Just as Martin Luther emphasized that there is no spiritual divide between priests and lay people, the AFLC (Association of Free Lutheran Congregations) stresses the importance of the local congregation, and the believers in it. My husband recently wrote some articles explaining the Fundamental Principles of the AFLC, and I will be posting them on the blog this month because they relate to the topic of vocation.
I’ve been asked occasionally why our AFLC is not in fellowship with any other Lutheran denomination. When I say the Association has no authority to enter into such a relationship, I would try to explain our organization to them. For those who only have experience in hierarchical denominations our structure makes no sense, but as we read the New Testament, looking at how the early church was organized, we feel certain that we are right. And we express our beliefs in what we call the Fundamental Principles. These principles are the same as those adopted by our predecessor body the Lutheran Free Church in 1897.
The first Principle we name is: According to the Word of God, the congregation is the right form of the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Why is this statement so important that it is put at the head of all our Fundamental Principles? Well, there are several reasons. The first is how we define the body we call the Church. The Roman Catholic Church accused Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers of leaving Christ’s Church. Their contention was that, in order to be saved, you had to be part of the Church which they defined as an identifiable body headed by the Pope. As the Reformers answered the charge of leaving the Church they identified what they called the Marks of the Church. In other words, how can we know what is and what is not a true Church. The answer was that the true Church exists wherever the Gospel is purely preached, and the Sacraments (Communion and Baptism) properly administered in the Name of the Triune God. Those things don’t happen in denominational headquarters or in any other place than in the local congregation.
The second reason we believe in the authority of the local congregation is the important fact that there is no other form of Christian community mentioned in the Scriptures. Paul does not assert his authority over congregations, but instead calls on his associates to identify men who could be leaders in the congregations, teach them and raise them up to local leadership. The only authority outside the congregation which Paul and the other Apostles cite is the Word of God. When we read the early chapters of Revelation, seeing Christ’s messages to various Churches in Roman Asia, we find the Lord speaking to congregations, not authorities over congregations.
To be continued ….
For related posts see:
Lutheran Ladies Connection 
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