Why the Church?

When many Americans think of “church,” they think of a group of money-grubbing, self-righteous, religious hypocrites. Unfortunately, there are many so-called “churches” in America that would actually live up to those less than savory descriptors. But that is not the whole story. Unbiblical churches are not solely to blame for an improper view of what a biblical church is. A serious lack of biblical knowledge in our land has led many people to be confused about what a true church is.

Probably the very first misconception that needs to be cleared up is this: The church is a group of believers in Jesus Christ. The church is, first and foremost, a group of people with a unity in Jesus Christ. While someone who is not following Jesus Christ may sit in on a meeting of the church, the church itself is the body of believers in Christ, not a group of unbelievers. With that being said, it is clear that within the membership of a local church there will be some professing believers who are actually still dead in their sins and lost in unbelief (Matthew 13:24-25). It is for this reason that the ministers of the Word must always bring the full counsel of God to bear on a congregation, warning those who may be settled in a false sense of peace. Be that as it may, the church is still to be made up of those “visible saints”—those who profess “the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, [and do] not [destroy] their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation” (1689 Confession of Faith, 26:2). This simple truth would go a long way in correcting misunderstandings. Many people have the mistaken notion that being a member of a church is simply a religious decision someone makes. Because of this, there are thousands of people who have never been born again—who are not truly Christians—and yet are joined to a church that names the name of Christ! While this is inevitable to some degree, it is rampant in our culture due to a lack of biblical knowledge.

Another misconception among many Christians is this: We should be encouraging unbelievers to “go to church.” Once we understand what the church is, we will realize that when we encourage unbelievers to “go to church,” we are actually encouraging someone who has no genuine desire for Christ to come to the gathering of those who love and adore Christ. While there is nothing wrong with an unbeliever sitting in on a gathering of the church (1 Corinthians 14:23), Christians need to remember that unbelievers need to be joined to Christ before they should be joined to a local church! An unbeliever who simply comes again and again to the gathering of the church needs to be challenged as to what he is really doing there. The church is not a social club for people with varying religious allegiances. The church is the body of Christ—God’s people who gather together to worship and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean church members ought to be snarky or rude to visitors, on the contrary, they ought to be friendly and kind, always seeking to speak the truth in love. Allowing someone to continue in error is neither kind nor loving. Instead of encouraging unbelievers to “go to church,” let us urge them to beseech God for the ability to come to Christ first!

The church is made up of those who have, by God’s sovereign grace, “gladly received” the Word of Christ (Acts 2:41) and who have been “called to be saints” by God (Romans 1:7). While much, much more should be said about the church (for starters, I encourage you to read the section on the church in the 1689 Confession of Faith), sufficient for now is the fact that the church is made up of those who are in Christ. The church gathers and meets and is overseen by its officers so that God would be glorified (Ephesians 3:10), believers would be built up (Ephesians 4:12-16), and the nations would be discipled unto obedience to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

If you are a Christian, the answer to Why the church? is simple. A true Christian loves those who truly love God.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. (1 John 5:1, NASB)

If you have been born of God, you will love your brothers and sisters in Christ. The command to not forsake gathering together (Hebrews 10:25)—while challenging at times—will not be burdensome to you.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3, NKJV)

However, if you claim to follow Jesus Christ—the true Jesus Christ, not a christ of your imagination—and yet you still say you have no need of the church, I leave you with these words from Charles Spurgeon:

I know there are some who say, “Well, I’ve given myself to the Lord, but I don’t intend to give myself to any church.” I say, “Now why not?” And they answer, “Because I can be just as good a Christian without it.” I say, “Are you quite clear about that? You can be as good a Christian by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? There’s a brick. What is the brick made for? It’s made to build a house. It is of no use for the brick to tell you that it’s just as good a brick while it’s kicking about on the ground by itself, as it would be as part of a house. Actually, it’s a good-for-nothing brick. So, you rolling stone Christians, I don’t believe that you’re answering the purpose for which Christ saved you. You’re living contrary to the life which Christ would have you live and you are much to blame for the injury you do.”

Jesus made it clear: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Being a Christian means obedience to Christ, and obedience to Christ includes joining a biblical, local church. The church is to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace as the members speak the truth in love to one another, encouraging, exhorting, comforting, and challenging one another (Ephesians 4:12-16; Colossians 3:12-17).

To those of you who have only a nominal interest in Christ, I say: Do not join a church unless God has first joined you to Christ Jesus! We do not need more “churches” full of unbelieving people—for already some churches “have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan” (1689 Confession of Faith, 26:3).

One more word to those who may be very involved at “church” and yet do not love Christ: If you are easing your conscience by your frequent involvement at “church” and yet have no true interest in the Savior, no true desire for complete obedience and holiness, then I say unto you: Christ is the head of the church! You have all your religious incantations and maneuvers, yet have you no love for Christ? Have you a feigned love for His church but no true love from Him who is the head? The true church has been purchased by the blood of Christ and exists for the praise of Christ. Beg God to secure your interest in Christ before any more involvement in His church!