What Should the Church be Doing?

In my last blog, I discussed briefly what the Church is. While that description was somewhat limited and there is a tremendous amount more that can be said on the subject, I hope the main point got across. Namely that WE are THE CHURCH. The truly saved can’t leave the Church because they are saved into it. THE Church is the body and bride of Christ. We can sinfully forsake the assembling of ourselves, but we can’t actually leave. That’s not to say that some local assemblies shouldn’t be deserted if they are not being faithful to Christ, but then it’s up to a believer to find one that is, or if there are none close, find the closest there is and request their help in starting a church plant in your area.

That brings up the next question. What are the marks of a faithful church? What is it exactly that a church should be doing? In his Systematic Theology, (p. 576) Louis Berkhof explains there is some disagreement over the number of marks. Some hold to simply the faithful preaching of the Word. Some also add the administration of the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper). Still others add a third, namely the practice of Church Discipline. He points to Article 29 of the Belgic Confession as an example of this last group. ( https://www.rca.org/resources/belgic-confession-article-29-marks-true-church )

It is these three marks that I believe provide the Biblical framework of a true and healthy church.

The preaching of the Word is, of course, foundational. In Matthew 16:15-20, we see Jesus asking the disciples who do they say He is. When Peter responds that He is the Christ, Jesus tells him he is blessed because the Father has revealed this truth to him and then goes on to say that on this Truth, He will build HIS Church. And He also says that those in the Church will have the keys to the kingdom of heaven, but we will touch on that later. Later, in Matthew 28, we receive the Great Commission: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ We, the Church, are called to make disciples. Not merely converts, but we must teach them to observe all that Christ commanded. What did He command? Jesus commanded us to Repent (Matt. 4:17). To Repent is to change our mind, and therefore our behavior. He is commanding us to change our sinful ways and to follow and obey Him. How can we repent? Because of the Gospel (the good news). What is the Gospel? 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 gives it to us in a nutshell. Our salvation comes from the Holy Spirit regenerating us so we are able to believe the Gospel and our sanctification comes from the Holy Spirit working in us as we seek to apply the whole of Scripture that fleshes out Jesus’ call to repentance.

So, how do we make disciples? First and foremost by preaching the Word that contains these foundational truths (1 Tim. 4:2). I think everyone would agree that the Church is called to preach the Word. That’s pretty obvious. The next two should be obvious as well, because not only does Christ command it, we find it taught on in the epistles as well.

The second mark of the Church is the administration of the Sacraments (or Ordinances). The only Sacraments given to us by Christ and therefore required to be observed are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Jesus was baptized in order to identify Himself with the sinners for whom He came to die for. And then in the Great Commission, He clearly commands us to baptize new disciples. We see the Apostles obeying this throughout the book of Acts, starting in Acts 2:38 when Peter tells those who believed his gospel message that they must repent and be baptized. References to baptism are found throughout the epistles, ie. Romans 6:3-4, 1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27-28.

The second Sacrament or Ordinance given to us by Christ was the Lord’s Supper. We see this described in Matt. 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. In Luke 22:19 He tells them to do this in remembrance of Him. In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, the Apostle Paul gives a great deal of instruction on how we ought to conduct ourselves when coming to share in the Lord’s Supper. For the purpose of this article, I will highlight verse 26: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” This is an ordinance that is to be observed regularly until Christ returns. It should be clear from the Scriptures that Christ commands us to be baptized and to observe the Lord’s Supper. These are part and parcel of Church life. The true Church will not neglect these practices anymore than they would neglect the faithful preaching of the Word.

Now we come to the final, and sadly often neglected, aspect of Church life. That is the exercise of Church discipline. Remember, back in Matt. 16:19, Jesus tells us, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” What is He talking about? The answer is authority. What kind of authority? The authority to preach repentance and to be in authority over those who belong to the kingdom of heaven. Before giving the great commission, Jesus tells the disciples in Matt. 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” And then He tells them Go therefore and make disciples….teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. He has all authority and in light of that we are to go out and make disciples of all the nations. How does the Church have authority over those in the kingdom? The keys to the kingdom that Christ references in Matt 16, He mentions again in Matt 18 in the context of Church discipline. It must be understood that the goal of Church discipline is repentance and restoration. There are times where discipline is unnecessary. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us that love will cover a multitude of sins. We should overlook certain failings at times, understanding that we are all in the process of sanctification and will fail at times. It will take wisdom to realize when is it proper to correct a brother or sister in the Lord. However, Christ clearly indicates that Church discipline will be necessary and He clearly shows us that He gives us the authority and the grace to properly administer such discipline. Let us look at Matt 18:15-20:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Here Jesus gives us clear directions on how to handle a brother who is in sin. The first step is to go to him privately. If he repents, you have gained your brother. If not, take one or two more and have them hear the case between the two of you. If they find him/her to be at fault, and he refuses to repent, then bring the matter to the church. Be aware that this process is meant to be as confidential as possible and if followed faithfully would eliminate gossip and enable that brother to be restored quickly. If he refuses to repent, then the matter should be brought to the church. Most practically, it would help to bring the matter to the Pastors/Elders who represent the body and as Hebrews 10:17 indicates rule over us as they are charged with watching out for our souls as those who must give account. ( as a side note…that fact that Scripture teaches that Pastor/Elders must watch over our souls, indicates that our souls need to be watched out for..more evidence that we ought to belong to a local assembly!) If the brother refuses to repent even then, then Jesus is clear, let that man be as heathen and a tax collector, in other words, as one who is unsaved and in need of repentance. No longer to be treated as a member of the Church. This is excommunication. And then Jesus repeats what He says in Matt 16: “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Christ is giving authority to the Church to determine who is permitted to be part of the Church and who is to be disqualified, based upon true Scriptural principles. This is an incredibly serious responsibility! He then says if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them, and where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them. In the context of passage, we see Christ promising special grace given when tackling the difficult subject of Church discipline. And it should be noted that Matt 18:21-35, Jesus gives instruction on the subject of forgiveness. Remember, the purpose of Church discipline is to bring about repentance and restoration. We should look forward to forgiving those who turn from their sins. After this important teaching by Christ, we see a rather extreme example that is spoken about in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. The Apostle Paul has to rebuke the church to follow through on their responsibility to exercise discipline against the man who is in sin. Later, in his second letter to them, he follows up on how they are to treat the man who has finally repented (2 Cor. 2:3-11). We are admonished several times in Scripture to correct and/or practice church discipline. A few examples are Gal. 6:1, 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, and 1 Tim 5:20 (be sure to read that one!). Indeed one of the purposes of Scripture according to 2 Tim. 3:16 is reproof and correction.

Scripture speaks with clarity on the issue of church discipline and yet this mark of the true church is the one that is most often neglected. And it has been to our own peril. Christ warned that there would be tares among the wheat. Paul warned of savage wolves that would arise from the flock and seek to carry people away. Indeed Peter, John, and Jude all warn against corruption and false teachers. We are responsible before the Lord to stand for truth and call all to repentance, but with special authority to judge those who claim to be part of the Church. Neglecting to do this has allowed the Church to fall into disrepute as many who claim Christ show no fruit of repentance and so slander His Name.

When local churches are not marked by these three essential aspects, they are failing to be true to their calling and they are in danger of Christ removing their lampstand, as He warned some of those churches in the opening chapters of Revelation. They must consider their ways and repent.

The Church must follow Scriptural principles in regard to preaching the Gospel, both in faithfully preaching repentance and in regards to the means of progressing in sanctification. The subject of some practical applications of what I’ve discussed here is one I’m chomping at the bit to discuss, but will have to be subject of the next blog. I hope this has helped us to realize the marks and obligations of the true church and consider how we stand in light of what God’s Word teaches.