Importance of the study. The conception and adoption of the universal church theory has been cal­led "The parent heresy in ecclesiology." ¹ This con­temporary reaction against such a concept, together with the diverse views pro and con make a fresh inquiry into the nature of the church of paramount importance.

      Futhermore, the various church ideas that are seeking supremacy make this study a very pertinent one. These concepts are many, but this study is con­cerned only with the two which stand out above all the rest - the local and the universal.

      A flippant attitude toward the problem is not justifiable. It behoves the student of the Scriptures to make an honest and careful distinction and to assert the supremacy of the New Testament idea.
----------------------
¹ R. K. Maiden, "Universal Church Heresy," Re-thinking Baptist Doctrines. Ed, by Victor I. Masters (Louisville: The Western Recorder Publishers, 1937), p. 160.

---

[p. 2]
      The Universal Church Theory, — The universal Church theory in its commonly accepted form teaches that the universal invisible church is the true church as contradistinguished from the local church. This church was "born" at Pentecost, is composed of all be­lievers and is entered upon coversion through a mys­tical baptism by the Holy Spirit. It is identified with the "mystical body of Christ," which is or will become the "Bride of Christ."

      It can not be asserted that all who hold to this theory will agree with all of the above features of the theory, but this gives a telescopic view of the theory that has universally permeated and dominated ecclesiological teaching in current Christian litera­ture. With few exceptions, the church concept of present-day literature is a one-sided emphasis upon the supposed existence of a universal invisible church.

     When it is admitted that Christ founded a vis­ible church on this earth, the church is either regard­ed as extinct or dying.¹
----------------------
¹ "This assertion that the Visible Church, as instituted by Christ and his apostles, has become ex­tinct, needs no historic evidence to refute it. If it be true, God's plan is a failure!" The Church: Its Polity and Fellowship (Philadelphia: Bible and Publication Society.), p. 46.

---

[p. 3]
     The subordinate particulars of the theory are many and varied. The church may be organized or dif­fused, actual or ideal, according to the individual writer's concept.

     Definition of terms. — The concept of a univer­sal church has been called, properly enough, a theory. The believed propositions set forth by these advocates are capable of being true or false. By marshalling the evidence an individual arrives at a relative or temporary judgment. There is always the possibility that evidence will be uncovered by which former con­victions will be recognized as false. By the same process unbelief or rejection of certain beliefs leads to faith and acceptance. In many cases there is no need for uncovering of evidence but examination of available evidence. Indeed, in the author's estimation the evidence does not support a universal invisible theory of the church but rather opposes it.

     This examination of the universal church theory must be differentiated from the Roman Catholic idea of

---

[p. 4]
an external reality. The problem under consideration is the question of the existence of a universal church in the sense of an invisible universality. This is distinguished from the Romanist view in that it is a counter-invention by Protestants. It must be consider­ed as essentially a Protestant view and not neces­sarily Baptistic. It is true that many outstanding Baptist theologians have endorsed this concept of the church - but not rightly so.

     It is easy to understand why many Baptist theologians have gone on record in favor of this view. Baptist are characteristically tolerant, being cham­pions of religious liberty. And this tolerance has made them inclusive in their theology and in many cases in practical co-operation. On the other hand, there are those who "seek to be spiritual rather than senti­mental in their inclusiveness."¹

     The question of the nature of the church is essentially a Baptist controversy. For the Roman
----------------------
¹ W. R. White, Baptist Distinctives (Nashville: The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Con­vention, 1946), p. 58.

---

[p. 5]
Catholic it is absolutely and finally settled that the true Church is the "Holy Roman Catholic (Universal) Church." "Theocratic exigencies created by persistence in the traditional practices,"¹ makes it imperative that the protestant or non-Baptist groups retain the Reformation emphasis of a universal, invisible church. However, for the Baptist no such theory is necessary. In fact, when retained, there is a decided conflict between the greater, universal church and the lesser "insignificant" local church. Where the universal idea has been rejected the local idea has been given its rightful significance.

     Method of Approach. — It is the author's purpose to adequately examine the universal church theory, its orgin, its correlated ideas, and its implications and to present a consistent solution to the problem.

     In order to fully understand the problem, this critical examination will be necessary. The representat­ive opposing viewpoints will also be made the object of a thorough and critical study. Then, an inductive
----------------------
¹ Jesse B. Thomas, The Church and the Kingdom (Louisville: Baptist Book Concern, 1914), p. 167.

---

[p. 6]
investigation of the doctrine of the church will at least show the excesses of the universal ideas and give accumulative proof for the persistent local idea.

     This study is an inquiry into the essential nature of the church, and is primarily concerned with answering the question - "What is the church?" The following pages comprise a critical examination of the predominant theories and ideas held by evangelical Christianity that seek to answer this question.

============

---

Baptist History Homepage