What Makes a church, The Church?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” – Revelation 3:20a

 

Not every church is The Church. When I say, “The Church,” I refer to any church that is a part of the fulfillment of what God intended The Church to be. Not every church is what God intended it to be. There are certain churches which have lost their identity. It is possible for a church to lose touch with its Author. Some churches live outside the parameter of God’s word. The Apostle Paul once warned the church in Corinth about being deceived by the serpent who could “corrupt” their minds (2 Corinthians 11:3). The word “corrupt” (Greek phtheiro) means to shrivel up, to wither, to spoil, ruin, defile, and ultimately destroy. The symptoms of such a sad, sickly, soulless church is preaching a Jesus other than the one found in scripture, having a different spirit than the one generated by the Holy Spirit, and promoting a gospel different from the one first delivered to the saints (2 Corinthians 11:4; Jude 3). But we are told it isn’t just getting off track with these three things, the indictment is that “you may well put up with it” (2 Corinthians 11:4). Complacency and not caring about the truth found in God’s word enough to take a stand and defend it, that is the real tragedy.

How do we, as a church, assure that we remain a part of The Church? There is room for differences in what we believe about doctrines not essential to salvation (cf., Romans 14-15). But in essentials such as who Jesus is, the regeneration of the spirit, and what exactly the gospel is, such cannot be compromised. Such truth we must defend to the death. And there will be times when, as the Church Father Tertullian said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Many a martyr over the centuries spilled their blood in guillotines, chopping blocks, and burning pyres. Jesus warned on persecution (Matthew 10). Jesus identifies with His children who are persecuted (Acts 9). The Apostle Peter went so far as to say suffering is the route to Christlikeness and victory over sin (1 Peter 4:1).

If we want our church to truly be a part of The Church everyone in the church, pastors and people, must pay attention to the details of what is taught, supported, and promoted. We must stop and guard against weak Willy weak Winona Christianity. Lukewarm faith turns Jesus’ stomach (Revelation 3:15-16). We need to all heed the words of Jesus who said, TO THE CHURCH, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Are you listening? Will you open to Jesus? Do you understand that we should be ready for His arrival, and that HE DOESN’T COME EMPTY HANDED for He comments, “and he with Me”?

Volumes of books have been written about who Jesus is, the regenerative nature of the Holy Spirit’s saving and sanctifying work, and the particulars of the gospel. The Jesus revealed in scripture is Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18). He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1-2 and 14). Jesus is the second Person of the Triune Godhead along with the Father and the Holy Spirit in Whose name repentant sinners are to be baptized as a mark of their faith (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus is our example to follow (John 13:15; Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6). Jesus is our rapturing blessed hope and triumphant returning King of Kings (Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13). It is the love of Christ that should compel us in all we do (2 Corinthians 5:14-16).

It is the Father in heaven who sent and gave His only begotten Son Jesus (John 3:16). He demonstrated His love to us, WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, by sending Jesus to die for us, on a cross, to pay our debt of sin (Romans 5:8). He is the one in tandem with the Holy Spirit who pours His love into our heart (Romans 5:5). Therefore, it is truth to say, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We would not know what love is without Him.

The message of the Holy Spirit is, it’s all about Jesus. The Holy Spirit testifies of and glorifies Jesus (John 15:26; 16:14). That’s what He does. He convicts sinners of sin and how it separates people from God (John 16:8-11; Isaiah 59:1-2). The Holy Spirit gives spiritual life to our spirit (Titus 3:4-7). He gives us a second birth just as Jesus said was required for access to His kingdom (John 1:12; 3:1-21). The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to serve (Acts 1:8). He gives spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12). The Holy Spirit breathed out through human agents a holy scripture that is His language 2 Timothy 3:16-17). If you want to understand the Spirit, you must go to His word.

The gospel, which was received from the beginning, is a gospel of grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Churches throughout the centuries have tried to reduce the gospel Tree of Life to a Christmas tree covered in tinsel. As soon as you start adding or trying to add to the profoundly simple gospel of God’s grace, you have “another” gospel. Those who preach such “another” gospel are “accursed,” excommunicated, literally damned to hell (Galatians 1). We are created in God’s image with the capacity to exert a free will to make decisions – GRACE! (Genesis 1:26). Jesus left His thrown, was birthed lived as a Man, lived as a Bondservant, all for us – GRACE!! (Philippians 2). Jesus became sin for us and offered us His righteousness – GRACE!!! (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Father was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself – GRACE!!!! (2 Corinthians 5:19). Because of this gospel good news we can be forgiven our past, become a new creation, and look forward to eternal life – GRACE!!!!! (2 Corinthians 5:17). All of this purchased not with any earthly commodity, but with THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS – GRACE!!!!!!!!!! (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Honestly, I could go on and on. There’s so much I’m leaving out. If you want the full story, if the church wants to know and live by the full story, it must remember that it, “is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). God’s truth is found in His word (John 17:17). The Church is where the truth of God’s word is taught (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). The church is where discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20) takes place. The church is where saints are equipped for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). The church is not a country club to become a Christian couch potato. The church is made up of those called “saints,” holy ones, made holy by the blood of Jesus. The church is an army standing for truth in a world of falsehoods. The church is a seal team that goes on missions, in dangerous territory, at great expense, to rescue and liberate those ensnared by the enemy and lost in sin. The church is a hospital where wounded warrior saints can be repaired. It is a gym where saints can grow spiritual muscles to do the heavy lifting of life. The church is the best school setting to dig into God’s word. It is where saints come and fellowship and dine feasting in the word of God. This is the mission purpose of the Church that is the pillar and ground of God’s truth. This is the church that is The Church.

But there’s more. The Church is where God’s people gather together to consider each other and encourage one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). The Church is where believers unite in the presence of Jesus to worship, to be refreshed by the Spirit and His love, to see Jesus and His followers by the love they show to one another (John 13:35). The Church is where the Holy Spirit ties these defining aspects of the Church together through His empowerment and spiritual gifting.

The church at Corinth was a carnal, fleshly, self-centered church. They were all about one-upmanship with their fellow saints. They were Christians, saints, but very immature and shallow spiritually (1 Corinthians 1-3). Paul addressed all kinds of issues and sins exhorting them grow up in their faith and consider the cross (1 Corinthians 2:2). They had been delivered from lifestyles of sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). But their marriages were filled with problems (1 Corinthians 7), they didn’t care if their freedoms negatively impacted the spiritually immature (1 Corinthians 8). They weren’t very giving (1 Corinthians 9). They hadn’t learned from the historical examples of their predecessors (1 Corinthians 10). To top it all off, they were unloving in their love feasts! (1 Corinthians 11).

Despite all their spiritual immaturity and carnality, they were spiritually gifted. They did have spiritual gifts. This was the common ground Paul would use to reach them and right their church ship. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul uses a discussion of spiritual gifting to emphasize one of the most important parts of what makes a church, The Church. A church will never fully be a part of The Church unless there is unity among those within the church. This is why when Paul emphasizes and speaks of spiritual gifts he emphasizes unity.

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul emphasizes unity by mentioning the Holy Spirit common to them all and that spiritual gifts are given by the Spirit “for the profit of all.” For example:

1. “Except by the Holy Spirit” – 1 Corinthians 12:3
2. “the same Spirit” – 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8, 9 (2x)
3. “the same Lord” – 1 Corinthians 12:5
4. “the same God” 1 Corinthians 12:6
5. “for the profit of all” – 1 Corinthians 12:7
6. “through the Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:8
7. “But one and the same Spirit “– 1 Corinthians 12:11

Paul refers to, “the body is one. . ..” is one, even though it is made up of different parts with different roles (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). He says that even though the parts are different, with different roles, they are all individually important to the collective body (The Church) as a whole (1 Corinthians 12:15-17). This is more of a complimentary, than egalitarian view of people and their roles in the church. The foot can’t do without the hand, a body shouldn’t throw away an eye. Everyone is important in The Church.

The problem arises when those in the church forget that GOD IS THE ONE WHO DETERMINES THE ROLES OF EACH PART SERVING IN THE BODY (1 Corinthians 12:18). It’s not up to us to choose what we want to do. God elects to serve in certain capacities not based on our votes, but solely by virtue of HIS VOTE. God knows exactly what He’s doing. If you don’t like what He elects you to do, your argument is with Him. If you win that argument, you will have been the first in eternity to win it.

The truthful reality is that diversity and differences and various roles in the church ACTUALLY STRENGTHEN THE BODY THE CHURCH (1 Corinthians 12:19-24). Try tying your shoes with your elbows. Try eating soup with your eye lids. Try hammering a nail holding a hammer in your mouth. Try catching a fly with your ears. Try walking with your nose, hugging with your hair, listening to music with your teeth. No, just like a body, the parts of a church are valuable and important.

When people refuse God’s election, His ordained purposes, it leads to division. People who refuse to live as living sacrifices before God, become primary culprits in disrupting and dividing the church. In fact, to discover God’s will for you, that’s exactly what you need to do, be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). God desires we accept His assigned roles SO THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A SCHISM OR DIVISIONS (1 Corinthians 12:25). THERES nothing that pains God more than when His children fight.

God’s plan for His people and the church of Jesus, is that its members be so tight, so together, so close and united, that when one member suffers, it’s as though they all suffer. Instead of being jealous when other brothers or sisters are blessed or victorious, we should rejoice like we all are blessed and victorious (1 Corinthians 12:26). After all, neither the one who plants or the one who waters is anything, but it is God who brings the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7). Having such a united attitude is a key to blessing because Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

“You are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We are the body of Christ. We are the church. We are to be so united that we can be referred to together as you. God has ordained an order, a hierarchy of those serving in the Church, but all those in the Church or valuable and important (1 Corinthians 12: 27-31).

Okay pastor, I hear you. But how do we get such unity? And if we get it, how can we keep it? Good questions.

How is Such Unity Attained? – LOVE!

The love that holds the Church together and makes what it does of eternal worth, is the love the Holy Spirit pours out into each believer (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-24). This is the message Paul plants smack dab in the middle of his teaching on spiritual gifts. Love, the love of God is what gives eternal worth to anything and everything we do. The love of Jesus is the mark of His followers (John 13:35). Your church isn’t The Church, without the love of God permeating it. When you walk into a church, if it has love, sit down and make yourself at home. If it doesn’t have love, if it’s cold and unembracing, don’t waste your time, turn around and keep searching.

How is Such Unity Maintained? – ORDER

Some equate spirituality with disorder. They jump from “where the Spirit of the LORD IS, there is liberty,” to justifying all kinds of craziness. BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT WE SEE IN THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE! In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul very clearly lays out an orderly way for the church to function. I would summarize this order as follows:

1. Pursue love, desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophesy – 1 Corinthians 14:1
2. Prophesy is greater than tongues because it ministers to listeners to edify, exhort, and comfort. Tongues only edifies the one speaking whereas prophesy edifies the one speaking and its listeners – 1 Corinthians 14:2-4. The order is to minister “for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
3. Again, the principle of uniting and ministering to the most people is the measure of preference – 1 Corinthians 14:5.
4. When tongues are spoken therefore, in order to benefit the body as a whole, it must be accompanied by an interpretation and done in an orderly fashion – 1 Corinthians 14:6-19.
5. Tongues can be a sign of the supernatural to unbelievers – 1 Corinthians 14:20-25.
6. Orderliness (not chaos or disorder) is the sign of God working in a church – 1 Corinthians 14:26-40.

Love is how we attain a church that is part of The Church, and orderliness is how it is maintained.

God Hates Disunity

A very important truth to grasp is that unity, a mindset, and heart of love that accepts differences while maintaining truth, and still attributing worth, is how God makes His presence known in the world through the Church. This is why when the Bible lists those things the LORD hates, they are divisive types of sins:

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

God HATES division. Sin separated Adam and Eve from their Creator and has been separating people from God ever since (Genesis 3). God created us to fellowship with Him, not because He needed us, but because God by nature loves fellowship (John 17:3-4). THE VERY TRIUNE NATURE OF GOD ATTESTS TO HIS FELLOWSHIPPING NATURE (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14.) God’s nature is a type of fellowship between the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. He didn’t need us to fulfill His fellowship. But He created us and invited us to participate in His fellowship as His created lesser beings.

Sin Separates (Divides) us from God and Each Other

The Bible states:

Isaiah 59:1-2 – Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Sin by nature divides and separates. This has been the case from the beginning. Therefore, God hates sin. He doesn’t even want to look at it (Habakkuk 1:13). Sin in our lives dulls communication between us and Him (Psalm 66:18). Sin causes us all to fall short in every imaginable way (Romans 3:1-18). It’s only through God’s gracious gospel that our sins can be forgiven and we can be united to Him (Romans 3:21-26).

Unfortunately, sin will separate people from each other. There are times when we make every effort to reconcile and reestablish unity and it just doesn’t work. The Bible states, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Unfortunately, it isn’t always possible to reconcile. Sometimes we humans can erect such walls that they are near impenetrable. We should always leave room for miracles, but we also should be reasonable in dealing with circumstances. The Bible also says, “No I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). There is a time to move on. There is a time to avoid a divisive person. “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Remember this, Pray about it. Seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, and if necessary, move forward.

 

Unity is Integral to the Great Commission

What we often overlook in our discussion of the church and its ministry is that unity is integral to fulfilling the Great Commission and all we are and do as The Church. And this is why in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer He prays for the unity of His followers:

John 17:20-26 (NKJV) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

The prayer of Jesus is saturated with unity. “That they all may be one” like Jesus and His Father are. Not “God,” but living in unity and fellowship like our Triune God has eternally. And don’t miss this vital purpose of our unity. “That the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21). The unity of believers is integral to fulfilling the Great Commission. Our unity is used by God to teach a world of sinful people divided and lost in this sinful world, can be eternally united through the gospel of Jesus Christ. My prayer is, MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWER, EQUIP, AND UNITE US FOR THE TASK.

What Should We Do if We Are the Cause or Victim of Disunity?

If you spot disunity, I encourage you to pray first. Then I would encourage you to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to do the following:

1. Initiate reconciliation – Jesus said to leave our offering on the altar and go be reconciled with anyone we know is divided from us (Matthew 5:23-24; Hebrews 12:14).
2. Remember how Jesus took the initiative to reconcile with you. Like Jesus we should be kind and tender hearted, forgiving one another. Jesus didn’t wait for us to apologize; He went to the cross and died for us while we were still sinners rebelling against Him (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 4:32).
3. Forgive them even if they aren’t fully aware of their offense. Jesus said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). If you follow Jesus’ example, it would be hard to find someone excluded from an offer to forgive them.
4. Ask God to give you a fervent love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Such love only comes from the Holy Spirit.
5. Ask God to compel you by the love of Jesus to do the right thing. Such love can only be understood by looking at Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

When is a church The Church? You must have the right and real Jesus, the right and real spiritual life, and the right and real gospel. But if your church is ever to fully live up to what The Church of God was designed to be, you’ll have to be united with one another because unity brings us closer to God, testifies to a lost world about Who God is, and brings glory to God. I pray we seek the Lord and His unity. I pray God makes us what we need to be, to do what He calls us to do, for His glory, until Jesus returns. I pray we, the church, would be The Church. In Jesus’ name. AMEN!