What is the Purpose of the Local Church

It appears to me lately, that many of them have lost sight of what their purpose is. This month, for many it appears that their purpose was to buy out blocks of tickset at the local theatres, and take all of their members to see the Passion movie while proclaiming it's "healing" powers. That is my opinion this month. Ask me again next month and I may feel differently.

 

I agree 100% with the Doc...I would also add it is a place the lost can find refuge if they are truly seeking Christ.

 

Too many pastors spend their Sunday morning services trying to get that 1% who are lost saved and ignore the spiritual growth of the other 99%.
The Holy Spirit can save someone just as easily through verse by verse sermons through the book of Jude as He can on a 52 sermons series on Hell and Damnation.

Evangelism should be outside the church walls, training and "Biblical Education" should be going on inside the walls.

How do you feel about "alter calls" Dr. Bob?

 

Originally, fellowship and teaching was to equip the saints to spread the Gospel, not for self gratification and edification. I missed the verses that said to build big churches and "let the lost come to us". Jesus said we are TO GO into the world and FIND the lost.

Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.
19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

 

Dr Bob,
I will have to say that you have me thinking here. I have many times complained about churches that do not feed the flock, but week after week give the same message in a different wrapper. Let me pin this down a little more. Do you feel that the coming together should be totally for edification of the saints without any offer of salvation to the lost? In other words no evangelizing the lost or just not the main course on the plate?

 

Alter calls is just another proof that the ragtag system of manipulation and deceit known as Finneyism is still alive and well today.

 

Daniel
please give your take on how the structure of the church should be carried out in regards to the saints and the lost.

 

The purpose of the gathered assembly is to build exalt the Savior and edify the saints.

The purpose of assembly as they are in the world is to exalt the Savior and evangelize the sinner.

Note that 1 Cor. 14 makes it seem like an unexpected event to have a lost person come into the assembly.

 

Should lost sinners be allowed to come to Church and listen to the preaching of the Word of God? And, if not, please show me a specific scripture that specifically says that they may not.

Thank You,

Joseph Botwinick

 

Of course they can come. They should be welcomed. But the gathered assembly does not meet for them.

 

Daniel,

I agree with you. Dr. Bob and Helen, do you agree?

Joseph Botwinick

 

I agree Dr. Bob.

Church is ecclesia, assembly of saints, hagios, holy ones made holy by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Unbelievers are welcome to come in, but should not be allowed to stay too long if they refuse to repent, accept Christ, exhibit godly life.

Church has a purpose of evangelism, and fellowship, communion, worship, teaching, testimony, praise reports, announcements of activities, etc.

 

The question is, does Dr. Bob agree with you on this? Dr. Bob?

but should not be allowed to stay too long if they refuse to repent, accept Christ, exhibit godly life. [/QUOTE]

Could you show me scripture that specifically says this? How long should they be allowed to stay before you show them the door to Hell? Please show me scripture that supports whatever time period you come up with as well.

Thank You,

Joseph Botwinick

 

I agree with you Doctor.

Although I do believe that the church training should include outreach and backing missionary programs. This is one reason, we Southern Baptists have a seperate mission program. Paul did the same thing by gathering resources form the churches to provide for missions. I'm not arguing the point of having a combined missionary group, I am simply saying that outreach should be a part or provided in some way by the church, but I also agree the meetings, Sunday School, Discipleship training (or whatever they are called today) and preaching should be targeted primarily at the Christian for growth, edification, etc. I do not have a problem with a pastor spending a portion of his sermon trying to preach to the lost. I know this because I thought I was saved when I was a very young child and if the pastor had not harped on "salvation" and what was requred, I probably would have not followed the Lord. So, I guess you could say I agree with you 98%.

What I don't understand is why Spirit and Truth keeps bringing up "The Passion" as an issue to grade churches by.

 

As long as the church exists, so will legalism.

 

I do not know of any church who has proclaimed "healing" powers of the movie The Passion. Only that it is a graphical movie of the way Christ suffered. "Healing Powers"? Besides maybe a lone poster on the Bulletin Board or possibly a splinter church here and there. . . What is your basis for making that charge against the many churches taking their members?

 

Dr. Bob?

 

The local gospel church is for the edification of those whom the Lord adds into it. It is their sheep pen, where they are to be nourished, cared for, fed, protected from wolves and other predators.

The command to the apostles were to preach the gospel, which is not an offer of salvation, but a good news of salvation to those whom God had given that gift of mercy to, and then to baptize those who obey the gospel, and then to teach them.

In the gospel church, God's children learn how to live with each other in truth and love, and how to live peaceably with those around them, how to "save themselves from this untoward generation" by holy and separate lives, and raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to glorify God in their midst, waiting for the promised return of their Savior in holy anticipation.

 

I for one have sat in MANY Baptist churches and was in Southern Baptists churches until about 5 years ago when I came out and I have never been in one that uses its time primarily to teach the saints. Every one I have attended has used the time to win souls with very little instruction on how to live the Christian life.
While they usually do preach (generalities) that we are to live godly lives they seldom to never get into details as how that is to be done. My guess is that such messages takes greater study as well as courage to bring them as they will step on peoples toes. To me it is very aggravating.