BIBLICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT IS THE

OF THE CHURCH?

(I was taking notes on this subject as a means for me to explore and understand why I and others are feeling so restless about Church. Then, I decided to turn it into an article. So, I would ask, why do you go to church? And, do you feel you are completing the Great Commission in your life and experience?).

The Purpose of the Church. (GotQuestions.Org).

Acts 2:42 could be considered a purpose statement for the church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” According to this verse, the purposes/activities of the church should be 1) teaching biblical doctrine, 2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, 3) observing the Lord’s supper, and 4) praying. (GotQuestions.Org). The Apostle Paul gave an excellent illustration to the believers in Corinth. The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following.

The purpose of the Church is deeply rooted in God’s plan of redemption and ongoing work in the world:

1. Spiritual Worship and Glorification of God. (BibleHum.com).
2. Building Fellowship and Unity, (BibleHub.com).
3. Edification Through Teaching and Discipleship, (BibleHub.com).
4. Evangelism and the Great Commission, (BibleHub.com).
5. Service and Compassion, (BibleHub.com).
6. Lifelong Transformation and Sanctification, (com).
7. Proclamation of God’s Kingdom, (BibleHub.com).
8. Preservation and Transmission of Scripture, (BibleHub.com).
9. Declaration of God’s Intelligent Design, (BibleHub.com).
10. Advancement of God’s Redemptive Plan, (BibleHub.com).
11. Equipping Believers for Eternity, (BibleHub.com).

Conclusion. (BibleHub.com).

In sum, the church exists to glorify God, disciple believers, proclaim the message of salvation, demonstrate compassion, and uphold the truth of Scripture. Historical, archaeological, and manuscript findings reinforce that the earliest believers actively embraced these purposes, laying the foundation for the church’s ongoing mission. Grounded in the consistent testimony of Scripture, the church continues to stand as a radiant beacon of faith and hope to the world, pointing all people to a loving Creator and the resurrected Redeemer. (BibleHub.com).

The Mission of the Church

1. The mission of the church is to make disciples. (GotQuestions.Org).
2. The mission of the church is to glorify Christ. (GotQuestions.Org).
3. The mission of the church is to build up the saints. (GotQuestions.Org).
4. Evangelism and Discipleship. (BibleHub.com).
5. Worship and Community. (BibleHub.com).
6. Service and Justice. (BibleHub.com).

Conclusion: The mission of the Church is a dynamic and ongoing endeavor, rooted in the teachings of Scripture and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It encompasses evangelism, discipleship, worship, community, service, and social justice, all aimed at glorifying God and advancing His kingdom on earth. Through faithful obedience to this mission, the Church fulfills its calling as the body of Christ, bearing witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Interestingly enough, however, here are the top 10 reasons on “Why I Attend Church”, given by Americans who attend religious services at least once a month, according to a Pew Research survey. Respondents were allowed to give more than one reason. The percentage refers to people who said this was a “very important” reason for their decision:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the sermons valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To continue their family’s religious traditions. (37%)
8. They feel a necessary obligation to go. (31%)
9. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)
10. Because the pastor knows my name. (added by author.)

Is the Church in a conundrum here?  Are people going to church for the ‘Right Reasons’? (And, just as interesting, people stop going to church if they do not get what is on the list of 10 reasons they came to church in the first place – or because the music is too loud or too contemporary; the sermons are too long, the seats are uncomfortable, etc.)

And conversely, are churches following the Biblical model and mandate of the Mission and Purpose of the Church?

No matter the source you turn to for the answer, Pew Research, Barna Research, The Heritage Foundation, Gallup, etcetera, the answer is the same. The Church is adrift from God’s Biblically stated Mission and Purpose, pandering to the wishes and wants of the spiritually hungry in order to draw a crowd (for the cash?).

2 Timothy 4:3-4 warned this day was coming, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths”.

How can we, or should we, get back to the basics? If so, we should start from ‘the ground up’. How did it all get started?

 

This is Does the function of the Church follow its form? –

The form or format of the early Temple:

That which is Good, Acceptable and Perfect

It could be said that the forerunner of the Christian church was the Tabernacle also known as the Tent of the Congregation or the Tent of the Meeting. It was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instructed at Mount Sinai to construct and transport the tabernacle with the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness and their subsequent conquest of the Promised Land. After 440 years, Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem superseded it as the dwelling-place of God (also see The Tabernacle, Learn Religions).

The Tabernacle was an outward expression of an inward confession and conviction. The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron after the Israelite fled captivity in Egypt, and gave them explicit instructions on setting up their wilderness camp. Numbers 2 consists entirely of God giving commandments as to how the Israelite camp should be arranged. From the NASB:

On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first. (The rest of the tribes are described).

So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

If you want to read more about the significance and the symbolism of the Tabernacle and the of Holies, click here: The Tabernacle, or here, Explore the Tabernacle.

Why does the Bible record all the things that happened during those 40 years? The Scripture tells us it was for an example, a foreshadowing. These things happened to them for our admonition. Paul makes a point in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that everything written then is for our application now. Every one of the events in Numbers has a lesson for us. And that’s why it is so important to study this book in detail.

The word ”example” in Greek is ‘tupos’, which is ”a figure, an image, a pattern, a pre-figuring.” That’s where we get the term ”type,” or model. Engineers speak of a prototype, which is from the same root. Types are common in the Bible, where some event, some object, or some situation is a lesson, in advance, of what’s coming. Once again, the Tabernacle and the wilderness camp was an outward expression of an inward conviction and confession.

The center of the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, the outer chamber, which was surrounded first by priests of the tribe of Levi, then by the clan or tribes of Israel, the warriors and their families. It is easy to imagine the layers of protection provided from the outer to the innermost, the Holy of Holies. Possibly a pattern for the Christian’s human psyche and even the intent for the Christian church. But with the coming of Christ, the outermost is the Church Body or the Body of Christ. The courtyard resembles the priestly duties of spiritual gifts at work of each and every Christian. The Holy are of the Tabernacle is accessible by those who are fully dedicated in prayer and service to God through Christ Jesus and the Holy of Holies is the presence of God within each believer.

Should we, today, model and build our church buildings in such a fashion? Probably not. Jesus removed the barriers and indwells the believer. We are now One with Him.

However, it is worthy to note that the early church met in homes as reflected in Acts 2:37-42, 46-47, “Brothers, what are we to do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Verse 46. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their ^[ax]meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Then, shortly after the establishment of the Christian Church things began to change. Partly due to convenience and partly due to influences outside the church. Sacred Christian architecture in the West, in particular Western Europe, was being influenced by a variety of architectural styles that initially derived from Roman pagan designs to new forms that attempted to break away from Roman influences. Christian church architecture indicates the cultural influences on Christianity but also reflected men’s spiritual ideas dominant in the period churches were built.

After 313 AD, as Christianity became accepted by the Roman government under Constantine, early churches were beginning to be established in Western Europe and the Roman Empire. By this point, churches had already existed throughout the Sassanian Empire and Armenia, but had yet to be established, at least formally, in the Roman Empire. Initially, late Roman Empire churches often utilized converted pagan temples, as these were readily available structures that could accommodate many people. It was also convenient to use existing worship areas for the masses that had converted – this too, was and is an outward expression of an inward belief and conviction and confession. The drift to apostasy had begun!

There are many today that will say that the style, appearance or type of building is irrelevant. A building is just a “tool for ministry”. And, I might agree. But I am not referring to architecture. I am referring to intent and priorities. Is it our intention to follow the teachings and of Jesus and the Bible and to pay close attention to the significance of the meanings contained in the symbolism of the Tabernacle and of the Temple, or are we willing to go our own way in order to draw a crowd? Well, it isn’t working for the ‘mainline’ protestant churches in the twenty-first century, and this drift did not begin in the twenty-first century. It began shortly after the establishment of the early Church. Today we see the fruit of our arrogance.

Let me begin by saying that I know very few will have read this. I also know that I have little to no influence on the church or on those who lead and formulate policy for the church. So, why bother? Am I just ranting? Perhaps. But like the man who would stroll the beach after the tides would recede, picking up starfish, one at a time, tossing them back into the water. When asked why he would bother since thousands and thousands are stranded, dying on the beach, he picked up one more and said, it means something to this one. So it is with me.

We need to let our faith in Christ, and our understanding and belief in The Word, be expressed – pressed out – our expression, conviction and confession.

 

The Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, should be expressed by how we speak, how we deport ourselves, how we live and how we treat others. It is Christ in us, our hope of glory, on display.

The Holy place in the Tabernacle is where we prepare ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship, through words and deeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Our ‘Camp of Israel’ is where we stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, we take up the full armor of God, and resist.

The inner courts, are where we congregate and express our Spiritual Gifts in service to God and to one another.

The outer courts and where we invite and receive those who are drawn to Christ, where we proclaim the Gospel message and make disciples. This work takes place both outside and inside the Temple.

CHRIST DWELLS WITHIN – YOU ARE NOW THE EDIFICE

Although the architecture of modern-day church buildings may differ from the Tabernacle and the Temple, and the spiritual significance and symbolisms have been fulfilled with the coming of the Christ Jesus. It remains true that our beliefs and faith are expressed within the Church – be it a building, a program or a person. All of these things should not conform to the world, but must be transformed by the renewing of our minds so the we may prove what is the will of God, that which is good, acceptable and perfect! Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?

In conclusion, we should allow the Holy of Holies to influence, guide, direct and establish our ways. It should be ‘from the inside to the outside’. Every act and service of our worship is a result of our focus on the Holy of Holies, from the Holy places, to our priesthood as believers, to our encampment around our Tabernacles, through our inner courts, outer courts and into this world. Anything and everything else, is just a sideshow.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Examples of sideshows: Easter bunnies and egg hunts at church. Halloween at church disguised as Fall festivals – they are a copy of paganism and witchcraft. Christmas parties at church focused on materialism. There are times allotted for these things in the world, but not in the sanctuary, not in the Church. Remember, the Church is an Expression of what you and I really and truly believe, and the world is watching and all-to-often, scoffing and mocking.