The Church's Purpose and Practice

While it appears that many people have an increasing hunger for the spiritual, few are looking to the church for help in their quest. Instead, many are leaving churches in record numbers, or not even going in the first place. Perhaps it comes from a prevailing misunderstanding of what the church should be.

Why does the church exist? Is it here to help meet the needs of you and your family? Is it here to win the world for Christ? Is it here to right the world of social wrongs? You might be surprised by the Bible's answer.

The Purpose of the Church

According to Scripture, the purpose of the church is really threefold:

1. the exaltation of God;
2. the edification of saints;
3. the evangelization of the world.

1. The Exaltation of God

God has called us to live "for the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:12). We are here to glorify and know the God who created us.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

2. The Edification of Saints

Paul said that his own goal was not merely to evangelize, but to "present every person [mature] in Christ" (Colossians 1:28).

"He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of the body, the church" (Ephesians 4:11–15 NLT).

3. The Evangelization of the World

This purpose is a natural outgrowth of the first two. If we are glorifying God and edifying the saints, we will naturally want to share the hope of salvation with others. We will also want to obey the Lord. Since Jesus has specifically told us to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), we should do just that.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19–20).

We must keep these principles in their proper balance. We are not to emphasize one at the expense of another.

The Dangers of an Imbalanced Church

• A church that over-emphasizes worship at the expense of teaching of Scripture and evangelism (and/or personal experience) will end up with inadequate Bible teaching for the believers, who will remain shallow in their understanding of Scripture, as well as in their understanding of the nature and purposes of God. They also become an easier prey for false teaching.
  
  
• A church that over-emphasizes the edification of believers at the expense of worship and evangelism easily minimizes the importance of worshipping God and reaching out to others. It will soon become ingrown and stagnant, for new believers are the lifeblood of the church!
  
  
• A church that over-emphasizes evangelism at the expense of teaching and worship is in danger of neglecting the teaching of the Word and the worship of God. The church will end up with immature Christians who emphasize growth in numbers but lack true spiritual growth in their own lives. They will also become a beaten flock of guilty people because they are always being scolded for not bringing others to Christ and to church.

All of these principles must be emphasized on a regular basis to keep a church strong and healthy. Laying the foundation of a church properly is essential. As A. W. Tozer said, "A church that is soundly rooted cannot be destroyed, but nothing can save a church whose root is dried up. No stimulation, no advertising campaigns, no gifts of money, and no beautiful edifice can bring back life to the rootless tree."

I was talking with a group of pastors who asked me why our church was so large. One said, "Well, whatever works and whatever pleases God, that's what I'll do." I had to correct him and say, "Whatever pleases God—period."

• Psalm 127:1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
  
• Matthew 16:18: " . . . I will build My church . . . . "
  
• 1 Corinthians 3:6, 9a: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. For we are God's fellow workers . . ."

The Practice of the Church

Acts chapter two is about the birth of the church. Speaking of this church, which He Himself founded, Jesus said, "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [Hell] shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Though this church lacked every worldly advantage, though it was attacked both spiritually and physically, it not only survived, but flourished! (And they even did this without surveys and church growth consultants.). What was their secret? It's found in Acts 2:37–47.

Secrets of the Early Church

Four characteristics of the Early Church stand out in this text. You might say that they are the trademarks of a healthy church:

1. It was a learning church;
2. It was a loving church;
3. It was a worshipping church;
4. It was an evangelistic church.

The Early Church was a learning church.

"They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine . . ." (v. 42).

Some might think that for a church to be spirit empowered, all use of intellect must be abandoned: Some say, "I'm not into doctrine. I just want to love Jesus." Yet, if you really want to know who Jesus is, and you want to grow in that love for Him so that you can intelligently worship Him, you must study doctrine. Moreover, if you want to be spiritually strong and useful, you must know the apostles' doctrine .

The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).

They relied upon what we find in Scripture.

Where do we find this doctrine? In the pages of Scripture: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLB).

They were driven by a passion for the Lord.

To "continue steadfastly" speaks of a real passion. They were living in a first love relationship with Jesus and had burning hearts. This was not a casual attitude, such as one might have when joining a social club. There seemed to be a real excitement in what they did. They applied themselves to what was being taught from the Word.

While there is a need for anointed preaching today, there is also a need for anointed listening.

• We must listen not only with our heads, but with our hearts: "Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).
  
• We must come not only to hear the Word, but we should also come with a desire to apply it. Jesus said, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24).

A Word of Warning
To hear God's Word and not apply it will actually damage your spiritual life. Contact with holy things—if it does not convert—hardens the heart. And the light of Jesus Christ—if it does not convert the listener—plunges him into deeper darkness. As the saying goes, "The same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay."

These four traits of a healthy church apply not only to the church as a whole, but to individual believers, as well. If you want to be a strong and effective believer, you must be . . .

• a learning Christian,
• a loving Christian,
• a worshipping Christian,
• and an evangelistic Christian.

Jesus said, "If you abide (continue) in My Word, you are my disciples" (John 8:31). May we desire God's Word like a babe thirsts for milk. May we not only learn it and memorize it, but also live it and internalize it. May we be a part of His church today, turning our world upside down.

Part III