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The Work Of The Church
The church was established on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. It is composed of people who are the saved. Therefore, the work of the church is the work these people are called upon to do as the body of Christ. To the extent each member does his duty, to that extent will the work of the church be done. To the extent one does not do his or her duty, to that same extent the work of the church will not be done. We should probably speak less of the work of the church as what k does, and more as what we do.
Christ did give His church work to do. What is that work? How is the church to get the work done? Is the church sufficient to accomplish that work? What if the church fails in doing that work?
We are correct to consider the church as a body that works. The Lord taught several parables about the kingdom of heaven in which He likened the kingdom to a vineyard of workers, doing the will of the owner. The master of the vineyard gave the laborers work to do. "Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing." (Luke 12:42). We, who, are Christians are workers in the vineyard of the Lord.
Works Are Necessary
While some say that we are not saved by works, there are some works that we must do. There are works of obedience which makes faith perfect.(James 2:22). We are not saved by works of which we can boast, but we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." (Ephesians 2:10). There are things to do. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17). We are to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58). We are to "do works meet for repentance." (Acts 26:20).
What is the work the church is to do? Paul told Titus, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready unto every good work." (Titus 3:1). "Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (2 Thessalonians 2:17).
By what standard are we to determine what is good ? While admonitions may seem very inclusive, almost without limit, there is a limitation on what the church can, ought, and must do. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." (Colossians 3:17). This demands that there be the Lord's authority for what is done. In other words, the church is to do whatever good work the Lord has authorized the church to do. This limits the boundaries of activity.
What The Work Is Not
It is not the work of the church to provide entertainment for people, or to provide recreation, secular education, social programs, or business operations for profit. It is not the work of the church to displace the civil government, the home, or any such thing. The church is not to be a political party. The reason this is so is because there is no authority for it. Certainly, the church should not support and promote anything or anybody that is inconsistent with the divinely revealed truth. Many intrusions into the affairs of the church have been made by zealous people who would have the church to be engaged in activities for which there is no direction from God. The doctrine that the church can do whatever the individual Christian can do is to confuse any number of activities an individual may do as a citizen, a parent, or a business man In his work and recreation, etc., that does not fall under the work of the church. There are duties that overlap. It is also true that the individual is a member Of the church wherever he is and whatever he does. It is also true that many things are authorized and commanded of individuals that are not commanded of the body functioning together.
As a parent one can discipline his child, supply games, enjoy entertainment and earn money, but the church has no business in such things. The individual may operate a gas station, grocery store, or insurance office, but this is not the work of the church. Whatever the individual does he does as a Christian, but his Work is not always peculiar to the work of the church.
A broad overview of the work of the church, we can say that the church is to glorify God. "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21). The work that Christ did was to the glory of the Father. "I have glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do." (John 17:4). So it is with the church at work. Being the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), brings glory to God.
The Primary Work
The primary work of the church is to spread the gospel. The great commission, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," was a charge given to the apostles and through them to all who would believe by their word. The early church knew this mission, and even under persecution when't everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 8:4). Paul taught Timothy that he in turn might teach others who would go out to teach even more. (2 Timothy 2:2). "Preach the word" is the outstanding and ever present duty of the church. How shall they preach except they be sent, was Paul's question. The church must send laborers into the world to gather a harvest for the Lord. Christianity is a taught religion. Christians are to see to it that teaching and preaching is done. This is the number one and dominant work we are charged with doing. We are the support, promoter, and propagator of the gospel. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations" is the watchword. (Matthew 28:19).
There are any number of methods that we may utilize in spreading the worrd. We have the public proclamation of the truth. Preaching is authorized of God to bear the burden of making known the word of truth. We can use the printed page, teaching from house to house, or whatever media is available to us that is honorable and consistent with the truth itself, to make the message known and to fill the world with the gospel. Many use various visual aids. There is a danger that the visual aid not teach, but become a means of entertainment. Classes, home study courses, and private conversations are all useful in carrying out the work of the church. We must not erect organizations that displace the. church in doing this work. God's governmental arrangement for the church must be respected. The church is fully adequate in its structure to take the gospel to all the world.
What To Teach
What is the church to teach? Preach the word; preach the gospel. The word of God is the subject matter. Preach Christ and His kingdom as the apostles and early evangelists did. We can neither go beyond what was preached, nor add to what was preached in New Testament times (Galatians 1:6-9). We bring God's anathema upon ourselves to vary from the gospel message.
Once I went to conduct a gospel meeting and was asked if I was going to bring anything new to the people. My answer was that I would not. Whatever men preach ought to be that which has been preached for nearly two thousand years already. Politics, reviews of novels, the so-called "social gospel," and such like, have no place in the pulpits and teaching work of the church. What God says, what to obey, how to live before God, the majesty of Christ, His death and resurrection, are the doctrines that are to be taught. Men of every nation are to hear the word of truth. The lost must be led to be saved. The saved must be led to grow. Even though the home has the duty to bring up children in the admonition of the Lord, the church has the duty to let all men everywhere have opportunity to know the word. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and it is the work of the church to see to it that the gospel goes to the ears of all.
Aiding The Needy
There is also another area of work the church is authorized to do, and that is to do good toward those who suffer misfortune in this life. It is sometimes called benevolent work; deeds of relief for the suffering; helping those in need; acts of kindness and Works of charity. While social betterment is not the primary work of the church, it is a part of that work. The conversion and preservation of souls is the prime work; but doing good toward the unfortunate is a fruit of Christianity. "Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Ephesians 4:28). To the churches of Galatia Paul wrote, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all man, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10). "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world. " (James 1:27). Here we have a definition of pure religion. Would any be so brazen to suggest that the church cannot practice pure religion? We would insist that this is what the church must practice. The churches of the New Testament were busy in Relieving the needs that arose during times of crisis and famine. The first responsibility for giving relief rests with the family. But there are circumstances and situations where the family either cannot, or has become so estranged from each other that they will not help those who need help. To those the church has a duty and must supply that which is lacking to sustain life. (1 Timothy 5:16). Can we profess love and do otherwise? "But whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion fiom him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17).
Do Good To All
Some have contended that the church can only help its own members. If this be true, many orphans are immediately eliminated because they are not old enough to yet be Christians. But we are taught that pure religion includes helping orphans. We ire taught to especially help our brethren, but also others as wei:.(Galatians 6:10). Nobody should suggest that the church is to undertake the relief of all the physical distress that the world might suffer. This is beyond the capacity and opportunity for the church. But, as we have opportunity we are not to turn away the needy who are deserving of help. Paul took thought for things honorable in the sight of God and men - (2 Corthians 8:21). Is it not honorable to help those in need, whoever they are? Did not Jesus help those who were God's children as well as those who were not when He assisted Jew and Gentile alike? Are we not to walk in His steps?
When one is hungry, food should be supplied. When one is thirsty, he should be given drink. The naked should be clothed; the distressed relieved; and the homeless provided a home. The church cannot be the home, but can provide a home. And God has not legislated the way to provide that home. This calls for the exercise of human judgment, and to discover, many times through trial and error, what is the best way to provide homes for the homeless. The church cannot be the relief, but can provide the relief.
Great benefit to the church is seen in its benevolent program. What better way to display to those whose hearts are hardened against the truth that truth makes a difference in the way one lives? Mighty works were done in New Testament times that opened doors of opportunity to preach the gospel. Benevolent Work is a means that can be used to propagate the gospel. One must secure a receptive heart before the seed can be sown. Relief of the needy goes a long way on accomplishing this.
The Sufficient Church
The church is fully capable and sufficiently organized to do the work that God has authorized the church to do. Within the governmental arrangement of Christ as the head, with local congregations, each one autonomous and independent under its own elders, whatever needs to be done can be done. The Bible authorizes no superstructure to do the work of the church. There is no allowance for institutions of men that would displace the work of the church. Again, we repeat, that individual work and cooperate work often overlaps, but neither makes the other unimportant. The church Is its own missionary society without any other structures. The church cannot be the home, and must provide a home for the homeless, to do this work. Churches can cooperate without violating the self-government of one another. If one church sends funds to another church, the funds leave the oversight of one and becomes the money of the other. There is no violation of autonomy in that. A great danger in cooperating is for bigger churches to dominate and attempt to dictate to other churches. This has proven to be a sore spot in the work of the church, but it need not be.
The Alternative
If the church fails to do the work God has authorized it to do, it will result in the loss of souls, even the souls of those in the church. We are to be faithful stewards, servants of the Lord, doing His work in our lives. We shall be judged according to what we do' in this life. (2 Corinthians 5:10). When one realizes the emphasis God has placed on saving the lost, keeping the saved saved, bringing relief to the needy that are under the charge of the church, one realizes the tragedy of failure in accomplishing these things. We dare not attempt what God has not authorized. We dare not neglect that which He has authorized to be done. While every detail of operation is not specified in doing the work of the church, the area of work is outlined for us and we must exercise the good sense and judgment we have to do what God directs. Whatever God has specified must be done the way He specifies. When, God has commanded something to be done but has not detailed how it is to be accomplished, it still must be done, and we must find way consistent with all other truth to get it done. There is no work that surpasses the work of the church in greatness and importance. Let us be up and about in doing this work.