There are many different churches all over the world. Why do these churches exist? What is their mission? That answer will vary from church to church as men fashion their churches according to their own desires. We will consider a few possible answers later in this article.
But what is the mission of the church of our Lord? The answer to this question will not be found in human opinion or tradition, but in the word of God that has been revealed to us in the Scriptures. So let us see what the Scriptures say about the mission of the church.
The Church Is to Glorify the Lord
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Because God is worthy of praise, He is to be glorified in the church. However, to glorify God does not mean that we worship Him in whatever way seems best to us. In His prayer, Jesus explained how He glorified the Father: “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4). We glorify God in the church in the same way – by doing what He expects of us. This means we “must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24) and “do all in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17).
The Church Is to Teach the Lost
“But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
God’s desire is for “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). This salvation and knowledge comes through the preaching of the gospel (Mark 16:15-16). Churches help carry out this work today by supporting men to preach the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15-16) and by working in their own area to sound forth the word (1 Thessalonians 1:8).
The Church Is to Edify the Saved
“From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
Paul described the Lord’s church as a self-edifying body. In our “assembling together,” we are to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24-25). The reason this is important is because Christians can develop “an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). Therefore, we are to “encourage one another…so that none of [us] will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
Some Things That Are NOT Part of the Mission of the Church
The mission of the Lord’s church is simple: glorify God, teach the lost, and edify the saved. Yet men have not been content with this simple mission and have expanded the work of their churches. Though it may be tempting to follow the example of the denominational world, let us be reminded of some things that are not part of the mission of Christ’s church. His church is not to be:
- A social club – Many religious people see no problem with making social events part of the work of the church (meals, games, camps, weddings, etc.). Yet Paul addressed the mixing of spiritual and social activities in the church when he wrote to the brethren at Corinth about how they had corrupted the Lord’s Supper. He concluded his discussion about the Lord’s Supper by saying, “So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home…” (1 Corinthians 11:33-34). There is nothing wrong with brethren enjoying meals together (Acts 2:46), but Paul made it clear that the church was not to mix something spiritual (like the Lord’s Supper) with something social (like a common meal).
- A day care – God gave the primary responsibility to care for children to parents. “Fathers” are to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Mothers are to be “workers at home” (Titus 2:4) with one of the primary responsibilities being to take care of her children. This is why Paul referred to “a nursing mother [who] tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7) to illustrate the care and concern he had for the brethren in Thessalonica. There may be times when others will be used to help care for children, such as family members or paid caregivers (Exodus 2:5-9); but the church is nowhere given the responsibility or authority to provide such child care services as part of its work.
- An education institution – The church is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). This means that it is engaged in teaching the truth of God’s word. However, many churches become involved in the secular education of young people, either by forming schools or helping to fund schools out of their treasury. Yet there is no authority that can be found for this in the word of God.
- A charity for the poor – The New Testament makes an allowance for churches to engage in limited benevolence to help needy saints (Acts 4:32-35; 11:29-30; Romans 15:26; 1 Timothy 5:16). However, this is a limited concession and not an established and ongoing work of the church. While individuals may “do good to all people” (Galatians 6:10), the Lord’s church is not a charitable organization working to feed, clothe, and house the poor.
None of the works mentioned above are evil in themselves. It is good for people to engage in social activities together. It is perfectly legitimate for an individual or business to provide day care services. It is necessary for young people to receive an education. There is a place for charity to help those who need assistance. However, the fact that these works are good and necessary does not mean that the Lord expects His church to be engaged in them.
Conclusion
If we want to glorify God in the church (Ephesians 3:21), we must do the work He has given the church to do (cf. John 17:4). We are not to take the responsibilities and liberties we have as individuals and impose them upon the church. Instead, let us be content with the church’s mission and be diligent in carrying it out.
[…] *For more on this point, refer to this article: The Mission of the Church. […]