Question 52 — Wherein consists the duty of any church of Christ towards other churches?
John Owen A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God Question 52 — Wherein consists the duty of any church of Christ towards other churches? a b Answer — In walking circumspectly, so as to give them no offence; in prayer for their peace c d and prosperity; in receiving with love and readiness the members of them into fellowship, in the celebration of the ordinances of the in communicating supplies to their wants according to ability; e gospel, as occasion shall be; in desiring and making use of their counsel and advice in such cases
f of doubt and difficulty as may arise among them; in joining with them to express their communion in the same doctrine of faith. a 1 Cor. x. 32. b Ps. cxxii. 6; Eph. vi. 18; 1 Tim. ii. 1. c 2 Cor. viii. 1–15; Acts xi. 29, 30; Rom. xv. 26, 27. d Rom. xvi. 1, 2; 3 John 8, 9. e Acts xv. 2, 6. f 1 Tim. iii. 15.
Explication — Churches being gathered and settled according to the mind of Christ, ought to preserve a mutual holy communion among themselves, and to exercise it in the discharge of those duties whereby their mutual good and edification may be promoted; for whereas they are all united under one head, the Lord Christ, Eph. i. 22, 23, in the same faith and order, chap. iv. 5, and do walk by the same rule, they stand in such a relation one to another as is the ground of the communion spoken of. Now, the principal ways whereby they exercise this communion are the acts and duties enumerated in the answer to this question; as, —
First, Careful walking, so as to give no offence unto one another; which, although it be a moral duty in reference unto all, yet therein especial regard is to be had unto other churches of Christ, that they be not in any thing grieved or tempted: 1 Cor. x. 32, "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God."
Secondly, In constant prayer for the peace, welfare, edification, and prosperity one of another,
Rom. i. 9; Col. i. 9; Eph. vi. 18. And this because of the special concernment of the name and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in their welfare.
Thirdly, In communicating of supplies for their relief according unto their ability, in case of the outward wants, straits, dangers, or necessities of any of them. — Acts xi. 29, 30; Rom. xv. 26, 27;
2 Cor. viii. 1–15.
Fourthly, The receiving of the members of other churches to communion, in the celebration of church-ordinances, is another way whereby this communion of churches is exercised, Rom. xvi.
1, 2; 3 John 8, 9; for whereas the personal right of such persons unto the ordinances of the church,