The Difference Between the Church and the World

In my previous post, I stated that the church needs to distinguish between the members of the body of Christ and those who are not (see Be Like Jesus?). However, one thing I did not entertain is how we should broach this subject, particularly in our Sunday services.

I don’t pretend to have the complete answer to this issue, but I will provide some thoughts. As you can tell from my writing, I like to be blunt and to the point. I realize most people aren’t like this. I had a coworker, and we were known to argue. Most people didn’t understand why we did it, and some called us the “Bickersons.” We purposely challenged each other and had lively conversations. But there was a point to our arguments; we expanded each other’s way of thinking. It became clear that many people were uncomfortable with this type of discussion or conflict. My point is that I know there may be ways to broach this subject that are different than my sensibilities allow. Nevertheless, the first thing that comes to mind is that we should be honest.

There are two ways to approach this subject from a Biblical perspective. There is a positive approach, and there is a negative way. Both have been used to varying degrees over the years. The way the church shares truth seems to ebb and flow with the cultural context. Before we discuss how we discuss these perspectives, let’s take a quick look at what they are.

The positive approach is one that extolls the virtues of being part of the church. It focuses on forgiveness of sins, connection to God through Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit, and the change in the believer. We show the benefits of being a Christian. This new life in Christ is the gospel, but by itself doesn’t contrast the alternative.

A negative approach is one that focuses on the facts of being apart from Christ. This reality includes the inability to please God, being dead spiritually, being a slave to sin, and an eternity separated from God, where there will be constant weeping and regret. This perspective requires sensitivity, but it is necessary to provide an understanding of the gospel.

In our current culture, we tend to focus more on the positive approach to the gospel. We are mired in a climate where the mention of anything that appears judgmental is considered intolerant. So, as we avoid the negative aspects of unbelief, even the positive qualities of the gospel are diluted so as to not be offensive. Heaven forbid we talk about the deep, dark part of our nature that needs to change.

The positive approach the church currently uses contains snippets of forgiveness and connection to God through Christ, but rarely discussed how this happens or what actually changes in the person. In other words, it doesn’t clarify the true nature of members of the church. Usually, Sunday sermons focus on behavior and connection to the mission of the church (see my series The Mission of the Church). On the other hand, I have rarely heard any mention of what life without Christ really means.

What is the answer to helping people understand whether they are part of the church or not? As stated earlier, I believe we must be honest. Both perspectives are real and necessary for a full understanding of the gospel. We should have a balance of the beauty of belonging to Christ, that is being the church and the danger of not belonging to Him. Because the latter is rare, let’s take a look at it first:

People who are apart from Christ are not experiencing real life here and now. The apostle Paul explains people’s state of being before becoming a Christian:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Ephesians 2:1-3, NASB®)

This description is not a pretty picture of people who are without Christ, but it doesn’t state the consequences of this kind of existence. It is a matter of fact that people who die outside the church are in for a rude awakening. As I reread that statement, I realize it sounds absurd that people are in for a rude awakening when they’re dead. However, the Bible sometimes refers to death as sleep. When we wake after death, it is a transition to the rest of eternity. It is a boundary, a point of no return if you will, so that the decision we make regarding Jesus now affects what happens after death. The permanence of unbelief is a sobering reality. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encourages Christians who were experiencing persecution, and shows the fate of those who are on the other side:

This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, NASB®, bold added for emphasis)

I am not suggesting we take the “hellfire and brimstone” approach to the gospel. But some people need to get the hell scared out of them. Nevertheless, it seems that the church is averse to stating the facts of unbelief. I’m sure there is a way to share the truth without shoving it in people’s faces or to use an expression my wife always seems to chuckle at, “get all up in their grill.” So, what do we do?

What if we don’t try to massage the truth? Can we talk about life with Christ and existence without Him? Can we be clear about how to be a Christian, a member of the body of Christ, and what it means? A place to start may be to let the Bible speak for itself. As we saw in Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he plainly says what happens to those who don’t know God. I genuinely believe we can share this truth in a way that is sensitive and caring.

Here is one idea: teach expositorily from a Bible book that has a clear explanation of the difference between people in Christ and those apart from Him. One of the benefits of this approach is that it can be explained from both a historical perspective and how it affects people now. For example, a sermon on Second Thessalonians would quickly differentiate between the church and the world. The teacher can explain why Paul was telling the church at Thessalonica this information and its relation to people today. The audience could be prepared that they are about to hear a tough message, using an alert similar to those used on some television shows, “WARNING: This message contains graphic information and descriptions. Viewer discretion is advised.”

Will some people be offended? Yes, the gospel is offensive, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-31, NASB®).” Some people who are not Christians will not understand the message, as Paul explains to the Corinthians:

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6, NRSV)

Neither the offensiveness of the message nor the blinding of people by Satan should keep us from stating the truth. We don’t know what God the Father will use to draw people to Christ. Some people may respond to the repercussions of not obeying the gospel message. Some may respond better to the positive message of being part of the church. However, some people may not comprehend the benefit of life in Christ over the “life” they are experiencing unless they see the contrast.

I previously shared some of the positive descriptions of the church; see The Mission of the Church Part 2. However, the way the church currently presents herself may not completely or compellingly convey her Biblical identity. This is especially true if we focus on mission as the purpose of the church. Why? Because the church is so much more than what we do, it is who we are. Our life as Christians is miraculous, mysterious, and fulfilling. We must present the church in all her glory.

In my experience, the church understands and can adequately communicate that salvation is through Christ alone. Sometimes the church provides people the opportunity to decide to believe and receive Him. However, after the initial salvation experience (for lack of a better term), the church stumbles into a mix of religion and self-help, with God as our helper to live right. I am not saying every church is like this, but it has been my experience over many years. I believe we can do better. To best explain the positive aspects of the church, I suggest we start at the beginning.

In my article What the Church Does, I suggested that we don’t explain what it means to be born again, to be one spirit with God, or other aspects of our identity. In my next post, I would like to discuss how people become Christians and what happens when God redeems them. I would appreciate your prayers as I look at these essential aspects of our faith.