A STUDY OF THE CHURCH (8)
The Mission of the church

Victor M. Eskew

 

          In previous articles, we have found that the church is composed of the saved.  It is the place where the people of God have been separated from those who are in the world.  The church’s function, however, is not just to house those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.  They have a mission they are supposed to accomplish until the Lord comes back to take them to their eternal abode in glory.

          The mission of the church sf three-fold in nature.  First, the church is supposed to sow the seed of the kingdom into as many hearts as they possibly can.  Scripture teaches that “the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).  It is powerful (Heb. 4:12).  It is designed to prick the hearts of those who are lost (Acts 2:37).  Those hearts that are good and honest (Luke 8:15) will develop faith (Rom. 10:17).  This faith with lead them to obey the conditions found in the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to obtain the remission of sins (Acts 2:37-38).  “And they that gladly received his word were baptized:  and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). 

          God wants all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).  This means that the church must take the gospel to the ends of the earth.  The first century church set a good example for us.  “…And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word (Acts 8:1,4).  The entire book of Acts presents the spread of the gospel from the capital city of the Jews, Jerusalem, to the capital city of the Roman Empire, Rome.  The truth is still committed into the hands of the church (1 Tim. 3:15).  It is up to the church to take the message of salvation to all who are lost.  “For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher” (Rom. 10:13-14).  That last question should be constantly ringing in the ears of every member of the body of Christ.  “How shall they hear without a preacher?”

          In addition to the proclamation of the gospel, the church must be involved in the edification of the saints.  “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12).  The church is composed of many members (1 Cor. 12:20).  Some have been Christians for several decades.  Others are just new coverts.  All of them need to be continually nourished.  They need to be developed.  They need to be molded.  They need to be edified.  They need to be corrected.  They need to be fashioned more and more into the image of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29).  If the church does not do this, the world certainly will not.

          The first century church was filled with teachers and ministers who aided in the spiritual development of the church.  “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1).  Men like Titus were often left by the apostle Paul to assist churches in their spiritual growth.  “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Tit. 1:4-5).  And, every church had members who labored within the church to make them perfect and complete:  Phebe (Rom. 16:1-2), Priscilla and Aquilla (Rom. 16:3), Timothy (Phil. 2:19-23), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Onesimus (Col. 4:9), Nymphas (Col. 4:15), Archippus (Col. 4:17), and a host of others who could be named (See Rom. 16:5-15).

          The third function of the church is to assist in the benevolent needs of others.  James declares that caring for widows and orphans in their time of need is pure religion (James 1:27).  The Galatians were exhorted with these words:  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  When the church engages in these works, they are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.  Acts 10:38 reveals that Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil…”

          Again, the first century church presents us with a multitude of examples of benevolence.  “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45).  “Neither was there any among them that lacked:  for as many as were possessors of land or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ fee:t  and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:34-35).  “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:  which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30).  In 3 John 5-6, John acknowledges the benevolence of a man in the church named Gaius.  “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church:  whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a goodly sort, thou shalt to well.”  Needs still abound today.  When the church has opportunity, it should respond to those needs.  Benevolence has the ability of catching the attention of both the one helped and others who are simply aware of the benevolence.  Often doors are opened to the gospel of Christ because of the good deeds of members of the body of Christ.

          No, the church does not just house the saved.  It is a divine institution with a divine mission.  Sowing the seed of the kingdom is her dominate mission.  However, the church must also keep the saved saved.  Too, the church helps her members and the needy of the world through its generosity.  When the church is vibrant in these areas, unity prevails, and there is little trouble in the body of Christ.  When she ceases laboring diligently, she often involves herself in things are that troubling and divisive to the church of Christ.  May the church, therefore, always give heed to the words of Hebrews 4:11.  “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”