-
The Mission Of The Church
The mission of the church is the greatest work in all the world. Jesus did not institute the church simply for the benefit and happiness of man while he lives upon the earth. Its purpose is not to save man from hunger, pain, or temporal want. Neither is it for the purpose of entertainment. Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. It is a heavenly institution designed for man's spiritual needs.
The mission of the church is, first of all, to preach the gospel. When Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples he told them to go "into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. . . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Thus all that we learn about Christ, the church, the way of salvation, and the Christian life we learn from the gospel. This Commission was never given to any human institution, but it was given exclusively to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the evangelist Timothy, Paul said, "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3:14, 15). Hence, the New Testament church is the "pillar and ground," or as the margin shows it, "the pillar and support of the truth." God never committed this great work to any society or denomination or other human organization. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). The gospel then, which is the message of the New Testament church, is God's power to save. There is no other. The hope of the world for salvation from sin and its consequences rests with the followers of Christ. If we refuse to carry that message to all the world we have not only failed God but we have failed mankind as well. The progress that we have made in civilization, social betterment, and higher standards of living, has been through the influence of the principles of Christ. These principles alone will guarantee peace, security, equality among all men, and the freedoms that we cherish. Legislation, armies, and the governments of men cannot secure for us the blessings that are ours through the gospel of Christ.
While the salvation of our nation and of the world from the consequences of sin is an incentive for preaching the gospel, these blessings are relatively unimportant when compared with the primary aim of the gospel. That aim is the salvation of the souls of men for an eternal life with God in the world to come. That salvation cannot be obtained without the remission of sins. Despite his advancement in learning, man has not the wisdom to provide a method for remitting sins. The prophet Jeremiah said, "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). Only in the gospel of Christ do we find th& remedy for sin. Only in the church do we find the agency for proclaiming the gospel throughout the world.
Please note these words of the apostle Paul, "For whosoever shall call upon 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? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:13-15). From this passage we see that it is the solemn duty of those who preach the word of God to go where the need demands. It is likewise the duty of the churches to send them forth and support them. At the present time there are many communities in our land where the gospel of Christ is hardly known. In foreign lands the number of such communities is even greater. The need is apparent on every hand. Truly, the Macedonian call comes ringing from benighted peoples throughout the world. Let us, therefore, renew our efforts to accomplish the great work that is before us. Never before in our history has the need for the gospel been greater than it is today. And never before have the facilities for proclaiming it been so numerous. We live in an age when the radio, the printed page, and the modern means of transportation make it possible for us to preach the word to thousands who might otherwise never hear it. These opportunities are at our disposal. God expects us to use them. Let us remember that with every opportunity we have a corresponding responsibility, and as we take advantage of our opportunities they become more numerous and our responsibilities increase. Indeed, "to him that hath shall be given.. . but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath" (Matt. 25:29).
In the second place the mission of the church is to instruct Christians, that they may become perfect, or full-grown, in Christ. Thus the apostle Paul commands the followers of Christ to teach, to admonish, to exhort one another, and to build each other up. Paul speaks of the church as a body "fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16). Thus, by our several abilities, by assembling together, through love and fellowship, visitation, sympathy, and mutual encouragement, the followers of Christ are edified in the church. Any congregation that does not provide systematic instruction in the word of God for all its members is neglecting an essential part of its work. It is not necessary for one to know very much about the Bible in order to become a Christian. In fact, one can learn the plan of salvation-all that God requires of him in order to have his past sins remitted-in a very short time. Hence, new converts are referred to in the New Testament as "newborn babes in Christ." But God does not expect us to remain infants; rather, he expects all his children to grow spiritually day by day until they become complete in the knowledge of his word and in living the Christian life. Thus Peter says, "As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). It is indeed regrettable that so many Christians are no bigger spiritually now than they were five or ten or fifteen years ago when they were first born anew into the family of God.
Please keep in mind that the church is made up of individual Christians. Its strength and influence in the world can be no greater than that of the individuals who compose it. Even as the chain is no stronger than its weakest link, so the influence of the church may be destroyed through the carelessness, indifference and willful sin of its members. Thus to his followers, Christ declared. "Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:14-16). Only by means of spiritual food and spiritual exercise can we grow as Christians and become the true light of the world. The spiritual food is the word of God. We must study it diligently. The spiritual exercise is the development of the Christian graces. We must practice them daily. Thus Paul said, "Bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come" (I Tim. 4:8).
In conclusion, the church has as its mission the glorification of God. Paul says, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end" (Eph. 3:21). In brief, then, the mission of the church is, first, to preach the gospel of Christ by which men and women are brought into the family of God, where they are saved from sin; second, to edify one another in the church that we may become full grown men and women in Christ; and, third, to glorify God throughout all the ages. There is no other institution in all the world which has so noble a purpose or so worthy a mission.