Truth 11: The Church
Truth 12: The Second Coming
February 13, 2019
Truth 10: God’s Kingdom
October 9, 2018
Biblical Truth #11: The Church
Most people when they imagine church they imagine three piece suits and ties, foot length dresses, old wooden pews, and a pastor shouting condemnation from the pulpit. This is a sad image that has thankfully begun to disappear as time passes, for the Bible portrays a radically different vision of church. In the New Testament, early Christians are seen to open their homes for each other. They offer all their lives to each other. They build each other up. They are a family. In fact, while they continue to meet on the regular basis by going to their synagogues, because of the joy in their hearts, they start meeting in homes on other days, even sharing meals with each other. It becomes apparent to these Christians that the church Jesus was describing was never a Sunday morning experience nor a physical building, but rather it was the gathering of the people, specifically the transformed followers of Jesus.
The Church’s Mission
The church is a small model of the kingdom of heaven discussed previously. In this church, there are elders who represent Christ. They are the shepherds that are to lead gently and to offer advice and to inspire others to better living. In the early church these elders were called Apostles. Most of the New Testament is comprised of letters written to churches that were confused or misled and needed correction from these Apostles on how to live as a godly church.
Paul, one of the chief writers, communicates the purpose of the church by focusing on unity under the head of Christ. The church is to be a light in the darkness, salt in a flavorless world. They are to be so united with one another that others notice that about them and desire that family connection. The joy that comes upon a believer is united with the joy of another and another until the light shining is so glorious that it is impossible to ignore. It is to be highly contagious, and easily set ablaze into the hearts of others. All this culminates in the verse “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19a). Christians are to invite others into their churches by discipling them. Paul explains the definition of discipling in Thessalonians saying that not only did he and his missionaries share the message of Jesus, but also their own lives in fellowship. Church then is about living out lives in service to the kingdom of heaven.
Thus, churches can involve themselves in programs for helping the poor. They can establish health care systems or food distribution, dig wells for the thirsty, and provide clothing for those that have none. They can do all these things not for the purpose of expanding their religion, but because the love that burns in their hearts compels them to do so. So the church acts as a living example of Jesus and brings hope to the hopeless. It shows compassion even as Christ did.
Reality
Sadly, not all churches have this mindset. Not all engage in this kingdom work. The Bible is full of letters that address these types of churches. The letters are very plain. Get back to the core of the gospel. “Return to your first love,” as Revelation puts it. It is the goal of all true believers to inspire these churches back to the gospel. When the light grows dimmer, the whole world is darker, and thus the whole world suffers. The Bible says we must be careful of the wolves in sheep’s clothing. No wonder Jesus said, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Mathew 10:16).
