Why I Love the Church ...strengthening our commitment to the household of faith
"The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved. Paul says, "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 2:25). Here the term "the church" is used to apply to all those whom Christ died to redeem, all those who are saved by the death of Christ. But that must include all true believers for all time, both believers in the New Testament age and believers in the Old Testament age as well"-Wayne Grudem
The Apostle John tells us, that one of the most visible and convincing evidences that we have passed from death until life, is "... because we love the brethren..."(1 John 3:14).Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples; that you love one another"(John 13:35). We are also "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."(Hebrews 10:25).
The closest fellowship, as Christians, that we can ever enjoy on earth is within the body of Christ. "Brethren" is an endearing word for the intimacy of our union with Christ and, therefore, with each other. It was used by our Lord immediately following His bodily resurrection from the dead to portray His deep affection and love for those He came to save (John 20:17; cp, Heb. 2:11).
There are close to fifty "one anothers" in the New Testament that describe in wonderful detail how our lives are to be woven and lived together within the body of Christ. The world may not know of Paul, Stephen, Luke, Peter, even Moses or David, etc.; but they do know you and me and they are watching. What a joy to give up all rights to self and serve without reservation each other in the body of Christ as a witness and testimony of His life-changing grace. We should not come to church seeking what we can get, but more importantly, asking how we can give (1 Peter 4:10).
I have defined ministry as:
service to God and His creatures as we employ our Spirit-given giftedness, according to the instruction of Scripture as good stewards of the manifold grace of God for the advancement of His kingdom; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (cp, 1 Peter 4:10-12)
God has designed genuine ministry to be inseparable from the life, fellowship, and leadership of the local church. Any ministry that does not strengthen one's commitment to the local church is inconsistent with the purposes of Christ (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25).
Five Biblical Reasons
Why We Should Love and Serve the Church:
Committed to the Lord of the Church Firstly, Jesus Christ promised to build the Church-therefore, my commitment should be to it (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:39-47).
Committed to Love the Church Secondly, He purchased the Church with His own precious blood-therefore, I love those for whom He died (1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:14-16).
Committed to Labor and Serve with the Church Thirdly, the Church is the predominate agency through which God's will is manifested on earth-therefore, it is the community with whom I labor (Ephesians 1:9-10; Colossians 1:28-29).
Committed to the Life of One Another in the Church Fourthly, the Church is the only earthly expression of heaven-therefore, we must daily grow together in conformity to the fullness of Christ (2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 4:4-11; Ephesians 4:12-13).
Committed to Lasting Victory for the Church Fifthly, the gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church-therefore, in light of the assured victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, our worship and toil is not in vain (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58).
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Steve, you say,Ministry is,"service to God and His creatures as we employ our Spirit-given giftedness, according to the INSTRUCTION OF THE SCRIPTURES. Now if you mean we should follow the Spirit as the scriptures instruct us to, then I agree. But if you are saying we should look to the scriptures and follow them then I strongly disagree. The Holy Scriptures are THE BOOK and there is no book that compares. It is the only book that is God breathed and every letter is of inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But the Bible did not create itself but it has a source also. The source is much greater than the Book. While we can use the Bible sometimes to see who is telling the truth when two men both claim to speak for God and they contradict one another;the bible can not tell a man to turn right or left. The Bible could not tell a man when and where to build an ark and how to build it. The letter of the law brings death but the Spirit of the law brings life. The pharisees looked to the Bible and they were lost and did not even recognize its Author when he stood in front of them. Jesus told them in John 5:39 "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,-- Jesus made it clear that he was the Way to life NOT the scriptures. The Holy Scriptures NEVER say to follow the scriptures, not once. But the holy scriptures do say, "the sons of God are those who follow the Spirit of God". Looking to the Bible for leadership is the same idolatry that the pharisees participated in and led them to death. It is only the creator of Life that can bring life, We can seek Him in the scriptures but we have to follow Jesus and not the scriptures. Lou Click here to reply to this post
FOLLOW THE SAVIOR NOT THE SAVED
Posted On: 01/15/08 10:34:28 PM
Age 64, OH
Let us examine this issue; The church is part of the creation. Jesus is the Creator. The church is made up of those who need saved. Jesus is the One who saves. There is not one righteous in the church by their own worthiness. Jesus is the righteous One and the Only One who is worthy. Some can preach the church but I will preach nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. Should we love the church. No we should love those who make up the church. And why should we love them. Only because our Lord Jesus shed His blood for them as he has for us. Yes I should love those that Jesus died for; but I should love the One who died for us and he is the reason and the source of all love. If not for Jesus I would have no love to give even Him. I owe all to Jesus and nothing to any other. Should I be committed to the church. The pharisees were committed to Israel and were lost. We should all be committed to the One who Created all and the One who died for all. You say Steve that "any ministry that does not strengthen one's commitment to the local church is inconsistent with the purpose of Christ." Show me one place in the Holy Scripture that says we should be committed to the church. We are to be in a covenant with our wife. We are to honor our mother and our father. We are to take care of our children or we are no better than an infidel. A commitment would indicate a covenant and there is no place in scripture where we are told we are to make a covenant with the church. You can not serve two masters; so you can not serve both the church and Jesus Christ. Serve Jesus Christ and all will follow. He tells me to love my brother and so Jesus will lead me into all that is right. the church is NOT my hope but Jesus is all my hope. Those who look to the church will be lost. For everyone in the church is last without the mercy and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Should the blind follow the blind, should the deaf let the deaf hear for them, should the lame learn to walk from the lame. Follow the one who made the blind to see, follow the one who made the deaf to hear, walk with the One who made the lame to walk. Paul says; Any man who has Jesus Christ has everything there is to possess, and lacks not one thing. Can you say the same of the church. Lou Click here to reply to this post
LOCAL CHURCHES - LIKE HEAVEN ? ? ?
Posted On: 01/15/08 06:02:48 PM
Age 64, OH
Dear friend Steve; If what you say is true then we have heaven right here on this earth at the churches in the nation. Please let me know where this is taking place right now as I would be very interested in being part of it. I have been unable to find just ONE of these places of heaven on earth. I found false teaching, men following men, and men gathering men after themselves with the result looking NOTHING like heaven or even better than the world. I found churches that Jesus Christ was NOT glorified but men were. I stopped going to one church that I had went to for years and tithed to for years and not one person came to ask me why I had quit going. I did not feel even wanted let alone like family. I can say with all honesty that if this is heaven i would rather not go. To think of eternity there would not seem like a reward at all. Lou Click here to reply to this post
Church confusion
Posted On: 01/15/08 09:55:39 AM
Age 57, CA
Most of your readers are church goers. They think that the church they serve is the organization they belong to. They are blind to the fact that the church ARE the people. Your "Five Biblical Reasons Why We Should Love and Serve the Church" makes Christian believe that the church (be it Baptist, Protestants, Methodist, etc.) is the organization they belong and should serve. The church IS the people, period. Not any of the more than 33,000 Christian denominations in the world. If a person truely wants to grow in Christ, they must look into joining or starting their own home church.
As for the Church being the only earthly expression of heaven. Nothing on earth is anything close to heaven. Click here to reply to this post
Church
Posted On: 01/25/08 02:22:26 PM
Age 53, CANADA
I agree that "The church is the community of all true believers for all time." I agree that Steve is confusing God's people with an institution. However let us be aware that the answer is not another institution "home church". The answer as I see it is relational based not institution based. By this I mean being in relationship with the Father by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. He died to cure us of sin by taking it on Himself. As we learn to be loved by Father as Jesus disciples learned to be loved by Jesus we will meet with other believers, whether in home church, institutional church, or coffee shop church (Matthew 18:20). It is not about a structure that is right; it is about relating to those Father has chosen for us to relate to (Hebrews 10:25). Jesus met in fields, on mountains and in homes to name just a few. His "gatherings" were very seldom the same and included many different elements. This just shows me that we should not limit Father just see what He is doing and join Him in accomplishing His purpose. Click here to reply to this post
That thing on Sunday?
Posted On: 01/14/08 05:29:37 AM
Age 45, PA
Serving the church is serving the true believers and that can't happen on the thing you do on Sunday. You see ministering to believers is supposed to be done by ALL believers not just by the paid professional. Your term "serving the church" implies working at programs implimented by the system and not the Holy Spirit. I spun my wheels at the institutional church for 16 years untill I realized it was all in the flesh and for naught. If you want to serve the church, find a remnant, gather at someone's house, and minister one to another without the clergy, denomination or a representitive watching over....you'll be supprised!!!! Click here to reply to this post
That thing on Sunday
Posted On: 01/14/08 11:17:03 AM
Age 61, MO
Indeed you are correct! Hopefully more and more pew warmers will see this revelation. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
