself said, “The law and the prophets were until John” (Luke
16:16). So then the law system ended years before “Pentecost.”
5. An invisible church requires more than one baptism. John prophesied that
Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost. Christ was to be the administrator,
the Holy Ghost was that into which they would be immersed. To try to
manufacture a “baptism” by which the Holy Ghost baptizes one into the mystical
body of Christ [?] would make the Holy Ghost the administrator and this
“mystical body” the element into which the believer would be immerse – an
altogether different thing. An invisible church requires an invisible
“baptism.” The Bible teaches only ONE (kind) of baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Which
will it be, real water baptism like the New Testament church or
Protestantism’s spirit baptism?
6. The teaching of a “universal invisible church” was popularized by Martin
Luther, some 1450 years after Christ. He did so to counteract the “universal
VISIBLE church” teaching of the Roman church from which he had just been
excommunicated. Since he had been ejected from the “universal VISIBLE church”
he had to come up with some kind of church of which he could be a member so
that it would not appear that he was starting one of his own – which in fact
he was.
7. A church born on Pentecost would have a different founder. Jesus promised
to “build” (literally “to build up or continue to build”) His assembly
(church) as opposed to any other kind of gathering. He did not promise that
the Holy Ghost would do it on Pentecost. He was no failure. If the church
began on Pentecost, its founder would be the Holy Ghost and not Christ.
8. A church born on Pentecost must have “Old Testament baptism.” John
instituted baptism. Jesus personally baptized no one (John 4:2). If the first
church was born on Pentecost and necessarily with it the New Testament
dispensation, it must reach back into the Old Testament era for baptism, for
baptism was instituted prior to Pentecost and thus according to this theory,
prior to the birth of the church.
9. A church born on Pentecost must have an “Old Testament supper.” If the
first church was born on Pentecost and with it the New Dispensation, it has an
Old Testament supper. For the Lord’s Supper is an Old Testament ordinance
since it, like baptism, was instituted according to these theorists in the Old
Dispensation – that is, prior to Pentecost.
10. A church born on Pentecost has no commission from Christ. If the church
did not begin until Pentecost then she has no commission, for the Lord Jesus
gave the second and “Great Commission” PRIOR to Pentecost. It is unthinkable
to have a New Testament church operating under an Old Testament commission!
11. An invisible church must be a corrupt church. Christ’s church is pictured
as His “bride.” Paul said of a “local” church (the only kind addressed in the
New Testament), “...I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you
as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:2). Purity, loving service
and fidelity are hallmarks of such a church. A universal church cannot be pure
for all the redeemed are members of such a church, even one excluded from
churches for idolatry, immorality, etc. How can a pure bride (church) be made
up of excluded church members? The Romish church is pictured in Revelation 17
and 18 as a grossly immoral woman having daughters like unto herself. A
universal invisible church must of necessity include in it persons who are
part of the Harlot and/or her Harlot daughters. How can a pure bride be made
up of an impure Harlot?
12. An invisible church can do nothing. Just what does an invisible church do?
It cannot meet. It never gathers for fellowship or worship. It cannot send out
a missionary. It cannot ordain a preacher. It cannot ordain a deacon. It
cannot baptize converts. It cannot exclude a member or discipline its members
in any manner. It cannot receive tithes and offerings. It cannot observe the
Lord’s Supper. It cannot agree on doctrine, nor even support the most basic of
Christian truths. It cannot do any of the things churches in the New Testament
did. It can do nothing.
Surely every truly repentant believer in Christ is saved and safe. All God’s elect shall be someday with Him in Heaven. Salvation is not related to church membership. A church is a “body” constituted for service and is a “pillar and ground of the truth” (1st Timothy 3:15). Are you a member of one of Christ’s churches where you can serve Him in a way that is acceptable unto Him?
