How does your Bible define ‘the Church’? When you hear the word ‘Church’ - what images does it bring to mind? A building of Romanesque or Gothic architecture? A particular Protestant denomination? Why did Jesus Christ build His Church? What is its function, purpose, and reason for being? What are the Biblical names for the Church? Is that which is called a Church by a non-Biblical name still a legitimate Christian Church? Where do we find ‘the Church’ in the pages of History? We’re all aware of the ‘Visible Church’ in our communities, but what’s the ‘Invisible Church’ that past Church leaders talked about? And how is ‘the Church’ to be organized and governed?
These are questions that very few Christians ever ask themselves, yet none of them would join a Social Club without investigating what it stands for and how it’s run!
Who makes up ‘the Church’ according to your Bible? The Greek word for ‘Church’ is Ecclesia, which means an ‘Assembly of called out ones.’ The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (I Cor.1:26-29)
People don’t just wake up one day and decide to join ‘the Church’ - they must be ‘called.’ Jesus said: “No one can come to Me unless the FATHER who sent Me draws (or calls) him…” (JOHN 6:44) Now a person may wake up one day and decide to start attending the ‘Visible Church’ on the corner, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been called to become part of the Invisible Spiritual Body of Christ.
Protestant Reformer John Calvin referred to the Invisible Church as “That which is actually in God’s presence, into which no persons are received but those who are children of God by grace of adoption, and true members of Christ by sanctification (setting apart) of THE HOLY SPIRIT… It includes not only the Saints presently living on earth, but all the Elect from the beginning of the world. In the (Visible) Church there is a very large mixture of hypocrites, who have nothing of Christ but the name and outward appearance.”
The Apostle Paul said as much in his warning to a young Church leader named Timothy: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourselves.” (I TIMOTHY 6:3-5)
The Apostle John was inspired to write: “They (Christian charlatans) went out from us (the Church), but they were not of us; For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they may be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” (I JOHN 2:19)
Millions of people join ‘the Church’ as a social group, but their hearts are not transformed, and they have no personal relationship with God. But God knows those whom He has called, and He sees the invisible nature of people: “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I SAMUEL 16:7)
One of the Biblical definitions of a Christian, and therefore a member of the true invisible Church, is found in the book of Romans: “For as many as are led by the SPIRIT OF GOD, these are sons of God.” (ROMANS 8:14) Too many Christians are led by their flesh and egos, having not learned to truly acquiesce to God and His Spirit. So while they may be part of the ‘Visible Church’ - they are not members of the ‘Invisible Spirit-led Church.’
What are the names given to ‘the Church’ in Scripture? Well, there are many: “Church or Assembly of God” (I CORINTHIANS 1:2); “The Church of the Living God'“ (I TIMOTHY 3:15); “The Churches of Christ” (ROM.16:16) “The Sect of the Nazarenes” (ACTS 24:5); “The Household of God” (EPH.2:19); “Church of the Firstborn” (HEB 12:23). This last name is probably the most informative, because it shows that ‘the Church’ is God’s first harvest of souls: “Christ the Firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” (I COR.15:23) The Second-fruits will come during Christ’s thousand year reign, when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea.” (ISAIAH 11:9) And the Third-Fruits will come from the White Throne Judgment, when “the rest of the dead” (REV.20:5) will live again and have the books (The Bible) opened to them (REVELATION 20:11,12)
So what is the foundation of ‘the Church’? What is the Church built upon? According to your Bible the Church is built upon one central truth that was uttered by Peter and confirmed by Christ. Peter said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus answered and said… “On this rock (or foundational teaching) I will build My Church.” (MATTHEW 16:16-18) The Church is also built upon six foundational doctrines: Repentance from dead works; Faith toward God; the doctrine of Baptisms; Laying on of Hands; Resurrection of the Dead; and Eternal Judgment. (HEBREWS 6:1,2) The Household of God, Paul tells us is built upon the foundation of the Apostles (N.T.) & Prophets (O.T.) - Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (EPHESIANS 2:19,20). The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those that are His, Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” (II TIMOTHY 2:19) The ‘Invisible Church’ is built upon these foundational statements - but unfortunately, most versions of the ‘Visible Church’ are not.
Where do you find ‘the Church’ in the pages of History and in the world today? You look for people and organizations emphasizing these foundational characteristics. Jesus said, “Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My FATHER in heaven. Many will say to Me in That Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice Lawlessness.’” (MATTHEW 7:20-23)
When does the Church gather? The ‘Original Christians’ gathered on the Sabbath (ACTS 13:42,44; 17:2; 18:4) and the Festivals (ACTS 2:1; 18:21; I CORINTHIANS 5:7,8). It’s the only cycle of Worship that God set up, and in the future they will become the gathering days for all Mankind: “And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the Lord.” (ISAIAH 66:23)
Why did Christ build His Church? “For the equipping of the Saints for the work of ministry, for edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of ‘the Faith’ and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head - Christ - from whom 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.” (EPH.4:12-16)
How is the Church to be organized and run? “So when they (the Apostles) had appointed Elders in every Church & prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (ACTS 14:23) The Apostle Paul encouraged the brethren, saying, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose Faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct… 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 to you.” (HEBREWS 13:7,17)
The ‘Invisible Church’ is not perfect, and the ‘Visible Church’ even less perfect. But what should we expect when the Church is led by imperfect leaders and made up of members who are in a wide range of maturity and immaturity. The degree to which Christians acquiesce to God’s Spirit, instead of their flesh and ego, determines how mature they are, and how unified a congregation is. So if you’ve been offended and had some bad ‘Church Experiences’ - remember that we must not forsake “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.” (HEBREWS 10:25)