Many think of the church as a group that does something for them. It provides a sense of comfort or encouragement, companionship, inspiration to do what one needs to do in life. Or maybe it provides spiritual formation for one’s children, or help in material needs or financial assistance.

In all of these things, people look to an organization for some benefit for one’s own life, and tend to think of the church as an organization, as “they.” People are heard to say concerning the place they attend that “they” have a good educational program, or good pulpit preaching, or good music.

In all of this, the tendency is to think of the church as an organization that does something for us. But, thinking it that way, the church is not “we” but “they.” And, when “they” don’t do what we want or need, we just look for another place, much as we would look for another doctor, laundry, or grocery store. This is totally foreign to the concept of the church that we learn about in the Bible. The Bible teaches us that “we” are members of the Lord’s church and we are serving God by serving others.

Paul wrote by the inspiration of the Spirit when he said in 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” So, according to the word of God the church is not “they” but us! Each one who has obeyed Christ to enter into his body the church is a part of it. It is not an organization whose purpose is to serve us, but we are a body to serve others.

This is the way that Christ lived. In Luke 19:10, we find Jesus saying: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Is it not fitting that Christ’s spiritual body, the church, should be doing the same? Instead of making ourself comfortable and served, should we not be serving the spiritual needs of the world? Matthew 20:28 records Jesus’ words: “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And in Matthew 28:18-20 we find these words:

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So we find this dual purpose of the church, to make disciples and to teach them to do all that Christ had taught them to do, and surely part of that is make sure they know to carry that message to others. So, the church has a purpose, not to make itself served and comfortable, but as the Scripture says in 1 Peter 2:9:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Yes, the church is the all the things mentioned in this verse, but we are all that in order to be able to perform a purpose that is outward directed, toward the lost, as Jesus’ life was.

We must face it, most modern religion has got it all wrong, and that difference of purpose is taking people off in the wrong direction. The reason we are what we are is not just for us. It is so that we can do what needs to be done. It is not to make us happy, prosperous, successful in business and life so that we can have what we want, but the purpose of the church is to follow the example of Christ and supply the word of God to others.

Notice what God says to the church in 1 Timothy 3:15:

“if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, pillar and buttress of the truth.”

Did you notice what the church is called? It does not say we are the benevolence center, the Red Cross, the do-all-to-please-all mega-church, or a social club, but the only supporting body for the truth that God has given to us in this world. Many can provide physical needs, social services, and such, but only the church of the Lord, Jesus Christ, can give the truth of God to people, the truth that will make the difference in this world and in the destiny of the soul after this life. Only the church can do that!

The people of God will help many in their material needs, and will console and be gentle loving friends to many, because they love, but they know that their main function is not just that, but rather to give to the people of the world what they need most, the knowledge of God’s will, so that they may be saved. If we fail in that, we fail to be like Christ, fail to show His love, and fail to accomplish His purpose.

CONCLUSION:

• • What are we doing as the church of the Lord, Jesus Christ?

• • Are we individually preparing ourselves to speak to others?

• • Are we personally carrying the message of salvation to others?

• • Are we working in His same purpose?

• • If you have left the purpose of Christ and have been serving your own purposes, repent and return to Him now!