BEN F. VICK, JR.
When traveling to the church building on the Lord’s day, I see ball fields filled with children and adults, people at Starbucks, and others out working in the yard or walking their pets. And I wonder: Will they be going to worship today? Have they been? Are they more interested in their children and grandchildren playing ball or learning the Bible? Imagine if all these people were as interested in the church as they are in other activities. Does the church matter to them?
If the church does not matter, then the teaching of Jesus does not matter. Christ said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17.) Jesus invites us to learn of him: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30.) However, if the church does not matter, the teaching of Jesus does not matter.
If the church does not matter, the blood of Christ does not matter. The writer of Hebrews says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22.) The apostle Paul said we have redemption through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14). To the elders of Ephesus, Paul said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28.) Jesus shed his blood for the church. Would he have done that if the church was not important?
If the church does not matter, then salvation does not matter. No, the church is NOT our savior, but Christ is (2 Peter 1:1). Jesus came to save (Matt. 1:21; Luke 19:10). Salvation is only in his name (Acts 4:12). All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). One of those blessings is salvation. No, the church does not save, but it is the realm in which we are saved. Paul wrote, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Eph. 5:23.) One needs to be in the body of Christ to be saved (Gal. 3:27).
If the church does not matter, then the preaching of the gospel does not matter. Paul said, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:14-15.) The church is the support of the truth. If anything is going to uphold the truth, it is the church, the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:8-10).
If the church does not matter, then worship does not matter. Jesus tied the Lord’s supper to worship on the Lord’s day in his kingdom (Matt. 26:29; Luke 22:29-30). Paul gave specific instructions to the church at Corinth regarding the observance of the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34). It is a church action. We remember the Lord’s death till he comes each first day of the week (Acts 20:7). This is why we should assemble with the saints each Lord’s day (Heb. 10:25). Jesus said to his disciples, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14.) These individuals wanted Jesus to bless their children. They brought their children to Jesus. Nowadays, parents and grandparents are taking their children everywhere but to Jesus. The children will be blessed if they attend Bible classes prepared for them. They will be blessed if they are in the worship assembly. However, if the church does not matter, then worship as God has prescribed does not matter (John 4:24).
If the church does not matter, then heaven does not matter. In Christ, we have the hope of heaven. Paul wrote, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” (Titus 1:2.) He spoke of one hope (Eph. 4:4-6). Peter spoke of this inheritance: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4.) Jesus left this earth to prepare a place for his disciples (John 14:1-3).
The church does matter. It was in the mind of God from eternity. Paul penned these words to the saints at Ephesus: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” (Eph. 3:8–12.)