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We need to see and enter into the organic relationship of the churches; this is the unique relationship of the unique church (the universal church composed of all the local churches); “the church” in 1 Corinthians 12:28 refers to the church in both its universal and local aspects:
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This organic relationship is practiced uniquely and universally among all the local churches as the unique, organic Body of Christ—2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 1:3, 7.
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All the local churches are one church; their organic relationship is based upon the organic fellowship of the divine life; among all the churches that compose the one universal Body of Christ, there is no organization, but there is the fellowship of the Body of Christ—Phil. 1:5; cf. Acts 9:31.
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The church in one locality should not have the attitude that they have nothing to do with the church in another locality; an intrinsically wrong realization and different teaching of the separate, autonomous relationship of the churches has been existing among us; this wrong and different teaching causes division after division.
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The Lord’s recovery is based upon the truth that Christ has only one Body, which is expressed in many localities as the local churches; because there is one Spirit, there is only one Body, and there is only one circulation of life in the Body; this circulation is the fellowship of the Body of Christ, which is the fellowship among the churches—Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4-6; 1 John 1:3, 7; Rev. 1:11.
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A local church is a part of the unique Body of Christ, and the fellowship of the Body is universally one; in the divine fellowship there is no separation—v. 11; 2:7a:
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No church or region should isolate itself from the fellowship of the Body; the result of a church or a region isolating itself from the fellowship of the Body of Christ is darkness, confusion, division, and death.
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If we isolate ourselves from the fellowship of the Body, we are not qualified to partake of the Lord’s supper, because the loaf on the table in the Lord’s supper signifies the entire Body of Christ—1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:25-28.
Morning Nourishment
1 Cor. 12:28 And God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.Eph. 1:22-23 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
The organic relationship of the churches is the unique relationship of the unique church—the universal church composed of all the local churches (1 Cor. 12:28). Today in the Lord’s recovery there are… many local churches, but there is only one unique, universal, and intrinsic fellowship, which is for the organic relationship of the churches.
The elders of each of the local churches should consider what kind of relationship they have with the other churches. Is their relationship limited to the brothers in their locality, or are they in fellowship with all the churches in the Lord’s recovery?…Two churches may be very close to one another geographically yet…may not want to let each other know about their affairs.…The relationship of every church should be the unique, universal fellowship of the divine life. In this fellowship the churches should not have anything private, except certain cases of individuals involving confidential and personal matters. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 4, “The Organic Building Up of the Church as the Body of Christ to Be the Organism of the Processed and Dispensing Triune God,” pp. 314-315)
Today’s Reading
All the local churches are one church.…Their relationship is not organizational. The relationship of the churches must be organic according to the divine life and based on the organic fellowship of the divine life. If we keep this view, we will be saved from many problems.When the first group of apostles was on the earth, the churches were organically one. After a time, however, the churches began to degrade and became divided…. In the proper sense all the churches should be “catholic”; they should be universally one. The word catholic, however, has been spoiled. The Catholic Church has created a great hierarchy,… [which] annuls the headship of Christ. We should hate such a hierarchical practice.
When the Brethren were raised up, they strongly attacked the hierarchical practice of Catholicism. Eventually, however, the Brethren became divided over their doctrinal teachings…. One teacher, G. H. Lang, in reacting against Darby, taught that every local assembly should be autonomous. This teaching of autonomy ruined the Brethren, causing division after division.
We should care only to practice the Body life of the church as the organism of the Triune God. In the Lord’s recovery we do not practice autonomy or federation. We only have a practice based upon the unique and universal fellowship in the Body of Christ. The church in one locality should not have the attitude that they have nothing to do with the church in another locality.…The churches should not practice having a separate, autonomous relationship among them. It is also wrong for the churches to practice a federated relationship. We should practice the unique relationship based upon the unique and universal fellowship of the Body of Christ.
The organic relationship of the churches is based on the unique and universal fellowship among all the members of the organic Body of Christ (cf. Phil. 2:1). This organic relationship is practiced uniquely and universally among all the local churches as the unique, organic Body of Christ—the unique church in the universe. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 4, “The Organic Building Up of the Church as the Body of Christ to Be the Organism of the Processed and Dispensing Triune God,” pp. 317-318)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1984, vol. 2, “Elders’ Training, Book 4:Other Crucial Matters concerning the Practice of the Lord’s Recovery,” ch. 4