Our Local Church

Since I read the first book, I had to read the second. Again it is a short 58 pages of very helpful material for the professing Christian and the local body of believers called the local church.

The book explains in the introduction that:

"Many insist that churches will prosper only when certain biblical doctrines and practices are marginalized or refitted to mesh with the surrounding culture. In contrast, we are convinced that the local church will be strongest when biblical doctrines and practices are clearly defined and then faithfully upheld, despite the expectations of those around us and in humble submission to the Head of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ."

With conviction, the book goes on to explain the purpose for a church's statement of faith. The explanation is quite good. In a day when creeds are despised and church unity is done at the expense of truth, this was a welcomed section.

The book however does seem to reinvent the wheel by writing a new statement of faith when there are already such great Creeds that have come down to us from our reformed baptist forebears. Creeds such as the London Baptist Confession are very good at summarizing the faith. Obviously, Pastor Elliff's intention is to keep the book short. Thereby writing a new shortened summary was necessary.

The next major section was on the importance of local church membership and the importance of church discipline. This is sorely missing in the preaching of many pulpits today. In a day when preachers touch topics as "Healthy Churches", the major biblical texts are ignored or glossed over. Almost no exegesis is ever offered. Yet, Jesus and the Apostles deal with the subject many times throughout the New Testament.

The last section gives key passages regarding church discipline. This is extremely helpful as well. Although the book is hardly exhaustive, it belongs on the shelf of every layman. It is what it set out to be...a pamphlet on the local church.