Why Church?

I had a conversation after church on Sunday with a close friend and one of our most faithful attendees. We were talking about his spiritual growth over the past few years, which has been significant. His commitment to God and his family has grown in tangible ways.

• Then he said something that surprised me: “I’m still not all in on the church thing, though.” He explained that he had not become involved in serving and wasn’t sure that he ever would.

For the last 33 years, I have invested my life in the church, and one of my deepest passions is the local church. I believe that passion is firmly grounded in God’s Word. So when I hear a committed follower of Christ express indifference about the church, it feels a bit like a punch to the gut.

• At the same time, recent trends have made it clear that many Christians view the local church as optional. That reality has caused me to reflect on how we understand God’s purpose for the church.

six reasons the church still matters

1. Jesus instituted the church

• In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples who they believed he was. Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then said, “On this rock I will build my church.”
• Scholars debate whether Jesus was referring to Peter himself or Peter’s confession of faith. Either way, Jesus was clear about one thing: He would build His church. He did not say he would build a seminary, a nonprofit organization, a political movement, a youth ministry, or a social program. He said he would build his church.

2. institutions fill the gap

• In his book Institutional Intelligence, Gordon Smith argues that institutions fill the gap between individuals and governments. Institutions allow ordinary people to make a meaningful impact in the world. Without healthy institutions, people often feel powerless and disconnected. We see that frustration all around us.
• God understood that lasting Kingdom influence would require a local, embodied community. The church is God’s primary institution for advancing his purposes in the world.

3. the shape of the new testament

• Much of the New Testament was written to specific local churches. Fourteen of the 21 New Testament letters are addressed to congregations in particular places. Even Revelation opens with messages to seven churches in Asia Minor.
• The Holy Spirit inspired these writings to guide communities of believers, not merely isolated individuals. The church stands at the center of God’s mission in the New Testament.

4. the church as God’s people

• Peter writes: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9). Peter intentionally applies language once used of Israel to the church.
• The church is not simply a collection of believers who happen to share similar convictions. It is God’s covenant people, called together for his purposes and empowered to represent him in the world.

5. a taste of the kingdom

• Through loving relationships, sacrificial service, worship, generosity, and hospitality, the church gives the world a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. There is no greater calling than participating in God’s work of redemption and restoration.
• Each believer has been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to contribute to that mission. We discover and exercise those gifts most fully in the context of Christ’s body.

6. the bride of Christ

• Scripture repeatedly describes the church as the Bride of Christ. Jesus is coming again for his bride. This image reminds us that God’s plan has always been larger than individual spirituality.
• Christ calls people into a redeemed community. While personal faith is essential, it was never intended to remain private or disconnected from the people of God.

Yes, the church is flawed. It is imperfect, sometimes disappointing, and occasionally hurtful. I understand why some people hesitate to fully engage. But the church is not our idea. It is God’s.

• Despite its imperfections, the church remains God’s chosen instrument for redemption, discipleship, worship, mission, and community. It is through the church that we learn to love God, love one another, and bear witness to the coming Kingdom.

How could we not want to be part of what Jesus himself promised to build?