Volume 40      Number 3                                                                                  November 1997

The other night as several of us were going outside, (earlier we had been participating in a Bible study on the Southern Missouri State University campus in Springfield), a man approached us and requested an interview for a radio station. He asked what we thought the purpose of the Church was, and if today's churches were accomplishing that purpose? We each gave him a short answer from the Bible.

This encounter has caused me to do some thinking. If someone on the street came up to us desiring to know the purpose of the Church, what would we say? As I studied the scriptures and meditated on them, I came up with four functions or responsibilities that God gave to the Church; but I believe that all four can be summed up in--"to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Eph. 3:21, NKJ). We can see from this verse that God receives glory from one institution on this earth: the Church through Christ Jesus! And why should it be otherwise? According to the Holy Scriptures He purchased and redeemed the Church with His own precious blood (Acts 20:28). Remember this verse in Ephesians as we look at the four expectations that God has for the Church. All efforts and all energy spent to glorify the Almighty God must be through the Church by Christ Jesus if it's to be pleasing and acceptable to Him. If we attempt to glorify God through any other institution than the Church, or by any other authority than Christ, we are just as guilty as Cain was in his offering to God. We know God was displeased with Cain's sacrifice, because it was not by faith. (Rom. 10:17).

There are four functions that God expects the Church to perform while in this world: 1) charitable institution, 2) educational institution, 3) evangelizing institution, and 4) instrument of worship. As we look at each one a little more in depth, let us remember the words that this man asked my friends and me--"is it fulfilling it's purpose that God has given it to do?" Since we are the church, are you and I striving to implement these functions in the church?

Charitable Institution: Acts 6:1-6--Shortly after the Day of Pentecost, when the Church was established, there was a problem with certain poor widows who were a part of the Church in Jerusalem. The apostles of Christ, wanting to provide for these sisters' needs, did not think it was right for them to leave preaching and teaching the word of God to take care of this matter. So they asked the brethren to choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom who could be appointed to make sure the widows were provided for. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27, NKJ). The apostle John wrote, "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (I Jn. 3:17-18, NKJ). Paul told Timothy, "Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God" (1 Tim. 5:3-4, NKJ; read also 1 Tim. 5:2-16). We are always safe, if we follow the examples given by the apostles who were inspired by God. We find in these verses that there are some guidelines to follow when helping widows. We can see the New Testament Church helping poor brethren, when there was no one else in their family who could and would do so. We do not find the example of organizing another institution to take care of this need, or any other need.

What about those who are not members of the Church, such as neighbors or friends? Can the Church help them? Jesus told the story of the "good Samaritan," when asked, "Who is my neighbor?". After He told the story, He asked, which of the three was a neighbor? "And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37, NKJ). Here we have an example of an individual seeing his neighbors need, having mercy and compassion, and personally getting involved and taking care of that need. I can not find any example in the New Testament where money that was designated for the "saints" was given to anyone outside of the Church. But this does not relieve us of our responsibility to our neighbors. We can individually let our light shine, as the "good Samaritan" did, and God will be glorified, if it is done in a spirit of love and truth!

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:9-10, NKJ). Consider these scriptures: James 2:14-16; Prov.14:31; Rom.15:25-26.

We can see through these and other passages that one of the Church's functions is to care for her own needy saints; and as members in particular, "do good to all", as we have opportunity. Next month we will look at the Church as an institution for education.