I've been a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ in the making, for over twenty years. Over that time, I've met more people than I can count, some who are fellow disciples, as well as many who would never identify themselves with Christianity. A good number have had some interesting things to say about both the Church, and the body of Christ.
Here are some questions to consider:
1) How would you define 'the Church'?
2) Would you use a different definition for 'the Body of Christ'? If so, why?
3) Why do Christians need the Church?
4) Can a person be a Christian, that is, be saved in the name of Jesus Christ, apart from being a part of the Church?
5) Need one regularly attend and participate in the life of a church in order to truly be saved? Why? Why not?
If you have any thoughts or opinions on these matters, please consider taking some time to thoughtfully respond. I have my thoughts, and in time, I'll share what I think the theologically correct answer is. It could be that you will share it before I get the chance. But don't worry, I'll chime in my six cents! All to the glory of the Triune God!!!
3 comments:
I need answers to these questions too!
how do you answer those questions?
1. "The Church"--the worldwide, dispersed membership of genuine believers in Jesus Christ as the crucified, risen Son of God for their salvation. Many members may not be fully or convincingly recognizable or even acceptable to one another due to cultural biases or the emphasis of particular religious expressions of one's faith. That's why we're told to leave it to God to judge each of our hearts on the matter of salvation.
2. "The Body of Christ" is, to me, one and the same as the above. The thumb of one hand may not recognize or find useful the pinky of the other hand, but they're both part of the same body nonetheless. The Head knows where each part is located and what each is useful for . . . and how much they need one another even if they don't recognize that fact.
3. Christians need the Church for the reason stated in #2 above. God made us interdependent, sometimes in very immediate ways, sometimes in ways we'll never know about. But we're each only PART of the Church, His Body, and no part can remain alive nor function autonomously. All parts serve, collectively, to be Christ in the world until He comes again.
4. Yes and no. It's when you turn to Jesus and receive salvation that you then, by the work (baptism and sealing) of the Holy Spirit, BECOME a part of the Church. The Church carries the Gospel forward through time and society. No one is an actual member of the Church until having heard the Gospel and responded to God's grace, receiving forgiveness of sins, cleansing, etc... If you're drop the "c" in Church to lower case, i.e. church, then it's a somewhat different matter. Each church (most likely) contains genuine AND false members of the larger Church. And churches come in all shapes, sizes, organizational styles, preferred creeds, meeting places, cultural habits, yada, yada, yada . . . Membership in a church doesn't make you a part of the Body of Christ. Non-membership in a church doesn't exclude you from the Body, for then it would become partly a matter of your, and other believers', effort and association, instead of God's saving work that brings you into His Kingdom. To hear the Gospel means you've brushed elbows with someone in the Church somehow. But you can't be part of the Church until you've personally faced God and dealt with His issues over your sin. Then membership dues are paid by Him and you're ushered in to a motley gathering that generally leaves you bewildered for many years to come. This could happen on your deathbed, however, hence eliminating the possibility of participating in the Church in THIS life.
5. This one is the stickiest question. Salvation is one thing, discipleship is another--or are they? Salvation depends entirely on God's grace to you in Christ. But to be a disciple means to become a student of Jesus. Is that possible apart from the Body and the gifts distributed throughout it? Doubtful. However, some believers have had to do that because they turned to Christ in the midst of nonbelievers. Think of Muslims, for example, converting after reading the Gospel, only to be killed shortly thereafter. Salvation happened. But could you hang in there for the long haul without the teaching and backup of other believers? Equally doubtful. God, by His grace, provides us with all we need for salvation, but He doesn't take any responsiblity away from us to use what He's given ("work out your salvation") in order to willfully walk with Christ until our deaths. I, personally, find that I need help and encouragement from other believers to even recognize at times just what God has given me for living faith in this world. So, while the Church is necessary for spreading the Gospel message, and churches (in myriad forms--don't corner anyone into a particular style) are pretty much a necessity for being a true disciple, only God in Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation. His Word gives us revealed wisdom, however, that He intended both salvation and discipleship/transformation for us when He gave His Son in payment for our lives. He paid for ALL parts of our lives, not just the ones we feel like loaning to Him on occasion.
Susan
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