THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2010

Read Matthew 28

The Role of the Church

Having considered the ‘church’, what then is the role of the church?  Biblically we can define 4 functions of the church.

Evangelism:

Matthew 28:18-20 is instructive here.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 1:8 also adds to this:-

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Given these two passages alone, it is clear that the church is meant to take the good news of God’s forgiveness out to the world. We are the light, the salt of the earth. We are given this mission and    everyone in the church should be working towards this mission.

Edification:

Ephesians 4:11-13 sums up our role in edification.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Each person in God’s church has the immense privilege of being involved in this edification.  1 Cor 12:7 tells us:-

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

No matter how old or how young you are as a Christian God has given to you so that you can give to others for their good. He has blessed you and endowed you with gifts and abilities so that you can be a vital part of the body of Christ.

Worship:

Edification concentrates on believers and focuses on them. Worship focuses on the LORD.   Worship should not be seen solely as a 1 hour gathering with other        Christians. Our whole lives are lived as worship to God. We are to give ourselves sacrificially to the Lord each and every single minute of our lives (Romans 12:1-3).

Yet we are commanded to gather together regularly for instruction in the Word and for edification of each other. 1 Cor 16:2, Hebrews 10:25). As we gather together we are to focus on God - to exalt and praise His name, to refocus and rededicate our lives to Him and to give sacrificially to each other.

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 1 Cor 14:26

Notice that three things must be present for the church to be  balanced:-

Þ Focus on God - Worship

Þ Focus on each other (ie other Christians)- Edification

Þ Focus on non Christians - Evangelism.

If any one of these elements is crowded out or neglected the church will suffer loss.

Social Concern:

The church also has a role to play in the wider community. We are to be doing acts of love and concern for both the Christian community and the non Christian community.

See the parable of the good Samaritan. James 1:27, 1 John 3:17-18.

The churches social concern has many angles:-

Þ We are to meet the needs of the community around us  displaying the love of Christ to them.

Þ We are to condemn and speak out against unrighteousness (see Amos) and injustices.

Þ We are to avoid being yoked to non believers even though we serve them

and give sacrificially to them. How this is done is best seen in Jesus himself. He ministered to the needy. He ate with them and interacted with them. He healed them and gave them wholeness but He was never yoked with them.

• Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."  2 Corinthians 6:14-16

Þ As Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God He ministered to the poor and needy. As Isaiah identifies for us, these were direct manifestations of the Kingdom of God.

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• "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7.

As we minister to the poor and needy we too should be mindful of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.  The acts of Christ-like love and compassion are visible signs for the world to see that the Kingdom of God has come.