“What’s this Church thing all about Anyway”
By
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
Some people come to church Sunday after Sunday, you sit here and listen to me preach sermon after sermon. You hear me stress how important it is to come to Bible Class and Sunday school, the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. This scripture stresses the importance of assembling ourselves together, which is interpreted as in church today, especially as we see the day approaching. All you have to do is look at the news and see what is going on in our society and you know that these are perilous times that we are living in; therefore, we should come to church and bring as many as we can to church with us.
Yet people wonder what church is all about? Why do we go to church? No doubt you may have heard this - Is church relevant in this day & age? We have husbands that will not go with their wives, parents that will not go with their children, and the young will not go with the older ones.
There is confusion about what the church is in this generation. People want to “up-grade” the church, to make her more culturally acceptable, seeker friendly, more in tune with what is acceptable in society today, more “up- to-date, more worldly and less holy thus we have just about everything going on in the church.
But I am not here to talk about things going on in the church that is another sermon, but I want to deal with the subject what’s this church thing all about anyway.
Stay with me for a little while and allow me to examine what church is and what church is not the church. Understand I am not answering this question as it pertains to what man thinks, but what God says. The church didn’t originate in the mind of man, but in the mind of God, according to His eternal purpose. The church is not an institution. While it is an institution in the sense that it was divinely instituted, it is not some corporate entity like a business. The church is a relationship, a relationship between God and His blood washed born again people.
The church is not a country club. It is a spiritual entity, not a physical one. It never was God’s intention to make the church an organization to provide for the social needs of men. It has no assignments that pertain to meeting men’s aesthetic propensities—like providing musical entertainment or parties for the enjoyment of its members – like having holy hip hop parties. Now that is not to say that music has no role in the church, for it is an important part of according to God the worship He deserves.
The church is a preaching, teaching, worshiping organization—built to honor God, to propagate the gospel message, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. The church of Christ is meant to bring glory to God, and to bring many sons and daughters into glory.
Sometime ago a USA Today poll was taken and it "asked people why they went to church. The number one answer given by 45% of the respondents said they went "because it was good for them." This lead to the top 10 reason for people going to church are: WATCH THIS - To seek for a spouse, to enjoy the Music, to display their attires and see what others are wearing, to honour an invitation, to honour their parents (go on Mother’s Day or Easter), to avoid stigmatization, to seek for help, to socialize, to represent the devil. The amazing thing is that of all the answers given, WORSHIP didn’t even make the survey.
Worship is so crucially important that God made the first four of the Ten Commandments deal exclusively with worship. Within our worship we should have a spirit of appreciation and adoration and “Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise”. I read where one preacher said Thanksgiving is the password into the gates of heaven and praise the energy that charges the battery of worship. We should have a spirit of acclamation and "Be thankful to Him, and bless His name" – WHY- simply because the Lord is Good and His mercy endureth forever Psalm 100.
However, many people have no clue as to what this church thing is all about anyway. Some think it’s a game we play trying to score points to get into heaven. Some say that people who go to church are a bunch of fanatical people that shout and speak in tongues without understanding; however, that those of us that do understand that we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, that are sins are forgiven and that we waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body For we are saved by hope and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 1st John 3:1 says “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not”. That’s way some people that go to church act the way they do because they understand that.
WATCH THIS:- We should not be surprised that the secular world takes no notice of the “church” anymore? Our society embraces everything abominable and pushes God and everything Holy out of the picture. Laws are passed that call wrong right and right wrong, gay marriages are being legalized and called unconstitutional to say otherwise, regardless if the Bible says it is an abomination. Every abdominal thing is allowed to come across the television, but when someone mentions the name of Jesus they are censored and taken off the air because it is offensive to some people. We have performances on Television that literally make a mockery of church and everything Holy.
Last Sunday millions of people sat and watched the super-bowl, the half-time show featured Madonna along with Cee Lo Green, Nikki Minaj, and M.I.A. who gave the nation the finger during her performance, yet people said it to be very entertaining; however, listen to the words of Madonna that she said on a television interview prior to the super-bowl.
Madonna on Anderson Cooper:- “The Super bowl is kind of like the Holy of Holies in America. I’ll come at halfway of the “church experience” and I’m gonna have to deliver a sermon. It’ll have to be very impactful.”
For Madonna to refer to the Super bowl as the “Holy of Holies” and a “Church experience portrays the mind-set of how people view church and God in general. The Holy of Holies was the most sacred place in the Tabernacle and Temple, it was the place where God dwelt and communed with mankind. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifice to God for the sins of the people.
When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross the veil of the Temple, which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place was torn from top to bottom allowing access to all because Jesus our High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. Made a way for us to have direct access to the throne of God so Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Therefore because of what Christ has done for us how can we stand silent and accept the mockery of Madonna comparing herself to Jesus our High Priest, minimizing and mocking something so sacred. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”.
Madonna’s performance was demonically inspired and portrayed many symbolisms of idol worship which goes totally against the very commandment of God, yet she called it a church experience. It is no wonder why so many people feel church is of none effect or relevant in today’s existence. Church has been minimized to just an emotional experience never realizing the true spiritual experience it offers.
WHAT I S CHURCH:- Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people. It is strange that when you ask people about church they respond that they attend such – n – such church, they always identify a building failing to understand relationship.
The spiritual definition of the Church in a broad since is the “body of Christ”, the true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, those who have put their trust in Him as Saviour, who live for Him and walk in His ways, serving Him and sharing the Gospel with others, fulfilling the Great commission, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Colossians 1:24 says “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church”.
LOOK AT THIS DEFINITION: The church is the community of all TRUE BELIEVERS. Let me touch on this True Believers for a moment:- James 2:19 says “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble”. There are those that believe in the existence of God rather they call him a higher power or what, but only a True Believer can do as the Bible says John 4:23-24 says “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth”.
THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Cor. 12:12-17 “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?”.
In the body of Christ, there is to be a unity of diversity—every person in the church, though different from one another, should work together to complete the mission Christ has given us. The mission He has given us is not to be entertained, it is not to have holy hip hop parties, it is not trying to compete for the best choir, who can get the most members, but to bring many sons and daughters to glory and magnify the name of the Lord. We can’t do it on our own. We need one another. Sure I am the Pastor and it is my job to preach and teach the Word of God, but I need you to bring people into the church, sheep beget sheep. The song writer Hezekiah Walker said it like this “I need you, you need me we’re all a part of God body – I need you to survive”
Romans 12:3-5 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others”
So we see how the church comprised of many people make up one body, the body of Christ, this is not the physical body but the spiritual body.
THE CHURCH IS BOTH VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE.
The visible church is the church as True Believers see it.
The visible church is not the church as any person sees it (such as an unbeliever or someone who holds false teachings) but as it is perceived by those who are true believers and have an understanding of the difference between believers and unbelievers. We could say today that the visible church is the group of people who come together each week to worship God in spirit and in truth coming or assembling together as a church or ecclesia called out one and profess faith in Christ.
The invisible church is the church as GOD sees it.
When Paul wrote his letters, he wrote to the visible church in each community, rather it was the Ephesians, Colossians, Thessalonians, etc he realized that there were unbelievers in some of those churches, some who had made a profession of faith that was not genuine, who appeared to be Christians but would eventually fall away. Yet neither Paul nor anyone else could tell with certainty who those people were. Paul simply wrote to the entire church that met together in any one place.
In its true spiritual reality as the fellowship of all genuine believers, the church is invisible. This is because we cannot see the spiritual condition of people’s hearts. We can see those who outwardly attend the church, and we can see outward evidences of inward spiritual change, but we cannot actually see into people’s hearts and view their spiritual state—only God can do that. This is why Paul says, “The Lord knows those who are his” 2 Tim. 2:19.
Not everyone who is a member of the VISIBLE church is also a member of the INVISIBLE church. Sometimes as evident in recent months people leave the church, they give all kinds of reason why they are leaving from not growing too they have just lost interest in it, but the Bible says in 1st John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us”.
The visible church throughout the world will always include some unbelievers, and individual congregations will usually include some unbelievers, because we cannot see hearts as God see them. Paul speaks of “Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth” and who “destroy the faith of some” 2 Tim. 2:17-18. Paul says in sorrow, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” 2 Tim. 4:10. Similarly, Paul warned the Ephesians elders that after his departure “savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” Acts 20:29-30. Notice that some of these false teachers would come “from [their] own number.”
THE CHURCH IS BOTH LOCAL AND UNIVERSAL.
The local church is a church that meets in a CERTAIN PLACE we meet here at Apostolic Glorious Church 517 St Clair Ave Columbus, Ohio. However; a “house church” is called a “church” in Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19. The church in an entire city is also called “a church” 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1. The church in a region is referred to as a “church” in Acts 9:31.
The universal church is the church throughout the ENTIRE WORLD.
UNDERSTAND:- The church is not the PLACE; the church is the PEOPLE – you are the church 1st Corinthians 6:19 says “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own”.
THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”
Christ desires for the church to be “holy” (v. 26). A holy person (or saint) is one who is set apart wholly for God. This is what Jesus desires of His church: that she might be set apart wholly for Himself. Christ will “present” the church as a radiant bride without blemish (v. 27). This is the end product, when the church will appear before God in perfection.
THE CHURCH IS THE FAMILY OF GOD.
Ephesians 2:19 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household”
We should see our immense VALUE to God. 2 Cor. 6:18 says “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son ship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8:14-15). The word “son ship” can also be translated “adoption Rom. 8:23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). The Holy Spirit bestows on every believer the rights and privilege of God’s own children.
We are to treat one another as family. “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if her were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (2 Tim. 5:1-2).
THE CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
In contrast to the Old Testament period in which Israel had a temple (Ex. 25:8), the church is a temple: a living temple. “You are…God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). Paul says, “You yourselves (plural) are God’s temple (singular).”
We should increase our awareness of GOD’S PRESENCE dwelling in our midst.
1 Peter 2:4-6 “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame’”.
Jesus is pictured as the chief cornerstone. The cornerstone was placed at the juncture of two walls to tie them together. In arches, a stone was placed between the supporting sides. The weight of the arch was on that stone, and if the stone was removed, the arch could collapse.
You are “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2:20-22).
Now that we have established what the church is and what the church is not let’s look at the purpose of going to church
Though there isn't a single verse that defines the purpose of the church, Acts 2:42 gives a nice synopsis. It says, "And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." All churches should model themselves after this verse. According to this verse, the purposes/activities of the church should be 1) teaching biblical doctrine, 2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, 3) observing the Lord’s Supper, and 4) praying.
The church is to teach biblical doctrine so we can be grounded in our faith. Ephesians 4:14 tells us, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” The church is to be a place of fellowship, where Christians can be devoted to one another and honor one another (Romans 12:10), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and most importantly, love one another (1 John 3:11).
The church is to be a place where believers can observe the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The concept of “breaking bread” (Acts 2:42) also carries the idea of having meals together. This is another example of the church promoting fellowship. The final purpose of the church according to Acts 2:42 is prayer. The church is to be a place that promotes prayer, teaches prayer, and practices prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Another commission given to the church is proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). The church is called to be faithful in sharing the gospel through word and deed. The church is to be a “lighthouse” in the community, pointing people toward our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The church is to both promote the gospel and prepare its members to proclaim the gospel (1 Peter 3:15).
Paul gave an excellent illustration to the believers in Corinth. The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following.
The purpose of the church is to worship God (Luke 4:8; John 4:23; Rev. 4:10), study His Word (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 4:6), pray (Acts 2:42), love one another (John 13:35; Phil. 1:1-4), help each other (Gal. 6:2), partake of baptism and the Lord's supper (Luke 22:19-20), to learn how to live as godly people (Titus 2:11-12), and to be equipped to evangelize the world (Eph. 4:12; Matt. 28:18-20).
God has given us teaching elders, who are called pastors, so that we might be equipped "for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ," (Eph. 4:12). 1 Cor. 12:28 tells us that, "God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues."
To guard the proper teachings of the church, 2 Tim. 2:1-2, "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
To discipline believers, Matt. 18:15-17, “And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer."
To become more like Christ, Eph. 4:15-16, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ."
To be subject to pastoral leadership, 1 Pet. 5:1-3, "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."
To be unified in Christ, Gal. 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
7 REASONS TO GO TO CHURCH
1.PRAYER
2.PRAISE
3.PROCLAMATION
4.POWER
5. PARTNERSHIP
6.PREPARATION
7.PRESENCE
1.PRAYER
Isaiah 56:7
The church is a place of Prayer. The Lord says My house shall be a house of Prayer. When we go to church we must go in an attitude of prayer. We must take all our burdens to the Lord in prayer. We must present our petitions to Him. There is great power in the united prayer of the church.
2. PRAISE
Psalms 100:4
The church is a place of praise. We must enter into His presence with singing and into His courts with praise. God inhabits the praises of His people. We must go to church in an attitude of praise and worship with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. We must not go to church with a spirit of grumbling and murmuring against God.
3. PROCLAMATION
Psalms 40:9
The church is a place of proclamation of God’s word. We must go with a receptive and a hungry heart to listen to the voice of God. The church is the place of proclamation of God’s truth and not a platform to voice human theories and philosophies. We must go to church with a burning desire to hear God speak to us and to learn His ways.
4. POWER
James 5:14-15
The church is a place of the power of God. We must go to church to experience His power. God longs to demonstrate His power in the midst of His people. We must go to church with an expectation and a strong faith to see the Power of God in action to bring deliverance to God’s people from all the bondages of Satan.
5. PARTNERSHIP
I Corinthians 3:9
The church is a place of partnership where God’s children unite to labour for the Lord in partnership. We are co-labourers with Christ. We must
go to church in an attitude of unity and partnership to work united with God’s people to fulfill the task of the church. We should not go to church with the intention of quarrelling and fighting with anybody but to work in harmony with others.
6. PREPARATION
Ephesians 5:26-27
The church is a place of preparation of the bride of Christ to meet the Heavenly Bridegroom. We must go to church with the humility and realization that we are to be prepared to meet Christ. Therefore we must be willing to be corrected and rebuked in order to remove our flaws and deficiencies. Preparation requires changes and purification and we must go to
church realizing our need for correction and be willing to receive instruction.
7. PRESENCE
Matthew 18:20
The church is a place of the presence of God. Wherever two or three are gathered in His name the Lord will be in their midst. We must go to
church longing to enjoy and experience the presence of God. He must be the focus of our attention. Without the presence of God all other activities will be in vain. We must go to church primarily to experience the presence of God which brings the deepest satisfaction to our hearts. All other attractions are secondary .We must not go to church merely as a required tradition or just to enjoy music or to meet friends etc. We must go to church with a longing to experience the fullness of His presence.
CLOSING: The church is not a building or a denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ—all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Local churches are gatherings of members of the universal church. The local church is where the members of the universal church can fully apply the “body” principles of 1 Corinthians chapter 12: encouraging, teaching, and building one another up in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is a community in which Christ is NUMBER ONE and believers WORSHIP together in spirit and in truth with love and service to others. The church is God’s House (or should be) and thus it is a House of Worship. As an institution, the church is where people gather to worship and honour God. It is the place one goes to learn more about Jesus in order to get to know Him better. The church is there to help Christians grow spiritually - to be taught His Word (the Bible) in truth, to pray, to fellowship with one another. The church should also reach out to those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour by inviting them to church, visiting them and by actively seeking to reach the lost through evangelical outreach programs.
The church does not merely care for the material, temporal or emotional aspects of people’s lives, it has a great responsibility to care for the spiritual edification of members, adherents, visitors and the community. The tragedy with many churches these days is that they have many humanitarian projects (all good and well), but they leave out the most important aspect - going in the Name of Jesus and using the opportunity to provide people with the eternal message of Jesus Christ. In providing the true Bread of Life (Jesus) to people in need, provides the opportunity for people to receive the free gift of eternal life. Doing good deeds without reaching out with the Gospel makes the church no different from the rest of the secular world.
The church should be a Beacon of Light, true Light, in the community. The church needs to be pointing people to the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), the Lord Jesus Christ, nurturing those new in the Christian faith and encouraging those who have been following the Master for some time Hebrews 10:25). While encouraging fellowship amongst its members, it is should not be viewed as a mere social club. As a church, we are living in perilous times. People are looking for hope and security - the church should be providing this through the message of the Cross of Jesus. Only in Him can true peace, hope and security be found.
Remember that church is not a game we play to try and score points for eternity. It is God’s House with Christ as the Head, helping us to be what He wants us to be and fulfilling the great commission, namely, to “go and make disciples of all nations .... teaching them to obey all that I (Jesus) have commanded you and surely I (Jesus) will be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:19&20)
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
