We find through our studies of the New Testament that each congregation is overseen by a local eldership (I Peter 5:1-3).  Thus, as students of God’s word, we understand that one congregation is not governed by another congregation.  Each congregation may make choices in how to serve the Lord.  They must however also maintain obedience to the word of God.  Each congregation’s decisions must be in accordance with what is authorized in the New Testament (Colossians 3:17).  Christ is at all times, in every location, the head of His body the church (Colossians 1:18).  Thus, His words are to be used when making decisions in a local work.

     Each congregation makes their own decisions on how they will carry out the works the Lord has authorized the local church to carry out.  These decisions are made based upon judgment when it comes to matters of expediency.  For example, each congregation may decide how often they will assemble in a week, what days, and what times.  However, each congregation MUST follow the pattern of the New Testament in assembling on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7).  On that day they would also sing praises to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16), take up a collection of the saints (I Corinthians 16:1-2), allow the Gospel to be preached (Acts 20:7ff.), and pray to the Lord (I Thessalonians 5:17).  Thus, on some matters there is room for judgment and on others all congregations are subject to the same rules.  Matters of doctrine have already been settled in the New Testament!

     No one outside of a local congregation has any right to weigh in on matters of lawful expediency of any given local church.  However, the Gospel is not bound and restricted to one local congregation where you or I may be a member of.  Just consider this, if  I can only teach at the local congregation where I am a member, things like a bulletin on the internet, Gospel Meetings, and tracts would be sinful.  Of course we all understand that is not the case.  The Gospel is to be preached everywhere (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47, Acts 5:42, and Acts 20:20), and any lawful expedient may be used to preach the Gospel everywhere.  Thus, when sin is committed within any local congregation Christians that are aware of that sin have an obligation to help restore the erring regardless of congregational or geographical boundaries (Galatians 6:1).

     As we read through our personal copies of God’s words we find various accounts of congregations in error and brethren outside of those local works getting involved in those situations.  For example, the church in Antioch had certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1).  When Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question (Acts 15:2).

     When Paul and Barnabas came to Jerusalem there was much discussion over the matter that resulted in the following: “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation” (Acts 15:22-31).  According to the teaching of some brethren today Paul, Barnabas, other Apostles, the elders at Jerusalem, Judas, Silas, and the Holy Spirit erred in getting involved with a doctrinal problem in Antioch.

     Another example that shows our responsibility to erring brethren that are outside of the local congregation we work with is a purpose of the epistle to the brethren at Corinth.  Paul said the following to the Corinthians: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you” (I Corinthians 1:10-11).  According to the doctrine of many brethren today, Chloe and Paul erred in the reporting of division and Paul’s response to that report.  Doctrinal error must be dealt with regardless of congregational boundaries.  This we can clearly see in our two examined examples.  However, we must also show that false teachers must be marked regardless of congregational or geographical boundaries.

     Marking [making note of] false teachers and false doctrines fall into the framework of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When Paul was in Ephesus he warned the elders about error (Acts 20:28-31).  When Paul was in prison he wrote to Timothy warning him not only of false doctrine (II Timothy 2:16), but also of those who taught it (II Timothy 2:17-18).  Paul warned Timothy of Alexander the Coppersmith saying: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (II Timothy 4:14-16).

     When Paul was addressing the church in Rome he said: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).  Paul requested with great intensity that the brethren in Rome mark and avoid those who caused division (all false doctrine causes division) and offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ.  He then explained the danger of those who use fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple.  Marking false teachers is an action authorized by way of direct command, example, and necessary inference in the New Testament regardless of congregational boundaries.

     An article like this one can cause a man to be labeled a “brotherhood policeman”.  Articles like this one have cost me financial support as recent as two months ago.  When brethren try to isolate themselves under the argument that “brotherhood issues” are none of their business they have severely erred.  Maintaining the position that one congregation has no business with what is taught in another, shows some brethren have missed many lessons taught in the New Testament.  When brethren take that erring position why isn’t their conscience violated when they read the epistles to the churches in Antioch, Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, Thessalonica, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, etc.  When one reads those letters they are reading the business of other congregations and they are also reading about those who are being marked as in error.

     We must not allow ourselves to bury our heads from issues in the brotherhood.  If we close our eyes to error, those who teach it, and the congregations who support it; we are opening ourselves up to the wolves for an easy snack (Matthew 7:15-20).  We need to test brethren to make sure they are of God (I John 4:1).  Without knowledge of what is going on in the camps of error we are limited in what we know to look for.  Marking false teachers is not a violation of church autonomy.  Marking false teachers is an action of obedience to the Lord (Romans 16:17-18 and Titus 3:10-11).