Articles
The Church Jesus Built (5)
The Church Jesus Built 5: What Was Its Mission?
By Mike Willis
Men do not start an organization or a business unless there is a reason for it to exist. One organization may have nothing as its reason for the existence than to make money; another organization may exist to heal the sick and broken bodies of hurting people. What was the reason Jesus had for creating His church? What is its mission?
1. The mission of the church is to spread the gospel to the world. Paul wrote, “. . . if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, A PILLAR AND BUTTRESS OF THE TRUTH” (1 Tim. 3:15). A “pillar and buttress” (that which provides a firm base for something) is a figurative way of describing the work of the church in upholding and proclaiming the truth of the gospel. The culture of the world will change through the ages, but the church is to proclaim God’s word. That is its mission. It is not to adjust its message to fit the times in which we live, but to preach a timeless truth.
2. The church is to evangelize the world. In giving the Great Commission to His disciples, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20). To accomplish this mission, the church sends out evangelists to preach the gospel. Paul said of his mission, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
Some have become embarrassed by what the word of God teaches, since it does not align with 21st century beliefs and ethics. The world does not believe in creation (Gen. 1:1); instead it believes in evolution. Ecumenism does not believe that Jesus is the one way to heaven (John 14:6); it believes that all religions of the world are equally good. Each person should choose what he likes best (just as one picks out what color to paint his room, based on personal preference). Twenty-first century Americans see nothing wrong with living together outside of wedlock, but the Bible calls that fornication (1 Cor. 6:9). I could belabor the point, but the fact is that the church is to preach the saving gospel, whether or not it is popular in a given culture (it certainly was not popular in the Greco-Roman culture of the first century). Preaching the gospel got some first century preachers killed.
3. The church is to edify the saints, to assist young Christians in growing into mature Christians (Eph. 4:12-15). That is why the church meets regularly to study the Bible with one another. Bible studies help new converts to grow spiritually stronger and encourages all Christians to be active in love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25).
There is not one word said about the first century church building school buildings to study the Pythagorian theory of mathematics, to teach young people to read, write and speak Greek or Hebrew, or to study the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, or Epicurus. It did not build sports stadiums for chariot racing, arenas for foot racing, and boxing rings for fighting championships. Yet, one looks at the large buildings of mega-churches and sees
school buildings for kindergarten through high school, basketball and volleyball courts, baseball diamonds and soccer fields, kitchens, child-care facilities for working moms, etc. The twenty-first church has largely lost its vision what it is supposed to be; it has forgotten its God-given mission and become engrossed in drawing a crowd!
