THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH -- (Part 2)
Thank you. How good it is to have each of you in the listening
audience. It continues to be my prayer that someone out there in
radio land is benefiting from these times spent together. I
thoroughly enjoy these studies. I would like to hear from you if
you, too, are gaining anything from our studies. The address is:
White Park church of Christ, Route 1, Box 502, Anahuac, TX 77514.
Our telephone number is: 409-374-2381. Please leave a message. Now
to our study.
Last Sunday morning I introduced the subject of "The Mission of
the Church. The subject was introduced with this analogy: A bank
provides financial services for individuals and business. It does
not provide the same service as a hospital. I then refered to a
number of different organizations which provide differing services.
We do not consider a service station a failure because it does not
provide the opportunities of a college, etc. Our point then and now
is, each institution is to be judged by its effectiveness in
fulfilling its own mission.
The church of our Lord has a mission. A special purpose to
serve which no other institution is able to provide. I pointed out
in the lesson last week that there are some things which were never
intended to be a part of the mission of the Lord's church. The
church was not brought into existence to provide recreation and
entertainment for the community. Also, it is not the mission of the
church to engage in politics, seeking to influence political reform.
It is not the mission of the church to provide secular education;
nor to increase financial holdings. If you would like to have a copy
of that lesson, please let me hear from you.
So we ask the question: "What is the mission of the church?"
Our first consideration must be: "How and where do we learn of this
mission?" To learn of the mission of any organization, we must go to
the charter or by-laws. What is the charter or by-laws of the Lord's
church? Where are they found. The simple answer is that they are
found in God's Book, the New Testament of our Lord and Savior. The
mission of the church is not found in the councils of men, it is not
determined by some concave or national assembly. We find them by
simply opening the Bible and allow it to decide for us as to what
we can or cannot do. In other words, we need book, chapter, and
verse for all that we teach and practice. This is true with
reference to the mission of the church as well as in all other
matters.
The Lord's church is a spiritual relation; therefore, it has a
spiritual mission. The mission of the church must be connected with
the mission of Christ Jesus when He came to the earth. He said that
He can to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). That is why he was
suspended upon the cross. That His blood might be shed for the
salvation of sinful man. Jesus could have eliminated poverty (He fed
5000 upon one occasion); He could have eliminated diseases (He cured
many who were afflicted); He could have eliminated suffering of
various kinds (as He demonstrated upon many occasions); He could
have overthrown the political oppression and thrown out Caesar. But,
He did not choose to follow those paths. Why? These were not the
reasons He came. These were not His missions. His mission was far
greater than any of these. Others are able to feed many; others are
able to heal the sick and comfort the suffering; others even are
able to overthrow evil governments. But, no one else has ever nor
shall ever be able to save sinful man from a devil's hell. The
mission of Christ was far greater than all these put together. And,
as people belonging to the Lord, His mission must be our mission.
The price paid for anything indicates the value of it. The
price paid for the salvation of man indicates the value of each
soul. Jesus paid His blood. He shed His blood to purchase the church
(Acts 20:28). He became the savior of His body (Ephesians 5:23-26).
Other organizations can feed multitudes (such as the Salvation
Army): other organizations can provide shelter in times of need
(such as the Red Cross). But, none can provide the cleansing from
old sins and the hope of eternity when this walk in the flesh ceases
to be. None but Jesus!!!
Thus, the collective work of the local congregation of God's
people is the salvation of souls. Paul told Timothy, "Take heed to
thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing
this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee" (1
Timothy 4:16). This mission of saving souls falls under three areas:
Evangelism, Edification and Benevolence. Paul states this in
Ephesians 4:12. Hear him, "for the perfecting of the saints, unto
the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of
Christ." Let us look as these three aspects of the mission of God's
people.
First, there is the matter of evangelism. That simply means the
proclamation of the "good news," or the gospel. Paul states, "For I
am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek" (Romans 1:16). Our Lord, Himself, said, "Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation, He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth
shall be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16).
The world was then and now is under the power of wickedness.
John so states this in 1 John 5:19, "and the whole world lieth in
the evil one." We need not look far to see the influence of evil;
the growing stigma of wickedness falling on this great nation of
ours. Mankind needs the light of the gospel to find its way out of
darkness. The salvation of souls depends upon the gospel being
taught. Without faith one cannot be saved. So states Hebrews 11:6.
But, faith can be gained only through the word of Truth. Romans
10:17, states, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of
God." In the verses preceding this, Paul states, "How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). Thus, it is essential
that the gospel be proclaimed. This is one aspect of the mission of
the church. We at the White Park church of Christ strive to do this.
We are currently assisting seven men in their work of preaching. One
in Nicaragua; three in Mexico; one in Florida; two in Texas. And of
course my support here in this area. Paul states that he took wages
from other churches to preach in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:8). In
the assistance of these men the money is sent directly to the
preachers, never is it sent to some society, another organization;
not even to another congregation, but directly to the receiving man
to assist him in the work he is doing. You see, we have Bible
authority for that. Can you find Bible authority for the Missionary
Society or any other kind of organizational structure?
These funds that are sent to preachers to assist them in the
work of preaching the gospel come from the contributions of the
White Park congregation. As mentioned last week, Upon the first day
of the week, God's children lay by in store (1 Corinthians 16:2).
From these funds we are able to spread the gospel in a number of
areas, as well as here at home. The cost of this radio program also
comes out of the regular contribution of the White Park
congregation. There is simply no other way to raise money
scripturally to do the work of the church, or the mission of the
church.
I also must add, the local congregation is the only "collective
unit" to be engaged in evangelism. Individually, each Christian can
and will assist where they are able. But, the only "fellowship" in
the matter of giving and receiving money is that of the local
congregation of God's people. Read Philippians 1:5; 4:15-17. You
read of no area, national, or worldwide arrangements to do this
work.
The fact that one contributes into a local treasury does not
excuse that one from the responsibility of teaching the gospel in
their daily lives with those with whom we come into contact. We can
teach by word of mouth, and by a righteous life. And teach we must.
When a congregation of God's people loses sight of the
responsibility in evangelism, it has lost the sense of its mission,
the saving of lost souls.
A second way that God's people have to fulfill the mission of
the church is by "edification." The term "edification" means the
act of building up; promoting growth and development of character of
those who are believers. This also is a matter of spiritual maturity
as each Christian develops and matures in Christ. To those who
respond to the gospel by being baptized into the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, "teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Salvation requires more than being born into God's family. Obviously
one cannot grow until being born into the family, but one cannot
afford to remain in a childlike condition. There must be spiritual
growth, edification. The Hebrew writer says, "hold fast the
profession of faith without wavering" (Hebrews 10:23). It is
essential that God's children mature. Listen again to Hebrews 10,
"For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye
may receive the promise" (verse 36). There is a great need for
patience or steadfastness in the lives of God's people.
The local congregation is designed to accomplish this
objective. The organization of the local congregation is "elders"
overseeing the work and the souls of the members. Look at Acts 20,
where Paul speaks to the elders of the church in Ephesus (vs 17),
and says, "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which
the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the
Lord which he purchased with his own blood" (verse 28). The elders
are to "watch over the souls" of the members of the congregation
(Hebrews 13:17). Members are to submit to them (Hebrews 13:17). The
White Park church of Christ has three men who serve as "elders,"
also called "bishops," of the congregation. The worship of the
congregation is to edify each member as each one engages in song
service, prayers, teaching and learning, giving of their means, and
partaking of the Lord's Supper each Lord's Day. All of these acts
or avenues of worship are intended to edify or build up the family
of God. Thus, fulfilling once again the mission of the church to
bring about the eternal salvation of each one.
A third way that God's people fulfill the mission of the church
is through limited "benevolence." God's people must be concerned
with the needs of others. A love that is moved by tender compassion
to assist those of God's family who are in need of physical
necessities. I say "limited" benevolence because God's family in the
congregational efforts are limited to the "poor saints." The church
has no obligation in a congregational action to feed the world in
general. Every example, every passage, that speaks of benevolence is
limited to those who are in God's family, or "poor saints." Acts
11:29 tells us that benevolence was sent to "brethren." Romans 15:26
says to the "saints." 1 Corinthians 16:1, says "saints." 2
Corinthians 8 and 9, speaks of the "churches," "the saints." You
will find no exception to this in God's Book. You will also note
that when a contribution was sent from a congregation it always went
to the receiving church. Never was it sent to another organization.
The purpose was to supply the physical needs of God's children,
"saints."
I have noted the three areas in which the local congregation of
God's people function that it may fulfill its mission. These are:
evangelism; edification; and benevolence. In each of these the
intent and purpose is to accomplish the mission which Jesus Christ
gave to His people. And that is the salvation of the souls of
mankind. Paul closes the third chapter of Ephesians with these
words, "unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto
all generations for ever and ever" (verse 21).
Are you a member of the Lord's body? You can be. Only there can
you bring glory to God the Father. If you would like to study
further into this important lesson or perhaps others, please let us
hear from you. Until next week, I bid you a very pleasant good
morning.
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