What is a Sound Church?
Recently in a local Facebook group, someone asked about a sound church. 300 comments said many things, but what is the answer? What is a sound church? Why is this even an important question? The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words to the preacher Titus, “But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Titus was charged with speaking things that were consistent with sound, or healthy, doctrine. If there is sound doctrine, there must be unsound doctrine. If some teaching is healthy then there are others that are not healthy for the soul of man. As with every article, we will seek to answer this vital question from the Scriptures.
A Sound Church Teaches the Biblical Plan of Salvation
A sound church will teach the Biblical Plan of Salvation, that one must hear the Gospel, believe it, repent of sin, confess Christ as Lord, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Afterward, one must remain faithful until death. If a church does not teach this exact plan of salvation, can that church be "sound'?
It certainly is not sound for a different plan of salvation to be preached for there is but one Gospel. Consider what the inspired Apostle Paul recorded,
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema."
(Gal 1:8-9)
Can a man just decide what he thinks is necessary for salvation? Is that sound? This is the very case for all who preach what is commonly called the sinner's prayer. There is not one single instance of anyone in the New Testament praying and accepting Jesus into their heart and being saved. So why in the year 2024 are there men who say you can pray and be saved, raise your hand and be saved, or have the Holy Spirit fall on them to be saved? Salvation is dependent on obedience to the Gospel. If a church does not teach the Biblical pattern of salvation, it cannot be sound.
A Sound Church Has the Biblical Pattern of Leadership
However, merely teaching the Biblical pattern of salvation alone does not make a sound church. Many churches have diverse leadership models. Some have a patristic hierarchy featuring a pope. Others have a one-man pastor system. Others are technically ruled by a board. Why is there such diversity? Does any man have a right to set up leadership for the church? No. God has already commanded the leadership for the church. Each congregation of the church of Christ is led by a plurality of elders who are local to that congregation. The Bible teaches this plainly. "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge.” (Titus 1:5)
If you keep reading Titus 1:6-9, you will notice that those elders (also called bishops, shepherds (pastors), and presbyters, these are all synonymous terms) have to meet qualifications. Let us note that an elder must be a husband (male) of one wife (female) and have children that believe. This does not allow for female shepherds, single male shepherds, childless shepherds, or hot-tempered and self-willed individuals either. If a female were to serve in this role or exercise authority over males in a congregation, this passage would be violated. Is the church you attend overseen by elders (multiple qualified men) or not? If not, can that church be sound?
A Sound Church Must Have a Divine Origin.
A church that teaches the Biblical plan of salvation and has proper leadership does not alone make a church sound. A sound church must have a Divine origin. In the second chapter of Acts, the Biblical church was established. This is exactly as Christ said it would happen. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said,
“And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
How many churches did Jesus say He would build? One. When did He build it? Acts 2. In that passage, we have the account of the preaching of the Gospel on the first day of Pentecost after our Lord ascended to the right hand of the Father. In that sermon, the keys to the kingdom were used to open the door to the Jews, about 3,000 were added by the Lord that day (Acts 2:37-41). We must conclude thus: if a church was not founded in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after Jesus ascended, it cannot be a sound church. If a church was founded by any man, in any other location and not Jesus Christ in Jerusalem it cannot be a sound church.
A Sound Church Must Speak the Same as Jesus, the Apostles, and the Prophets
Sectarianism has plagued this world for a long time. The roots of this sectarianism existed even in the first century. The Holy Spirit sought to correct this error quickly and we must note what He said through the pen of Paul. “Now I beseech you, brethren, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor 1:10).
The problem in Corinth was exposed in the proceeding verses. Some good people had been carried away with the names of their favorite preachers. Some were dividing over their names. One said I am of Cephas, another of Apollos, and another of Paul. One group even claimed Christ, but their attitude certainly did not reflect the doctrine of Christ. Why is it important that we speak the same thing? The Spirit commanded it. The Lord prayed for all of His disciples to possess that unity (cf. John 17:17-23). The only way that unity is achieved is that we all hold to the truth which is sound doctrine.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
