Territorial Bloggings

In the course of reading the latest book to hit my reading list — Bible: God’s Inspired, Inerrant Word by Brian Keller (book info from NPH) — last night, I came across this excerpt that encapsulates quite nicely just why it is imperative that we look, and get involved, beyond the borders of our local congregations:

When there are differences within a church body, some members respond by ignoring those on the outside of their own local congregation or area. Without a doubt, this was the response of some in Missouri [LCMS] too. Pastors and members in various locations decided that they would pay attention to their local congregations. But isolationism is certainly not a wise course in the long run. It allows error to affect other areas, and error in other areas eventually can spread to the area of isolation. A layman can convince himself that his own pastor is orthodox (teaching correctly), but what happens when that pastor leaves or dies? Suddenly the layman’s imaginary wall collapses.

This is very true. Outward confession matters. Thus, a local congregation must care about, and be involved in, that which is transpiring at the district & synod levels, else they lapse into hypocrisy regarding their affiliation and/or confession. Even beyond battling for doctrinal purity within the boundaries of the larger organization, local congregations (and the laity that comprise the congregations) need to stay informed so that they can be ready if/when the need to separate & sever the official affiliation arises.

-ghp