The Purpose of the Church

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH This study concerning the purpose of the Church is greatly needed among Christians today. If one could travel and visit the Christian Churches scattered around the country he would end his journey with some amazing conclusions. He would observe a gradual decline in spiritual growth among the Christians. He would see a lack of joy among Christians which Paul speaks about in Philippians 1:26, "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again." He would discover a growing careless and lazy attitude exemplified by the statement, "let the Preacher do it." He also would experience a trend of irreverence toward the Word of God and its claims upon the Christian, and his life. He also would notice a great multitude of unbelievers being added to the Church without a clear profession of faith in Christ. After observing the poor condition of the Church today, one must ask himself the question, "What is the problem?" The only answer to the question is that the Church and its Preachers and Leaders, have forgotten the real purpose for assembling together. In Acts 2:42, 46-47, the Church gathered for several reasons. In verse 42, "They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine..." Christians today go to Church week in and week out and hear the same thing every week. They either hear a salvation message geared to the unbeliever or receive a tongue lashing for not reaching their goal on Sunday morning in Sunday School. Paul writing to Timothy in I Tim. 4:13-16, tells him to "give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." Oh, that Preachers would preach the Word including the whole counsel of God. I find the preaching that stirs the hearts of Christians and causes them to serve the Lord the most is the preaching of the precious doctrines of the Word of God such as: the security of the believer, our standing in Christ, our new nature, and the glorious future. Another reason the early Church gathered together was for fellowship. In Acts 2, verses 46 and 47 say, "And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple.., did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God and having favor with all the people." The majority of Church services today are so ritualistic and stiff that opportunity for true biblical fellowship among believers is almost impossible. How many Christians come and go from Churches without having their spiritual need of fellowship met. A very important aspect of the early Christian Church was that their fellowship centered around the Lord. In Ephesians 5:19,20 it says, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." What has happened to all the Church hymn sings and testimony meetings? What has happened to all the Church Prayer meetings and week long Bible conferences? Instead of our Churches meeting the spiritual need, more and more the churches are only fulfilling the physical desires such as; Amusement Park day, Sweet heart banquets, Swimming outings, Baseball day, Fun night, Bus trips, Kentucky Fried Chicken day, etc.. I am going to place the blame for the problem in our Churches right where it belongs, on the Preachers. If Preachers would be less concerned about the physical (outward) growth of their Churches and be more concerned with the spiritual (inward) growth of Christians, God would receive glory and Christians would receive a blessing from going to Church. God does not receive glory because of great crowds, but rather He receives glory when His chosen ones are shewing forth the riches of His grace to all the world. The eternal purpose, the calling out of a church for His name is found in Ephesians 2:6-7 "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." Christian people today are trying to meet their spiritual need which their Church is failing to do. Many Christians are staying home Sunday evenings and watching a T.V. Pastor. Others are going to Gospel music concerts and City crusades. If your Church is not fulfilling its Biblical purpose that does not give you the right to substitute the Church with unbiblical ministries such as; T.V. pastors, radio pastors, music concerts, quartets, crusades etc. Christians ought to be seeking a Church where they will grow in the Grace and Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what the cost. It may be that groups of Christians need to seriously plan on starting some new Bible Churches. II Peter 3:18, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." By Pastor Gary L. Freeman <<Back