Volume 45 Number 11 July 2003
While most of us know the basic facts about the Church, such as when and
how it was started, it is also of critical and practical importance that
we clearly understand the Purpose for which the Church was established.
The Church carries three primary functions as outlined in N.T.
Scriptures:
Ephesians 1:21-23 tells us the church is to contain the "fullness of
Christ". The Church is to be complete, spiritually self contained. Ephesians
3:11 also states that the church is to make known the manifold wisdom of
God "according to the Lord's eternal purpose." Unfortunately when we
begin to view the Church differently, we can easily lose this eternal
purpose and fall into activities that seem right to us, but were not
God's intent for the church. The church was never intended to accomplish
ALL good activities, but rather specific spiritual activities within the
guidelines of its purpose. Does this mean there are "good" activities in
which the church should not be involved. Absolutely. For instance,
there are innumerable good works (i.e.; charities, such as the American
Cancer Society, Heart Association, Scouting, Sports, Schools, etc.) that
a Christian might be desirous of supporting, and rightfully so, which
would be inappropriate for the corporate Body of Christ to support.
These activities are good, but they are neither the mission nor purpose
of the church. Secular education is "good", but it is not the mission of
the church and would therefore be outside the purpose/mission God has
given the church.
The church is an organization in which we are to serve: God, our
brethren and the lost. Unfortunately too many today have come to view the
church as something that is to serve them, a tool focusing on their being
served rather than being agents to do the building up or serving. But if
Jesus came to serve rather than be served, it would be no less
appropriate and important for us to adopt this same attitude.
While this may seem to be a subtle distinction in attitude, it carries
profound implications as we function within the body. People looking to
be served rather than serve, often fall into the mindset of looking for
others to pick up the work to their benefit. They began to look to others
to lead the flock rather than qualifying themselves as potential leaders,
to let others teach while they retire, let the officers do it, and on and
on. But the Lord's instruction clearly focuses on our serving and
participation rather than being served and spectators.
When we hear or utter phrases like "we don't get much out of church" or
"the church isn't doing.", it may signal that we have fallen into a
common trap of looking to be served rather than serving. Of forgetting
that WE are the Church. The backbone of the Lord's Church will always be
Christians looking to serve rather than those looking to be served.
Frustration has caused many well intending people to establish
organizations other than the church to do work that God intended the
church to do. The only spiritual organization that I want and believe I
have the right to be a part of is the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And this precludes some very large and popular organizations today.
Organizations that may do many good things, but do not teach the "whole
or sound doctrine" as Paul exhorted or that try to do the Lord's work in
ways He never intended. But these organizations, no matter their goal
nor how sincere their motives, do not have the authority to do the work
of the church. They have no right to supersede the church. No right to
blur the importance of the church. And, finally, no right to avoid the
accountability of the church. However, that is exactly what often
happens today.
Yet these extra biblical organizations continue to grow! Why? First of
all their emotional appeal, flowery presentations and assemblies appeal
to the masses. But Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 he purposefully
steered away from such approaches. Secondly, they provide a loss of local
accountability. This sidestepping of accountability to a local eldership
and congregation, though appealing to many, is unbiblical to God.
God has given us the biblical organization within which to do His work
and it's called the Church. The essential question then becomes: Do we
believe in the sufficiency of the Church? Do we believe and trust the
wisdom of God's organization? Do we think God would give us tasks to do
and not give us the organization within which to accomplish these tasks?
I think not.
There will be times when it feels unfair, that others are not carrying
their fair share of the load, but it is essential that we continue on in
our service within and through the Church. Others are not our standard.