The Church in Today's World...

I reflect back to when I first received Christ and realized my need for Godly instruction and encouragement. At this time, I had no consciousness of the Scriptural importance of assembly with the saints as referred to in Hebrews. (Heb 10:25) “We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.” It all really came down to, as Pastor Mike made reference to several weeks ago, the importance of this new relationship I had with the Father and the passion I had to grow in knowledge, in faith, and in Godly character.

Today, many in church leadership are clamoring to cater to a world that simply does not see any relevance for the local church. Unfortunately, the main reason for this disdain is they simply cannot see any difference in conduct between those who attend church and those who do not. Paul makes this statement in 2 Corinthians the sixth chapter.

2 Cor. 6:3-4 (GW)
We don't give people any opportunity to find fault with how we serve. [4] Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God's servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,

2 Cor. 6:6-7 (GW)
{People can see} our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit's presence {in our lives}, our sincere love, [7] truthfulness, and the presence of God's power. We demonstrate that we are God's servants


Paul is stating in this text that through the evidence of their Christian character, they left no doubt as to whom they belonged to and who they served.
A large number of Churches today are not promoting Christ likeness or encouraging Godliness. Instead, many churches are compromising the salvation message by softening the truth to make the world feel comfortable through a “culturally relevant” message. This culturally relevant message down plays and ignores the blood of Christ, mocks faithfulness as legalism and simple dogma. They are communicating that the world does not need to change. In the effort to identify with the world, many churches have lost their identity and mission as true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Instead of allowing God to build His church, they are trying to create an image that will attract the world. This is a complete contradiction to the Biblical model. This effort has resulted in many who do not know their true identity in Christ and how a child of God is to behave and as a result, the Church has forgotten her purpose in this current age.

The New Testament makes it clear that Christ is the head of the Church.

Col. 1:18 (NASB)
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.

This leads us to ask the question; what exactly is God’s purpose for the Church?

I. The chief purpose for the Church’s existence is to glorify and worship God through an intimate relationship and can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit revealing truth.

John 4:23 (GW)
Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him.



II. The second purpose for the Church is to edify and build itself up. This happens as the saint’s minister to one another, edifying and increasing itself in love.

Ephes. 4:11-13 (GW)
He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts {to his church}. [12] Their purpose is to prepare God's people, to serve, and to build up the body of Christ. [13] This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God's Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard.

Ephes. 4:15-16 (GW)
Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. [16] He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.



III. The third purpose for the Church is to evangelize the sinner. The Church is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world.

Mark 16:15-16 (NASB)
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. [16] "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 1:8 (GW)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Now more than ever it is imperative for the Church to champion the cause of God’s truth and stress the importance of relationship and Christian character to the Body of Christ.

- Pastor Ted Farmer