What the Church Is NOT

We must acknowledge God’s wisdom and respect his ways. Therefore, it is important that we have knowledge of the nature of the church as Jesus designed it. We also need to appreciate the local church for what it is and be content with it.

First, it is important that we understand what the church is: it is the saved (Acts 2:47), and its purpose is to make the manifold wisdom of God known to the world (Eph. 3:10). This includes edification of its members (Eph. 4:11-13) and preaching the gospel to the lost (Acts 17).

We also need to know what the church is not. The local church’s responsibilities are primarily spiritual in nature. The responsibility of the local church (in the collective sense) in temporal matters is to help needy members of the church (Acts 6). With these considerations before us, consider what the church of Christ (Rom 16:16) is not.

The church is not a democracy. The church, bought and built by Jesus with His blood, is a kingdom. He is the king (John 18:37), and he is to be heard in all things (Matt. 17:5; 2 John 9: Heb 1:1-2). When an issue is doctrinal, i.e., it is not merely a matter of opinion, democratic rule is out of the question.

The church is not a secular school. As previously discussed, the local church is to be involved in edification of it members, but this is in reference to spiritual teaching. Edification is accomplished by the word of God as members study and teach while growing in grace and knowledge (2 Pet 3:18). It is important for young people to be taught “reading, writing and arithmetic;” but that is not the church’s mission or responsibility. Her major concern is wisdom that is eternal (Eph. 5:17).

The church is not a recreation center. Recreation such as camping, ball games and exercising are wholesome and good, and parents should provide such for their children, and for themselves. However, as in other areas, this is not the work of the church.

Human institutions are usually created for a particular work. No one thinks it strange if these organizations do not allow themselves to be diverted by spending time and resources on unrelated issues. Surely we can respect a local church that seeks to keep its focus only on what God intended it to accomplish.

Some might seek to justify other activities or actions by saying “the end justifies the means.” But Paul evidently was not so persuaded as he said, “And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just" (Rom. 3:8). It is always evil to reject God's ways in favor of man's ways even if we think good may come.

The church of Christ at Forum welcomes visitors and/or private home studies. See the link below for contact information: www.ForumCOC.org