Some think of the church as being pretty much what we want it to be. Some have even suggested that the reason there are so many churches is so that folks can have a choice of where and how to serve God—as there are choices of ice cream. But the Bible portrays the church as being regulated.

The doctrine taught and received among churches in the Bible was governed. Controversy raged over issues such as the circumcising of Gentile converts (Gal. 5:1-12); the incarnation (2 John 7); the resurrection (2 Tim. 2:17-18) and others. It does make a difference what one believes. Some teachings are acceptable, some are not.

Organization of the church was regulated. The reason this must be so is that local church leaders, elders, were to meet qualifications. They were to be temperate, able to teach, not self-willed, the husband of one wife with faithful children, etc. (1 Tim. 3; Tit. 1). Those who did not meet these qualifications could not be overseers of the local church as elders. No arrangement was made for any other. If there were no regulated organization, why list these qualifications?

Membership in the congregations was regulated. Not everyone was accepted (Rom. 14:1; Tit. 3:10). Some were ousted (1 Cor. 5). Fellowship was not open to just anyone, but to the faithful. That being the case, certainly one can look at God’s word and distinguish between “faithful” and “unfaithful.”

Other things, like the work and practice of the church, were to be monitored by brethren according to the word. But these examples serve to show that the Biblical church was controlled by God.

To the Corinthian church the apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone defiles the temple of God. God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17). God regulates the business of His kingdom, and those who violate the regulations will be held accountable.