The Mission of the Church Part 2
The Church and Mission
In part one of this series, I put forward that the “Great Commission” is not the mission of the church. The command Jesus gave to the eleven Apostles before He ascended was crucial to the beginning of the church. Nevertheless, as we read the New Testament, we see that the specific commission of the original eleven apostles is not the primary purpose of the church.
Before we discuss the purpose of the church, here are a couple more thoughts on making disciples. The word disciple is from the Greek word mathetes, meaning learner. So, one aspect of the church is to introduce people to God and the gospel of Jesus; the spiritual gifts of apostleship, evangelism, and teaching are for this purpose. Interestingly, the Bible does not use the word disciple beyond the Gospel writings and the Book of Acts. Similarly, another popular term used to describe Christians, “followers of Jesus,” is also absent from the apostolic letters in the New Testament.
What is the significance of these facts? I can’t say for certain, but it seems the way the Apostles address Christians is significant. In their letters to the church, the Apostles often refer to Christians as saints, believers, or brethren. These words may help us understand the purpose of the church.
What is the Church?
Let’s briefly look at a couple of definitions of church. The word is from the Greek word ekklesia, which means assembly. In the Bible, the church often refers to a local gathering of Christians. As the gospel spread, there were local churches in many cities. Universally, the church is called the body of Christ; in this context, church refers to all believers and the intimacy we share with our Lord Jesus. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he gives this picture of the church:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22, NASB®)
Individually, we all have the Holy Spirit of God within us. It is the Spirit that unifies us with the Father, Jesus, and each other (see John 17). This unity is the church. Understanding our unity is also crucial to understanding the purpose of the church.
Beyond Mission
I often hear and read the word mission in connection with the church. Leaders say they are calling people into a mission, and this is an attractive message. It resonates with our culture to join something bigger than ourselves. However, a mission, by nature, narrows, and limits; it suggests either a task that we perform or a specific description used to focus the efforts of an organization. I believe the Bible shows us the purpose of the church is much bigger than the word mission implies.
It would be helpful if there were one verse in the Bible that defined the purpose of the body of Christ, but I haven’t found one. The Bible is a story of God’s work in the world and His desires for humanity. In the New Covenant, we see the fulfillment of God’s plan for His people. Because the Bible is a narrative and not a user manual, we must look at each part of the story to bring sense to the whole. That said, here are a few passages that point to the church’s purpose:
I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:20-24, NASB®)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10, NASB®)
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16, NASB®)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27, NASB®)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-17, NASB®)
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5, NASB®)
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21, NASB®)
What is the purpose of the church? It is big and bold and mysterious. What stands out to you in these passages?
The verses above are just a few examples of what God has for us and the reason for which the church exists. We can’t contain our purpose to one task or mission. We are joined to God and to every other Christian so that everything we are and everything we do is for His glory.
To see a fuller picture of the purpose of the church, please read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Set aside a time to read the book in one sitting, without any verse numbers, headings, footnotes, or cross-references. In this way, you can read the flow of the words, like reading a letter from a friend. You can do this on-line in BibleGateway by going to the particular book and clicking on the page options (the gear icon) and turning off all the options.
When you have time, do the same with the book of Colossians, 1 Peter, and any of the other letters to the churches. After you read each letter completely, you may want to go back and spend time studying particular passages that describe the church and our purpose. For this type of study looking at other parts of the Bible can help illuminate the ideas further. To do this in BibleGateway, turn on the verse numbers and cross-references and use them to find similar passages of Scripture.
In Part 3, we will look at how the purpose of the church impacts our life now and in the future. For example, we will take a more detailed look at abundant life, good works, and the age to come.