Why Does the Church Exist?
Why does the Christian church exist? For far too many it’s a place where religious activities are conducted. Amy Mantravadi called my attention to a book written by Brad East entitled The Church: A Guide to the People of God.
The church is very dear to my wife and me, something far more than a place. It began with a people we first gathered with in The Old Westbrook Church in Cottonwood County, Minnesota and at Zion Lutheran in Polk County, Wisconsin—among these people we were baptized and confirmed. So, Brad East is spot on. It’s a people; not a congregation; the body of Christ; the beloved of God; wooed by God Himself.
The church is for whom God became a person; a body of chosen people; a loved people, consecrated and sanctified to do His “sola will,” Sola means alone. As Mantravadi writes, “The Church is a sole creature of God’s Word, created by the Word. . . it is the speech of God Himself. As He once spoke creation into being, He continually speaks the Church into existence through the finished work of Christ.”
Scott Keith in a blog entitled Why the Reformation Solas Still Matters, writes that in a world drunk on its own self-justification, The Solas is not some abstract theological jargon. It is the sole Word of God, not found in our minds, hearts, heroic preachers or successful churches that someone once said, are measured by “bucks in the plate and butts in the pews.” The Sola Scriptura is not found in its ability to answer every modern question. In an age with narcissistic leanings, it’s not about personal experiences or feelings. It is as one faithful apologist said, “When the Bible speaks, God Speaks. And when God speaks, He gives us His Son, Jesus Christ—nothing more, nothing less.
The church exists not to give one another chance. That is to say, if one performs religiously long enough, one has a better chance.
The faith that makes up the people of God is not based on works. As Martin Luther said, “Faith must be steadfastness of the heart,” not because it’s strong in and of itself, but because it clings to the strong Word and promise of God.
This is what the church is, a people not known for their spiritual performances, programs or plans but who live in the full assurance of Christ’s finished work. The verdict of their life has already been declared righteous and redeemed. Even the faith upon which this salvation is procured is a gift. It is based solely and completely on the mercies of God. On God’s unshakable, unbreakable decision to be gracious to them on account of Christ alone.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 kjv
