Shepherding Words (15) | Assailing the Ground of Oneness (3): Was the Church in Jerusalem a “Regional” Church?

Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13. As believers who love the Lord and who are standing for His testimony, we must not be ignorant of the schemes of God’s enemy in his attacks on the church. In order to help educate and inoculate us against such attacks, the co-workers in North America have released a series of articles on ShepherdingWords.com, which expose the stratagems of the devil. This week, we have a narration of the article entitled “Assailing the Ground of Oneness (3): Was the Church in Jerusalem a “Regional” Church?” originally published on December 16, 2019. The New Testament clearly reveals that the proper church life should be practiced on the ground of locality, where the boundary of each church is no larger and no smaller than the city it is in (cf. Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5, Rev. 1:11). Some, however, have misinterpreted Acts 9:31 and argued that the church in Jerusalem was a regional church, which has jurisdiction over an area broader than the boundary of a city. This erroneous teaching assails the ground of oneness and produces a hierarchical system in which a central church exercises control over smaller churches. By properly expounding Acts 9:31 through the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, this article describes the biblical pattern of local churches practicing oneness in fellowship, without the existence of a regional church. May the Lord supply us through this speaking and equip us to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.