The Apostle Paul’s bottom line in his calling the brethren to recognize and respect Christ’s authority through His leaders is that they would know peace among themselves. The tensions that can roil a church can be dealt with giving credence and compliance to those in authority who bring the word of God to bear.

We urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you.
(1 Thess. 5:12, NKJV)

In the American church today there exists a strain of virile independency. I’m not talking about autonomous rule by congregational church government. I’m referring to the rejection of our Lord’s design for the visible church.

Professing Christians insist that they do not need to be part of a local congregation. Some have had bad experiences in the local church and so they have not only fled that congregation but any local church. Others by principle hold to a relationship with Jesus apart from any ecclesiastical authority.

But by whatever rationale or rationalization, those who forsake the local church forego the wisdom of their Lord for their spiritual development, protection, and direction. Why do they think Paul appoints elders for each the congregations formed in the book of Acts? Why are we told about the shepherding responsibilities of elders to care for the sheep entrusted to them? Why does Paul write to Timothy and Titus laying out qualifications for church officers and instructing them in their responsibilities to the flock?

The local congregation is integral to Christ’s design for making disciples and mobilizing them for the work of the kingdom. The mutual exercise of spiritual gifts, the dynamic of community to build one another up in the Lord, and gathering for corporate worship all belong to the visible church.

All this serves as background to Paul’s plea. “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess. 5:12–13).

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