by Lee Taylor
For some while there has been discussion about the irrelevancy of the church. Some think the church has outlived its usefulness. Sad to say, often this observation is true. In reaction to this attitude, others have relegated the church to the position of a mere social agency. They have fashioned the church to meet social needs. This is happening at an alarming rate, even in churches that once stood firm for the cause of Christ. The reason for this diversion is because many, including religious leaders, do not understand the Bible teaching about the church.
The Bible has much to say about the church. The word translated “church” appears in the New Testament 116 times in 113 verses. Of those 116 appearances, it is translated church or churches 113 times, and assembly three times, all in Acts 19. The word, ekklesia, is a compound word formed from the verb meaning “to call,” and the preposition meaning “out.” The church is a select group that God has “called out” of the world by redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’s said to his disciples “ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.”
The Lord Jesus Christ established the church and He is its foundation (Matthew 16:18). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” With Jesus Christ Himself as the foundation, we can rest assured that the true church will not become irrelevant, regardless of the social conditions of the day. We also can be confident that none of man’s attempts to destroy the church will succeed. Jesus said about the church, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The cost of establishing the church was great, and Christ desires it to be well cared for. Paul tells pastors to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Pastors and deacons are to be diligent in their care for the people of the church, “as they that must give account.” The Lord Jesus will give a crown of glory to those pastors who are good shepherds to Christ’s church (1 Peter 5:4).
The church is under the direct leadership of Jesus Christ. Speaking of Christ, Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church.” In Ephesians 1:22, Paul tells us that God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” In Ephesians chapter 5, the relationship of Christ to His Church is compared to that of a loving Husband to his bride. He loves her, sacrifices for her, provides for her, and guides her.
In Ephesians chapter 2, several vivid terms are used to illustrate the nature of the church of Jesus Christ. The church is described as a body, as fellow citizens, as a household, and as a building. As a body, the church is made up of many systems and parts that must function together. Injuries and ailments can occur, and each body part must function for there to be full health. As fellowcitizens, the church is an embassy in a foreign land. As a household, the church is a family offering love and support to each member. As a building, the church is beautifully “builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul tells us that the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth.” The church holds up and supports the truth. What a responsibility we have! The truth is found in the Word of God and in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Thy word is truth,” and, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” If the world is going to know absolute truth today, it must learn it from the church of Jesus Christ.
It is important to recognize that most of what the New Testament says about the church, it says not of the church in a general sense, but of a specific church or group of churches. All saved people since Pentecost have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and are members of the body of Christ. However, the Bible emphasizes the necessity of every believer to be physically baptized (by immersion) and become a member of the local church. It is the local church that evangelizes and is the result of evangelism. It is the local church that has the Biblical officers of pastor and deacon. It is the local church that keeps the ordinances of believer’s baptism and communion. It is the local church that is Christ’s representative on earth. It is the local church that assembles on earth. It is the local church that is responsible for nurturing and disciplining its members.
If it ever appears that the church has outlived its usefulness or is irrelevant, it is because God’s instruction about the church has been neglected or violated. Parachurch organizations can never fill the gap left by a disobedient church, nor can they fulfill God’s mission on earth. It is essential that God’s people know God’s will concerning the church, put into practice the Biblical principles of the church, and serve Him through the local church.
by Lee Taylor
Original article can be found at http://www.fbcwhitmorelake.org/2012/10/the-importance-of-the-church/
I did read the book written by Mr. Kaifetz and was terribly disappointed. What he writes about concerning his former church and his former Pastor may well be true but it would be dangerous to cite this author for substantiation. Upon reading this quickly put together effort, one discovers bitterness dripping from every page. But why is this author so filled with rancor? He tells us in his own words. After going out and buying buttons to display his loyalty to his Pastor forever (I know it is hard to understand but that is what he said he did), we come to some kind of business arrangement that he entered into with another member of his church. Evidently this business arrangement went south and he decided to complain to his beloved Pastor whose button he proudly wore and even had extras made so others could wear them. He takes a friend with him to this conference whom he believes will support his position that he was being cheated out of thousands of dollars. When the Pastor does not agree with Mr. Kaifetz about being cheated out of thousands of dollars and when his friend even turns on him, off comes his button, he leaves his church and Pastor behind as well as “fundamentalism” and on comes a lifetime of slamming his Pastor, his church and for good measure anything that he thinks might be fundamental. Again, what he says took place in his church under the leadership of his formerly beloved Pastor may have happened but Mr. Kaifetz is really totally disqualified from writing about it because he seems so motivated by the money that he lost. His entire work can easily be reduced to a he said – she said narrative but in this case the motivation for Mr. Kaifetz’s charges is totally spelled out in his own words.
On another note, I have read a couple of Mr. Kaifetz’s books and it would be impossible to miss just how full of himself he is. There is little room for the glory of Christ in anything he touches or does because it appears to be his own glory which is emphasized.
Mr. Kaifetz efforts may well be the result of two Narcissists crossing paths and in that situation there was room for only one.
Bob Fry
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The statement: The Bible emphasizes the necessity of every believer to be physically baptized (By immersion) leads one to believe water baptism is a necessity to be saved which is wrong. This statement sounds like something the church of Christ cult would make. The Bible emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith and is the gift of God not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9) The wording of the statement is unfortunate and could lead to deception. Yes I believe in water baptism by immersion, but it is not a necessity for salvation.