The Church Universal, Local, and God’s Wisdom

By Al Felder

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith 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)

Creation itself teaches us that God’s wisdom is higher than man’s. The order of the world, the precision of life, and the power of divine design all point to one conclusion: God knows what He is doing. That same truth appears in His design for the church.

If man had designed the church, it would have looked very different—larger structures, layered chains of command, and systems built around human power. In fact, history shows that many groups have done exactly that: stepping away from Scripture to build religious organizations by human rules. But none of those arrangements improve on God’s pattern.

When we read the New Testament carefully, we discover something important: Scripture uses “church” in both universal and local senses. Understanding the difference is crucial to understanding God’s wisdom.

The Church Universal: a spiritual relationship, not an earthly organization

When Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18), He was not speaking of a single congregation in a single city. He was speaking of His people throughout all places and all times—the redeemed who would obey the gospel and belong to Him.

In that universal sense, the church is a relationship, not an earthly institution with a central office. It is God's spiritual family. That is why believers are called brothers and sisters. These are family terms, not corporate titles.

The universal church reveals three shared realities among all who belong to Christ:

1. Same spiritual parenthood — all are children of God by faith in Christ.

2. Same spiritual nationality — a holy nation, distinct from the world.

3. Same spiritual interests — one mind, one love, one spiritual purpose.

So the universal church is not a human hierarchy. It is the fellowship of all the saved under Christ.

The Local Church: God’s structure for accountability, oversight, and growth

While the universal church is relational, the local church is where structure appears. A local church is simply believers in a particular place who assemble and work together according to Scripture.

And this is the key: there is no scriptural organization larger than the local congregation.

No earthly headquarters. No universal human president. No man-made governing board over all churches.

Christ alone is Head of the church (Colossians 1:18). He is the Lawgiver and King. All authority belongs to Him (Matthew 28:18; James 4:12). That means local congregations must govern themselves by His word—not by human inventions.

This is why local congregations are autonomous (self-governing). In the New Testament pattern, each congregation appoints qualified elders (plural) to oversee that flock. Their authority is real, but it is also limited: they shepherd the congregation “among” them, not churches everywhere.

Elder, bishop, pastor, shepherd: one office, different emphases

Scripture uses multiple terms for the same leadership role in the local church:

• Elder — emphasizes maturity and spiritual experience.

• Bishop/overseer — emphasizes the work of supervision and watchfulness.

• Pastor/shepherd — emphasizes feeding, guiding, and caring for the flock.

These are not separate offices competing with each other. They are different descriptions of one scriptural role in local church oversight. And the New Testament pattern consistently shows a plurality of such men in each local church.

When men separate these terms from their biblical meaning—or create authority structures that place oversight beyond the local flock—they depart from God’s pattern.

Why God’s local design is wise

Some misunderstand the universal church and assume that, without a giant earthly framework, Christians are left on their own. But God did not leave His people without support. In His wisdom, He gave the local church.

Through local congregational life, Christians receive:

• Worship accountability — believers assembling and encouraging one another.

• Mutual edification — growth through fellowship, teaching, and shared burdens.

• Disciplinary care — loving correction when someone is in sin, with restoration as the goal.

• Pastoral oversight — shepherding from qualified elders who know the flock personally.

This is not weakness; it is wisdom. God’s plan avoids the dangers of centralized human power while giving believers the exact spiritual care they need to remain faithful.

Church discipline and the value of fellowship

One of the clearest demonstrations of God’s wisdom is church discipline. In Corinth, a brother living in open sin had to be corrected by the congregation. That discipline was not cruelty—it was love aimed at saving the soul.

Later, when repentance came, the same congregation was told to forgive and comfort him. That pattern teaches something powerful: the local church is both a disciplining body and a restoring body. It protects holiness while pursuing redemption.

That kind of care is only possible where fellowship is real and local. Known people can be corrected. People who are loved can be restored.

The danger of abandoning the pattern

Whenever people move beyond the biblical pattern and create organizations larger than the local church, abuses usually follow—power struggles, personality-driven control, and rule by human systems instead of Scripture.

God’s arrangement protects against that. By keeping oversight local and authority centered in Christ, the New Testament pattern keeps men in their place and Christ in His place.

Human plans often look impressive. God’s plan is faithful.

Final exhortation

God’s ways are higher than ours. We are not perfect, but His design is. If we follow His word—rather than our preferences—we can be the church Jesus built.

The universal church teaches us who we are in Christ: one spiritual family of the redeemed. The local church teaches us how to live faithfully: under scriptural oversight, in worship, in accountability, in discipline, and in love.

When we trust God’s pattern, we find not only order but protection, growth, and hope of heaven.

Practicing what is taught

• Honor Christ’s headship daily. Don’t give any man authority that belongs only to Jesus.

• Commit fully to a faithful local congregation. Don’t treat local church life as optional.

• Value biblical oversight. Pray for elders and support scriptural leadership.

• Protect congregational autonomy. Resist man-made structures beyond the local church.

• Practice redemptive fellowship. Be willing to correct, forgive, and restore in love.

  
  

Reflection questions

1. Do I understand the difference between the church universal and the local congregation?

2. Have I accepted human religious structures that go beyond the New Testament pattern?

3. Do I truly live under Christ’s headship, or do I lean on human authority first?

4. Am I actively participating in the life, worship, and accountability of a faithful local church?

5. Do I value fellowship enough to both give and receive loving correction?