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The Local Church, A Living Body

Fellowship on fire

THE LOCAL CHURCH, A LIVING BODY
By John Keith Davies
Published by his family with foreword by Geoff Thomas
271 pages
ISBN 0 85234 495 3

This book begins with a careful definition of 'church' in the New Testament as both a people called out from the world and the body of Christ manifest in the world. Such a church is further defined by a regenerate membership over and against any state-sponsored institution. Thus each member is a living expression of the reality of the risen Lord himself. Such a high view of the church is the springboard for all that follows.

The author goes on to show that life precedes organisation though organisation is vital for effective God-honouring service both in terms of leadership and meeting together. At this point Mr. Davies helpfully expounds the theme of fellowship which, for him, was at the core of the New Testament churches' strength and impact on the world.

The sections on worship are practically applied with a strong emphasis on careful structured teaching and some discussion on the place of a catechism in the weekly programme. In an age of seminars and 'Power-point' audio visuals some of this may seem dated, but one wonders whether today's hi-tec Christians know half as much of God himself as those of a previous generation.

While a convinced Calvinist, Mr. Davies was also a passionate evangelist who constantly sought to find imaginative and relevant ways to reach outsiders. For him church life was to be lived in the expectation that souls must be saved and then discipled.

Large sections follow on inter-church relationships, and the distinct separation of church and state where the limits of state control are clearly drawn (pp.83-101). Chapter 5 deals with the vital connection between believers' baptism, the Lord's Supper and church membership.

Chapter 8 raises the thorny subject of male and female roles and relationships in the local church and this will no doubt raise a few eyebrows amongst younger believers who are the product of a liberal feminist education system.

The sections on plurality in leadership and the degree of commitment this entails are challenging and here it becomes clear that the quality of a church depends greatly on the character and Christ-likeness of its leaders.

As the book draws to a conclusion the uplifting themes of mission and outreach are shown to be the true signs of spiritual vitality. Mr. Davies was a pastor and a church planter and his large-hearted visionary spirit was greatly valued by all of us who knew him. His death in 1999 has left the present Reformed Church the poorer, and both he and his (and my) close friend Dic Eccles, to whom the book is dedicated, are sadly missed.

Yet their joint contributions to so many will, I'm sure, be highly valued for years to come.

Malcolm MacGregor, Ipswich