Conclusion

As we draw to a conclusion, remember that this is not a comprehensive examination of all institutional doctrine.  It would really be impossible to speak to and address every nuance to every argument made for institutionalism.  We haven’t even addressed everything involved with institutionalism; the social gospel, fellowship halls, church camps, and many, many other things have all spawned from the initial institutional ideologies.  What we have done, however, is examine how we ought to answer arguments for institutionalism: where is it found in the Bible? If it is not found in the Bible and within the patterns set in order by God, then we are not authorized! No matter what argument is made for “institutionalism,” examine it along with the pattern of the Bible and see if it is correct (remember: that does NOT just apply to institutionalism, but to ANYTHING).  If it is the pattern we find in the Bible, then accept it, but if it goes against what is in the Bible then we must reject it.  It must be rejected no matter how “good” or “worthy” it may appear to our human eyes (Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 14:12).

                              

•      “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
•         “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). 

So what is the big deal with institutionalism? We don’t hear much about orphanages any more, but we do hear about missionary societies.  We also hear about evangelists that hop from one camp to another camp for the duration of summer “evangelizing.”  How do you “explain” some perceived difference between a church camp and a missionary society?

Finally, we will finish once again with the words of Brother Bill Hall, not because he holds the same sway as the Bible, but because he has worded it so well and has appropriately expressed the point:

A thing is right or wrong on the basis of whether it agrees with this book [the Bible].  Do you know how churches get into apostasy? They don’t go into apostasy in one giant leap.  They take just a little step, sometimes it’s only a half step, in the wrong direction.  And then the first thing you know, they get to thinking, ‘Well, I don’t see any difference in that and this.’  And so they take another step.  ‘And I don’t see anything different about this and this.’  And they take that step.  ‘Well, what’s the difference in this and this?’ And the first thing you know, each thing they do, they justify on the basis of something they have already been doing.  That is not how you establish authority for anything.  Everything we do in the Lord’s work must be established on the basis of what the Scriptures teach, not on whether it’s consistent with something we’ve already been doing.