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From an Apostolic (Oneness Pentecostal) perspective, what form should the church take in the twenty-first century? To answer this question, an Apostolic hermeneutic requires that we examine the New Testament church in the first century.
When we do, we find principles of organization, authority, and fellowship to guide us today. At the same time, however, we do not find detailed instructions or descriptions for the structuring of local churches or the connection of local churches to one another.
Since the Bible is inspired of God, we conclude that this lack of specificity is intentional. While God has given principles to guide us in being the church and doing church, He has given us broad discretion and liberty to operate in ways that are most suited to our own social, economic, political, and cultural context. In God’s plan, the precise form of doing church can vary with circumstances, preferences, and pragmatic considerations. This diversity extends across both time and space and even to the local level.
Therefore, we will not look for one right way to do church, but we will look for principles to apply. All churches must find ways to implement these principles and operate according to them. Finally, we consider some challenges that the twenty-first century church faces in light of these principles. The purpose of this paper is not primarily to give definitive answers but to provide a springboard for reflection and discussion.
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