To disprove that last statement one only needs to show where the existence, organization, or work of a local congregation, in the NT, was ever dependent upon anything else other than faithful Christians, in a given locale working and worshiping together, striving to follow apostolic authority. By apostolic authority, I mean the local churches we read about were under the direction of the Holy Spirit, by means of the apostles, as Jesus had promised (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-13, et. al.). The following passages are just a few of the passages that could be given to show that the apostles ordered or directed local churches in the NT Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 7:17; 11:16; 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:5; Titus 1:5, etc.
I might add that the work of the Holy Spirit, in this capacity was only ever intended for those of whom Jesus said, "you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:27). Clearly, we cannot bear witness of Jesus in the sense that Jesus is talking about here because we were not with Him from the beginning. Furthermore, being with Jesus from the beginning was a qualification of an apostle, as noted by Peter when they were selecting a successor to Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and subsequently committed suicide (Acts 1:15-26). Thus, the work of directing the churches was done by the Holy Spirit via the apostles (see 1 Corinthians 12:25ff).
The local church is all-sufficient because we have THE all-sufficient word (perfect law of liberty) of the apostles conveyed for us in the New Testament (James 1:25-ff). The warnings are fairly given and direct so that we have no business adding to, or taking away from, this body of teaching that comprises the New Testament (Revelation 22:18-19; Galatians 1:6-ff)! You cannot alter the teaching of the NT without altering the church that we read about in the NT. The identity of local churches to Jesus Christ and the maintenance of such, as we read in the NT, was clearly the result of the teaching of the apostles recorded therein (cf. Acts 11:19-26; Revelation 2:1-3:22).
Now having said all this here is the point to which I am driving. The local church in its existence, function and organization was designed to be autonomous or if you prefer independent. What does that mean? It means, owing to its sufficient nature, as God designed, each local church exists, functions and organizes as if it were the only one in all the earth. Stop, digest, and just cogitate on that last sentence, before reading on because there is a warning coming!
The independent nature of the local church we read about in the NT was NEVER dependent on any organization or work beyond its own members or means! Elders are given the clear charge to tend the flock "which is among them!" (1 Peter 5:1-ff). God never intended for elders to oversee any aspect of the work, or organization, of any other local congregation! To the extent that occurs the independence or autonomy of both churches is lost and they are no longer what God designed. The NT church did not have an earthly headquarters as each was independent of each other striving to submit to apostolic authority.
In the seven letters to the churches of Asia-minor (Revelation 2:1-3:22), whatever commendations or condemnations each of these churches were given by the Lord, they were their own and were independent of the other six! He did not instruct one church, much less the elders of one church, to correct the problems in any of the other churches, much less help facilitate the work of any of the other churches. The reason is obvious each local congregation was all-sufficient to do its God-given duty!
The principle of autonomy or independence must be respected! When I read of those who want to air the problems of a church where they are not a member, relying at best on second-hand information (the accuracy of such a report does not matter) it is disturbing, disruptive and may be damning to their soul. If the elders of the congregation experiencing the struggles want the specifics of the trouble known then it is theirs to do, as the shepherds of the flock which is among them. They know all the facts and the painfulness of the experience. It is not the work of another from somewhere else to air it for them (1 Peter 4:15).
It is heartbreaking for all of us to hear about such happening in any local church. We must remember that the New Testament honored principle of local autonomy, should never preclude any of us from caring, or feeling the hurt, or keep us from praying, for those who wrongly left and those who have remained desiring to be faithful to the Lord. The apostle John said it best, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." (1 John 2:19).
On the other hand, if we are not careful we may carry the principle of independence/autonomy to the wrong extreme. Sadly, some congregations focus so much on local autonomy or their independence that they are perilously close to glorying in that which God never intended. Namely, a form of hyper-congregationalism that cares for nothing else than itself and its right to do whatever it wants because of the principle of autonomy or independence. The apostle Peter exhorts those Christians suffering for doing good to remember they were NOT alone that they have brothers and sisters all over the world suffering for doing good (1 Peter 5:9). Thus, the concern for all Christians who suffer is shared by all other Christians wherever they may be. In the aggregate, or universal sense, the church which Jesus promised to establish was made up of individuals in a saved relationship to God through Him (Matthew 16:18). He died for individuals not local churches. Local churches were designed to be made up of those same individuals for the purpose of organizing, working and worshiping together! In other words, the local church is how individual Christians who are in a saved relationship to Christ, were meant to relate to each other in a given locale or as a collective group (organizing, working, and worshiping together). They strive together to follow primitive Christianity according to apostolic authority (NT).
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