Lakes Region Reformed Resources

What Is “The Church” In the Bible?

by Keith Comparetto

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part
that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake,
which is the church.” (Col. 1:24)

In 1948, A.W. Tozer observed, “there are today many millions of people who hold ‘right opinions,’ probably more than ever before in the history of the Church. Yet I wonder if there was ever a time when true spiritual worship was at a lower ebb.”  One does not need to be especially perceptive to recognize that those words, if true then, are even more so now.  It seems the modern day concept of “church” has become so confused that it now has little meaning.

The landscape is diverse:  many of the old denominational churches that have become little more than social clubs and political activist organizations; many of the “evangelical” churches, even those established within the last 30 years, have stagnated and struggle from one pastoral search committee to the next; and many, perhaps most, of the new mega-churches which were touted by many as the answer to church decline, are soon recognized for what they are: noisy, pompous, shallow, and lacking in true Christian virtue.

Indeed, as we watch church after church falling into worldliness, stagnation, dissention, and apostasy, the church as an institution — despite Jesus’ promise that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18) — appears to have lost its power for godliness in the world.  But if the true Church cannot be destroyed, we must consider the possibility that the failing “churches” are not the true Church but mere human organizations that exist in the midst of the true Church.  It is time for those who believe Scripture to be the sole authority for faith and practice to reexamine what the scripture teaches about what the church is, and what it is not.

The Church in the Heart of God

Despite what many churches appear to be, the Church is not a human institution, but a spiritual one that has existed in the mind of God from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6).  As such, the Church occupies a high position in the heart of God.  It is described in terms as lofty as God Himself.  What could be dearer to the heart of God than the bride of Christ, His beloved Son, as described by Paul in Ephesians 5:  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (vv. 30-31).  The Church also appears in the book of Revelation as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Revelation 21:9).  In similar terms, the Church is likened to the very body of Christ, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians 5:30).

The true Church is  therefore a living organism and not a mere organization.  Although the Church is local in practice and organization, the focus must remain on its universal purpose as the assembly of all the Redeemed, as in I Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus,  called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord , both theirs and ours.”  Thus “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5).

Also described in physical terms as “the pillar and support of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15), the true Church occupies a high position as “God’s building” and “God’s dwelling place,”  built on the supreme Foundation of Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone (I Corinthians 3:9-11, Ephesians 2:19-22).  Its purpose, however, is spiritual, for its members, “as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  (I Peter 2:5).

The Church as A Human Institution

Despite such lofty terms, the church as a human institution fulfills a much more humble purpose on earth.  The visible church in Bible times met outdoors or in houses (as in Romans 16:5 & 23; I Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15).  The modern-day concept of a large, fancy building to show off to the world is incompatible with the true Church, for believers are told to “be clothed with humility” (I Peter 5:5), recognizing that Christ Himself, though the “Chief Cornerstone,” was “the Stone which the builders rejected” (I Peter 2:7).

The earthly church also occupies a humble position in its worldy authority over men, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:7).  Tozer in the 1940’s took issue with the earthly church’s lofty claims to truth, saying that truth, and with it spirituality and love for God, comes to the church through individuals, not to individuals through the church: “it is personal: that is, it does not come through the body of believers, as such, but is known to the individual, and to the body through the individuals which compose it.”  This is consistent with Scripture, which teaches that the human church has no power to impart salvation or spiritual truth, for true believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, “who will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13); “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you” (I John 2:27).

For this reason, Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day, “do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.  Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.  And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.  But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:8-11). Thus, the leadership structure of the earthly body is to be clothed with humility, “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (I Peter 5:3), realizing that submission of the members of the body to each other and to Christ is perhaps a higher principle than submission to earthly leaders:  “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” (I Peter 5:5); “in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10);  “Be of the same mind toward one another” (Romans 12:16); “submitting to one another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21).

While it is true that there were “shepherds,” “elders,” and “overseers” in the early church as well as in the modern, these were, and are, for the purpose of facilitating the church’s earthly functions within that assembly, and are not parallel to the roles of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament apostles (both of which were appointed directly by God), or even of the Old Testament priest, who was fitted for the role on the basis of his tribal heritage and a screening process that excluded even physical deformities.  Even early church elders and pastors were directly appointed by the inspired apostles and thus, it would seem, carried an authority that does not exist after centuries of human corruption within the church.

Scripture does admonish the flock to acknowledge those who minister to them: “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (I Timothy 5:17); “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” (Hebrews 13:7); “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief , for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).  In these cases, however, the authority and honor of ministers is not absolute, but is based on the worthy exercise of their office according to scriptural principles.  Therefore, church leaders today would be wise to heed the same warning given to all the saints: “Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”  (Romans 12:16).

The principle of humility cannot be ignored today, when much of the modern church seeks to use human wisdom to grow the church.  In fact, charisma, human wisdom and human skill were such an attraction in Biblical times that Paul gave stern warning not to follow preacher personalities:  “let no one boast in men. . . . judge nothing before the time,  until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”  Paul’s warning flies in the face of most of today’s Church Growth Movement (CGM), which attempts to build the church of God with seeker-sensitive programs and name-brand authors, preachers and musicians.  Such methods are said to follow the model of Jesus, who supposedly performed miracles to bring in the masses.  Yet the Scripture tells us His miracles were a sign to confirm His Messiahship, not entertainment or  gimmicks to draw a crowd.  The true Church is built by God, not man, for Jesus said “I will build my church” (Mtatthew 16:18).  “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47); “all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (Colossians 2:19).

Which “way” is followed will ultimately determine what kind of people the church attracts.  When the Lord adds to their number, churches will be populated with true believers who are able to follow exhortations like that given to the Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16).  When programs and human methods build churches, they will attract the unsaved who are brought in to be “preached to,” but often remain because they find the programs and “religious experience” to their liking.  When the church appeals to the lost, it is to the detriment of the saints.

The Church’s Biblical “Program”

Brethren, let us keep our focus:  if the church would strive to do only those things we are commanded to do, and no other, we would do well and please our Savior.  These things are abundantly clear from reading the letters written to the churches by the apostles:

1.  Glorify God together.

• Ephesians 5:19-21 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.“
• Ephesians 3:21  “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

2.  Uphold the doctrines of the faith.

• 1 Timothy 4:13, 16:  “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. . . . Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
• Titus 2:7  “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity,  reverence, incorruptibility.”

3.  Help saints in need.

• Romans 12:12  “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,  continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”
• Galatians 6:2  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 
• Ephesians 4:2  “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love”

4.  Reprove, rebuke, and exhort each other to good works. 

• Hebrews 3:13: “but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
• Ephesians 4:32  “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted , forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11  “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
• Hebrews 10:24-25  “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
• James 5:16  “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another , that you may be healed.”

5.  Love one another.

• John 13:35  “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• Romans 12:10  “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love , in honor giving preference to one another.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:14  “Let all that you do be done with love.”
• Ephesians 4:2  “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”
• Ephesians 4:16  “. . . the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,  according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

We sense that we are living in a time when, as Paul warned to Timothy, “they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).  Human corruption even in our most respected institutions should not surprise us.  Earthly churches will rise and fall, bringing discouragement and disillusionment to many, while those that remain are often as Tozer wrote: “Right now . . . the simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and the servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all.”

These are problems that no method, program or corporate plan can remedy; rather, they simply reflect the condition of individual hearts within each assembly, to which Paul addresses these words:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)