WHAT A CHURCH IS - AND ISN'T
by Richard Burkard
"We're in the true church, and they're not!" How often have you heard words such as these, whether from a preacher or a devout lay member? I've heard them often, as someone who attends a seventh-day Sabbath group. Leaders love to say keeping the Sabbath puts you in the truth - while "false churches" worship on Sunday, or do a variety of other things they consider extra-Biblical.
Another article on this web site addresses the question of who is a "brother" in the faith. It's commonly assumed the church is filled with brothers and sisters in Christ, with Jesus as "elder brother" and head of the church. This article will examine those groups of believers, whether there are "true" and "false" ones - and if there are, how you can tell them apart. Instead of trusting any church group's tracts or position papers, we dare to put the Bible first and let its own statements determine a proper understanding for us.
Jesus and "church"
The first mention of "church" in your Bible comes from Jesus, as He tells one of His disciples: "....you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Mt. 16:18, NIV unless noted)
This verse alone is open to interpretation. Does "this rock" refer to Peter, as a play on his Greek name "Petros?" Or is Jesus talking about Himself, based on what Paul writes later in I Corinthians 10:4? The debate is not really critical to our discussion, for we can see both answers as plausible. Peter took the lead as an apostle on the first day of Pentecost in the post-resurrection era (Acts 2:14 and following).
For someone called the "head of the Church" several times in Ephesians, Jesus certainly doesn't use the term much in the gospels. The only other recorded mention of the word is in Matthew 18:17, concerning how to handle a brother who sins against you. So we have to probe further in the New Testament for answers to our questions.
The church's origins
In Acts 7:38 we find an eye-opening statement of Stephen: Moses "is he, that was in the church in the wilderness...." (KJV) This refers to the nation of Israel which God brought out of Egypt as recorded in the Old Testament. What made this group a "church?" The Greek root word provides an answer: ekklesia - meaning "a calling out," as in a "popular meeting." (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Gk. #1577)
Israel physically was called out of Egypt, in the wake of a very deadly Passover night. "All the Lord's divisions left Egypt...." (Ex. 12:41) - although it's important to note "many other people went up" with the Israelites (12:38).
The New Testament traces its origin to the Pentecost Sunday we mentioned earlier, when Peter preached and 3,000 people were added to the roll of believers (Acts 2:41). As the days went on, "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (2:47, KJV) The New International Version says "those who were being saved" were added.
This clearly shows a connection between the church and salvation. And what is necessary for salvation? Is it going to church on the "right day," or eating the proper food at dinnertime? Another article on this web site explores that in detail; it concludes salvation starts with believing in Jesus, followed by baptism. Then after that, we "grow in salvation" through works which we do.
What churches offer
A number of preconceived notions have developed over the years about what a church should be and how it should look. Some of those notions are accurate, but some aren't. Let's look quickly at some of them:
* Does a church provide teaching? Yes - at least Paul did (I Cor. 4:17). In fact, Ephesians 3:10 makes the fascinating statement that the church makes known God's wisdom "to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." Some commentaries explain this as meaning the church preaches to angels-turned-demons.
* Do churches have to meet in formal sanctuary buildings? Not necessarily. Four New Testament verses describe "house churches" meeting in people's homes. (Examples: Philemon 2; Colossians 4:15.)
* Does a church have structure? In terms of leadership, yes. Paul gives an outline of apostles, prophets and more in I Corinthians 12:28, building on positions mentioned in Acts13:1 and 14:23.
* Do churches help needy people? Yes, at least in one area: "the church can help those widows who are really in need." (I Tim. 5:16)
* Does a church have people speaking in tongues? If it does, that should not be the top priority - as Paul preferred in the church to have "five intelligible words to instruct others," than everyone speaking in tongues and visitors concluding they're all crazy (I Cor. 14:19, 23).
* Does a church have rules? Yes, as set by apostles (I Cor. 7:17).
* Does "the church" have "the truth?" It should -- since Paul describes "the church of the living God" as being "the pillar and foundation of the truth." (I Tim. 3:15)
Those last two areas have proven to be dividing points, from which some denominations can build superiority complexes. Some groups take the verse about "another Jesus.... another spirit.... another gospel" (II Cor. 11:4), and conclude there can be "other churches" which must automatically be false. After all, the New Testament warns against false Christs, apostles and prophets -- even if the phrase "false church" is not there.
It takes an open, carefully examined Bible combined with a spirit of discernment from God to sort wheat from tares, or truth from error. A key question to ask is this: are the rules set by church leaders consistent with the Word of God? Can they be biblically backed and supported? If not, they may be mere personal opinion -- which can turn into authoritarianism and legalism.
It must be noted in examining all the mentions of "church" in the Bible, God's Law is NOT directly mentioned once. The closest we come is the verse in I Timothy 3 about the "pillar and foundation of the truth." Various verses can define "the truth" as being God's law and commandments (Psm. 119:142, 151, KJV) - but also Jesus Himself (Jhn. 14:6), the Holy Spirit (I Jhn. 5:6), and even salvation (Psm. 69:13). That's a separate article in itself, for another time.
Who's on top?
There's one important defining factor for a church which we haven't mentioned yet - probably the most important factor of all. We mentioned it in passing earlier. It's the acknowledgment that "Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." (Eph. 5:23)
Paul frequently calls the church Jesus's body (e.g. Col. 1:18, 24) - and while some Church of God love to emphasize how the Father is supreme over the Son, we must point out Paul never called the church the Father's body! In fact, he took pains to note early churches in Judea were "in Christ." (Gal.1:22/I Thes. 2:14)
What's in a name?
After we initially prepared this article, we set it aside in our computer for a few days before posting it. We had no real reason for doing that - but then God may have provided one, when news came that Worldwide Church of God Pastor-General Joseph Tkach was openly talking about changing the denomination's name, and removing the "Church of God" part.
For some people, the name of a church is an important proof of its existence. They note "Church of God" is used 12 times in the KJV New Testament - and some even have the 12 "chain-referenced" in their Bibles. But if you consider that a proof, ask yourself:
* Why does Revelation 2:1 mention a"church of Ephesus?" Would anyone dare suggest this group actually worshiped Ephesus? It's considered a church every bit as much as the others mentioned in chapters 2 and 3. (See similar examples in Gal. 1:2, 22; II Cor. 8:1, etc.)
* What about Hebrews 12:23, which says believers have come to the "church of the firstborn?" (A small traditionalist sect actually has that name.)
* How do we explain the six references to "church of...." followed by people groups? The groups include the Thessalonians (I Thes. 1:1/II Thes. 1:1), and the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:14).
* And lest we forget - Paul wrote an epistle referring to "the churches of Christ." (Rom. 16:16)
These often-overlooked verses by "Church of God" groups should make it clear the first-century church wasn't caught up in a church "name game," the way some of them have been in our time.
Light on a "stick"
There's interesting symbolism to ponder concerning the church at the end of Revelation 1: "....the seven lampstands are the seven churches." (1:20) The King James uses the word "candlesticks" - and a comparative study of that word in the Bible can help us see a church's role more clearly.
Candlesticks (insert churches if you'd like) are designed to provide light (Ex. 35:14) -- but they "must be tended continually" (Lev. 24:4), as they're to be lit on a daily basis in the evening (II Chr. 13:11). These candlesticks should NOT be hidden, Jesus declared (Lk. 8:16, 11:33), and should be in a "Holy Place" (Heb. 9:2) representing God's Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:2, 6). And Revelation warns candlesticks can be removed if they "forsake their first love" and do not repent of it (Rev. 2:4-5).
Conclusion
So given all this, which churches are "true" and which are not? We've given you several guidelines to consider, if you're looking around for one. But the priority should be on putting Jesus first - as making anyone or anything else more important could deny the Head position Christ deserves. Put the Lord above any teaching or theory of man, and you'll look in the right direction: "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...." (Heb. 12:2, KJV)
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© 2005 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.