“Erased from existence.” That’s one of the lines from Back to the Future when Doc Brown sees the photograph of Marty’s brother & sister disappearing.
Some people wonder why they exist at all. Hopelessness zooms in on them and a feeling of exasperation and desperation takes over. But there is also another way to look at this idea of existence, one which I have had to grapple with.
WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXIST?
Sunday I used 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 when I talked about how grace comes from me. Verse 17 is the starting point: I am a new man in Christ. It is absolutely essential to see that as the starting point not the end. But Paul continues by talking about “as we have been reconciled God has also given us the ministry of reconciliation.” That begs the question: why does the church exist? I came up with a few ideas:
We don’t exist to make people happy. Talk about an impossible task!
We don’t exist to push for social and political change. It is not wrong to be involved in helping stomp out the drug trade or sex trafficking, but they are by-products of our faith.
We don’t exist to be inoffensive, upbeat, and inclusive of all beliefs and people. Yes, our doors ought to be open, but we don’t exist to give people a safe place to come for false hope.
We don’t exist to defend a doctrinal position. Having a belief system is important, but we don’t exist to be the last bastion of truth.
So…why do we exist? We are, according to Paul, called to be agents of reconciliation. The message of God’s love was never meant to be kept to ourselves. The reason I believe we exist is left out for a reason.
Why do you think the church exists?
The Church exists to tell those that haven’t heard it, that they are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. That is job #1.
And to distribute the sacraments (which is basically the same thing – giving the promises of God away….freely…no strings attached)
Agree on job #1 Stephen. I left out my answer on purpose.
We exist to be in an incredible relationship with God.
Pursue it with all your heart and soul Larry.
I think churches, mosques, tabernacles, synagogues, Rotary clubs, and quilting clubs exist to satisfy an inate herding instinct in my fellow primates. People seem to be attracted to groups that share similarities and provide some sort of support for one purpose or another.
If you are thinking about the Church as described in Acts I think that only exists in someone’s imagination.
Without a doubt you are right in your “herding” instinct thought Jeff. We like to be with people who have something in common with us. But I would disagree with you on your latter statement (as you would expect). 🙂
I did think of the Amish after I posted my comment. Do you know of any others that might match the description in Acts?
i guess I am wondering what you are thinking as you look at the church in Acts.
I am thinking primarily of the community aspect. I realize there are other aspects such as praying, etc. The Amish that I am familiar with are generally in small family clusters. (30-40 families) They know each other, they support each other, they actually Love each other. If one has a problem they all have a problem.
That is not what any other church regardless of denomination seems to be as far as I can tell.
Most churches are a spectator event.
They may not even know the names of all of the people in the congregation much less what needs they have.
I could go on in more detail but the churches I am familiar with far more resemble a Rotary Club than the communal caring organization described in Acts.
While the Amish community has some drawbacks, their desire for community is admirable. They try to do things “in house.”
Absolutely right about the spectator sport thought. I am hoping OVCF bucks that trend. I want to be more than a club of “good old boys.”
My pastor talked about Grace in his sermon yesterday and hit on the same premise you did… He also wrote about why the church exists in our most-recent church newsletter. Interesting, don’t you think? I believe the church exists for believers to be encouraged to live out their faith in a faithless culture. Without the unity and support found from being a part of a church body, I too easily instead become a party of that culture. I just can’t do this life of a Christian on my own.
Great minds think alike? 🙂 A church body was definitely supposed to be a community.
I think we need to attend church in order to be built up as a Christian community so that we can turn around and BE the church, spreading God’s message of love and redemption to a broken and hurting world.
Blessings, Bill!
No doubt being the church will spread the message of Christ.
Deep post and thought provoking question, Bill.
I don’t think there’s an “easy” or simple answer and yet I think often Christians over complicate things.
My “off the cuff” answer would be, the church exists to share the Good News with the world and to build each other up. Together we are the Body of Christ. We need each other, we are supposed to edify each other. The church is an expression of God’s love in action in us and through us…both as an example to each other and to the world.
I concur with your reason TC. To put it simply: the church exists to help people know Jesus. The church (us) becomes an expression of God’s love in the world.
I would say we exist to work with God to repair the world and make everything like God meant it to be. That’s the larger way in which I think of the ministry of reconciliation.
Interesting way to put it Loren.
I think the church exists to know and love God and to make Him known. It’s simple until people and politics get in the way. 🙂
People are a problem, but politics needs to be left outside-both national and church.
there are some very interesting comments here as to why the church exists. I think you and I and all believers are entrusted with the oracles of God and we have an obligation to share them with the world both in speech and actions. I loved the way you put in Sunday the things we are not here for.
1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
It is something we are not to take lightly for sure Paul. We have been entrusted with a great treasure.