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PROLOGUE

Recently my wife asked our eleven year old grandson what he thinks about the church and how did he know that God loves him. Without any hesitation, he offered his opinion with some very decisive remarks. First of all, church was boring and there is nothing for him to do. Second, the preachers talk too much and too long about things that are of no interest to him and his friends. And third, no one asks him or his friends for their opinions. Regarding the love of God, he is assured because he has his computer toys and games and that he is happy most of the time. My wife made a valiant effort to show no bias and then she encouraged him to offer some suggestions for the improvement of the church. He thought for a few moments and then with the deliberate precision he offered his recipe. The services should be shorter; more rap music; computer games in every pew; and the young people should be asked more often for their opinions.

As entertaining as this may sound, it reveals an identity crisis. What should be the identity and mission of the Church? Is its effectiveness and relevance to be measured by its popularity? In our contemporary society, the Church has come under much scrutiny and even criticism. Opinion polls from the “churched” and the “un-churched” have revealed a growing dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the Church among a young generation. Are these the opinions of a growing spiritual majority or simply the typical random opinion poll strategy so commonly used by news reporters to capture the pulse of the public? One thing is for certain, these statistics are being quoted by spiritual leaders at conferences, seminars, and even on Sunday morning. In fact, it appears that statistical data have been given almost as much credibility as the Scripture.

How is the Church to measure for its effectiveness and relevance? Is the health of the Church a sign of its growth or popularity? How significant is congregational satisfaction? Because of the popularity of these methods, there has emerged the statistically-driven Church. Its leaders make decisions, select staff, initiate programs, adjust schedules, construct physical buildings, and even fashion their sermons to accommodate the needs and desires of its membership and attract the attention of potential members.

There are some critical questions to be asked. How useful are these statistics and how can they to be integrated into the decision making process of Church leaders? What factors should dictate the message and methods of the Church in reaching the un-converted masses of people? How significant are the opinions of the un-converted, the youth, the business communities, and the different racial and ethnic groups in determining strategies to reach them? And lastly, who has been delegated the authority to determine the relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency of the local Church?

INTRODUCTION

The Church is separate and distinct from any other community or institution because of its origin and purpose. It is by definition a prophetic community with specific privileges and responsibilities. It is a redemptive community by reason of its inception. It is an inclusive community by reason of its citizens. It is an intentional community by reason of its objectives. And it is a therapeutic community by reason of it purpose and power to heal the individual of guilt, shame, and condemnation. But is it to be viewed and operated as a business? Because society and the family have defaulted in their jurisdictional responsibilities, the Church has assumed functions that would normally be within the domain of governmental agencies, public schools, welfare organizations, and parental controls. These duties that have been assumed by reasons of default and at time seem to compete with the fundamental mission of the Church. This paper is intended to explore the peculiarity of this community that Christ built. A distinction will be made between the work and the mission of the church.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Jesus reveals to the disciples that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He also initiates a concept of the “keys of the kingdom” which relates to “binding” and “loosing” of sins. After His resurrection, the disciples are instructed to tarry in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Ghost. On the day of Pentecost, one hundred and twenty men and women are filled with the Spirit and the events that follow mark the initial fulfillment of prophetic predictions of the prophet Joel……in the last days, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh…..sons, daughters, handmaiden, servants….Immediately following these miraculous events, a multitude of people representing many tribes, cultures, and even religious persuasion gather and hear an apostolic explanation…..these are not drunk as you suppose, but this is that which the prophet Joel said would come. The message that follows turns the lock and opens the doors to the Church. Since Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom to Peter, then they obviously must include Gospel preaching; persuasion and conviction; repentance and faith; deliverance; miracles, signs, and wonders; baptism in the Spirit and water; and incorporation into a believing community.

The book of Acts is the inspired record of this post-Pentecostal evangelism, church planting, structuring, and government. From this record there emerges an evangelistic center where Christianity is spread. Converts are incorporated into believing centers called churches. Elders are assigned to shepherd the flock while the apostles instruct in doctrine and practice. The communication link between these churches occurs through the circulation of written epistles and visits by apostles or their delegates.

These churches are the evangelistic centers of their regions. In fact, their name identity is conveniently established by their geographic locations. So they are the churches of Rome, Philippi, Galatia, etc. The mission of these churches is salvation which is accomplished by the preaching of the gospel and the performance of miracles, signs, wonders, and mighty deeds of the Spirit. Salvation is described as the process through which the Lord brings the sinner from depravity to ultimate destiny and perfection. It is translation from darkness into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. That this salvation is comprehensive is indicated by the fact that it involves the spirit (spiritual regeneration), soul (psychological reformation), and body (behavioral modification) of the convert (individual) and the environment (cosmos). It is individual and cosmic. Deliverance from demonic forces; healing of diseases; forgiveness of sins; baptism in the Holy Spirit and water; the promise of eternal life; assignment of privileges and responsibilities; and the reconciliation of all things unto God are all the work of the church and privileges of this salvation.

The mission of the church is, therefore, proclamation and demonstration. That is, the church is to testify, in word and deed, to the revelation of the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is to give witness to the fact that God has visited His creation and granted the strategies by which all creation may respond to this salvation plan. No other institution, organization, nor community is empowered to both proclaim and display the implications of this finished work. The continuity of this work and mission should not be confused with any idea that it is discontinued. The ongoing work and mission of the church is the legacy of Christianity.