Church Is Supposed To Be Powerful, Dynamic, And Participatory

Most of us Christians view the church as an organization led by a pastor who preaches to a congregation every week. The pastor, ever the teacher, and shepherd. The congregation, the perpetual audience of sheep. But is that what Christ had in mind for his church? Is that what the apostles taught? Let’s do some digging into the scriptures and see if perhaps there’s more to church than what we realize.

What Is The Church?

The word “church” isn’t found at all in the Old Testament, nor is there a verse that plainly states that the church is thus and such. But we can pull some verses together to get an understanding of what the church is. 

For example, Stephen, the first martyr of Christ in the book of Acts, spoke of Moses bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, and he described the children of Israel as “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38). 

Here’s another description of God’s people: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” (Deut 14:2)

In the New Testament, Peter wrote to the gentile Christians describing them this way: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Pet 2:9-10)

Simply put, the church is the people of God, whether Jews or Gentiles. This should dispel any idea that the church is a building, business, organization, or denomination.

Whose Church Is It? Who Does It Belong To?

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples who they said he was. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the Rock and foundation the church is built on. Notice how he says, “I will build my church.”

 Acts 2:47 ends with the words, “...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” 

The church is not a man-made thing. It’s not a denominational creation or instituted by the Vatican. It’s a God thing made up of God’s people. Psalm 100:3 says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Every Believer in the Church Has Purpose

According to the word of God, the church is Christ’s and is made up of believers chosen to be a peculiar people unto himself. The church is also described as the body of Christ.

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” (1 Cor 12:27-31)

Every born again believer is a valuable member of the body of Christ and designed for purpose. Each member is gifted by the Spirit to edify others. Just as we want to use every member of our bodies, so the Lord wants to use every member of his body. As we grow and mature in Christ, that purpose will become more evident to ourselves and others.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1 Cor 12:4-12)

How Does The Church Function?

As we can see from the scriptures, the church is much more than a pastor and a congregation. It’s much more than a senior pastor with assistant pastors, ushers, and various volunteers. The church is supposed to be the many-membered, diversly gifted body of Christ that edifies itself and preaches Christ to the world.

So, what might that look like? When the church assembles together on Sunday mornings or whenever, what’s supposed to happen? Here’s what we find in 1 Cor 14:26. Compare this to your own current church experience…

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Can you see the interactive participation? It reminds me of a potluck. A spiritual potluck where everyone contributes something so that everyone is edified, encouraged, and strengthened in their faith. Here’s another verse:

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:23-25)

Notice the word “us?” It’s inclusive and not restricted to just a single person, like a pastor. This might be a surprise, but did you know none of the epistles were addressed to a pastor? In fact, the word “pastor” (singular) is not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament. “Pastors” is only mentioned once and only in the plural. The letters to the churches were written to every believer. 

The church that Christ is building is supposed to be the powerful, interactive body of Christ that the gates of hell won’t prevail against. It was never designed to be a weekly event where one person or a select few perform to an audience of spectators week and week.

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