SUBJECT:  Church Government

QUESTION:  Does the Intercontinental Church of God practice any form of hierarchical government as was practiced in the Worldwide Church of God?

ANSWER:

Clearly hierarchical government is something that has been abused in the history of the Church of God--the Body of Christ.  I know it still exists in several of the 350-or so church organizations in the Body of Christ.  It should not be so.  Ministers are servants of the congregation.  They have responsibility for protecting the flock and in those cases, authority can be used to carry out that purpose.  Most of the time, authority need not be used as everyone who is a sincere, true called out one is working out his or her salvation with fear and trembling...

Fear and trembling toward God

...toward His Word

...toward His ministers

...toward those in authority (in worldly positions)

Notice this from my sermon on "fear and trembling":

ITEM 5:  Next, I want to see how "fear and trembling" is stated between ministers and the congregation for this gives us more insight into how "fear and trembling" works in our relationship with God.

This is the account by Paul of his sending Titus to the Corinthian church:

2 Corinthians 7:13-16

13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Now the commentary on verse 15..

[And his inward affection ...] He has become deeply and tenderly attached to you. His affectionate regard for you has been greatly increased by his visit. On the meaning of the word here rendered "inward affection" splangchia (NT:4698), Margin, bowels) see the note on 2 Cor 6:12. It denotes here: deep, tender attachment, or love.

[How with fear and trembling ye received him] With fear of offending, and with deep apprehension of the consequences of remaining in sin. He saw what a fear there was of doing wrong, and what evidence there was, therefore, that you were solicitous to do right.

Note:  This is the kind of "fear and trembling" God wants from His firstfruits in the Salvation Process.

"with deep apprehension of the consequences of remaining in sin"

"a fear there was of doing wrong"

"a deep concern about doing right"

ITEM 6: Question:  How should we treat anyone in authority?

Ephesians 6:5-7

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Here now is the commentary on just the phrase "as to the Christ"

[As unto Christ] Feeling that by rendering proper service to your masters, you are in fact serving the Lord, and that you are doing that which will be well-pleasing to him. Fidelity, in whatever situation we may be in life, is acceptable service to the Lord. A Christian may as acceptably serve the Lord Jesus in the condition of a servant, as if he were a minister of the gospel, or a king on a throne. Besides, it will greatly lighten the burdens of such a situation, and make the toils of an humble condition easy, to remember that we are then "serving the Lord." -end of quote from sermon-

Note:  When there is this kind of behavior from all those who have the Holy Spirit of God, then the kind of overpowering authority used by the church in the old days is not needed. 

Thankfully, this type of "Lord it over the people" kind of government does not exist with Mr. Armstrong nor the Intercontinental Church of God.

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