More Than a Building

What makes a church a church?

Shannon McMillin

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When you hear the word “church,” what comes to mind? Do you think of a small quaint building with stained glass windows, and grounds landscaped to perfection? Or perhaps a large gothic church with countless crosses and gruesome gargoyles positioned around the perimeter? What makes a church a church?

What purpose, if any, does a church serve? Is it just a place where those trying to be good or be saved can come together once a week? Is it merely a social gathering spot for friends, family and neighbors? What does one come away with after church? Is the church more than a building?

The history of the true Church, which Jesus Christ promised He would establish and nothing could destroy, is one of the most significant mysteries of all time (Matt. 16:18). There was, and still is, meaning and purpose for the founding of the Church. That purpose, astounding as it is, remains a hidden mystery from modern church leaders, and therefore misunderstood and untaught. The purpose, however, will affect all mankind—past, present, and future.

Why don’t churches know their purpose?

Many have been taught that the purpose of the Church is to save the world. If that were true, what happened to all those billions of people who lived and died before the institution of the Church? Why don’t church leaders understand and teach what the purpose of the Church is? King David explains in the latter part of Psalm 111:10 that “a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” Church leaders don’t comprehend the role of the true Church of God because they do not do God’s commandments. Many churches believe it is a good idea not to murder, commit adultery, steal or lie, but they absolutely will not obey, nor teach, the fourth commandment. The seventh–day Sabbath, the test commandment, which points to God as Creator, is not tolerated in most churches. Refusing to follow all of God’s commandments obscures their ability to understand the great and exciting purpose for God’s true Church.

You can’t join the Church

Can the Church that Jesus Christ founded be joined at will? The first time the word church is mentioned in the New Testament is in Matthew 16:18. Christ was explaining to Peter that He was going to build His Church. The Greek word used in the New Testament for church is ekklesia. It means called out ones, an assembly, a congregation or a group. A church is, therefore, a single group or congregation of called out individuals with Christ as the leader. Society teaches that the Church is the building, but the Bible teaches that the Church consists of people. They may congregate at a building or a home (Rom. 16:5). In Acts 8:3 Saul, “made havoc of the church.” Was he destroying a building? No! He was dragging off to prison the men and women that comprised the church. Clearly, the people are the Church. The building is not.

Can just any person join God’s Church? Jesus, the founder of the church, states that not just anyone can join: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44). God the Father does the calling, but the individual has to act on that calling and be willing to live by God's Word to ultimately be chosen, “for many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). Then you are added to the Church. You cannot join it: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

The role of the church

Many churches point to their community involvement and good deeds, the many activities and events sponsored by their church. Other churches may speak of attendance rolls, funds collected, and Nielsen ratings as confirmation of their church. Are any of these the primary role Christ intended for His Church? In fact, Jesus Christ outlined a two–fold commission for the Church to fulfill as its primary purpose.

The first part of that commission is to preach the true gospel message to the world (Matt. 24:14). This is not a message about the messenger as most churches preach today, but the actual message that Christ brought directly from God the Father. That message is about the replacement of this world's governments and the establishment of God’s government here on this earth, starting at the return of Jesus Christ. It will be a literal Kingdom composed of four parts: Jesus Christ as King, God’s commandments for laws, the earth as the territory and humans as subjects (Rev. 5:10). Those that have made the choice to yield and follow God and all his ways will be those that make up God’s kingdom, or the family of God.

The second part of commission of God’s true Church is to feed the flock. Jesus Christ makes sure that Peter understands this vital job in John 21:15–17, repeatedly telling Peter to take care of His people, nurture them and instruct them in His ways. When we assemble before God on the Sabbath we are to be instructed. Church goers today must beware of the lax spiritual condition described in Isaiah 30:10: “Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” Some church leaders, fearful of a drop in membership, out of self–preservation, do exactly that.

We, in God’s Church, are training to be leaders in the very Kingdom that Christ will set up at His return. We cannot learn the necessary skills in today’s schools and universities, even if the mention of God’s name were allowed in those institutions. But we can learn these skills in God’s Church. We need to make difficult changes to become more like God in thought and action, and we will not learn that from hearing how good we have been. Paul explains to Timothy that the scriptures we need to be hearing in church are “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16). Paul is not talking about taking a club and beating people over the head, but he is not talking about hearing smooth things, either. When we assemble for church services, we should come ready to be taught to prepare for our future role in the government of God that will replace all of this world’s ineffective governments.

Identification of Jesus Christ’s true church

Can the true Church Jesus started be identified today? What else, along with preaching the true gospel message that Christ preached, identifies the true Church and eliminates those coming in the name of Christ only, deceiving many? God’s Church through time has always been small in comparison to churches with pagan traditions. Christ said to his disciples, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The church would remain small through the ages because contrary to what most churches preach, God is not trying to save the world at this time.

We are not to love the things that this world gets so caught up in—“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (I John 2:15–16). Modern churches pander to this mindset in hopes of retaining or garnering larger memberships. Because the true Church will not compromise with or adopt this world’s belief system, it automatically brings on itself the next identifying sign.

God’s true Church has always been persecuted. Jesus warned the disciples, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Simply living by every word of God and teaching others to do so also, puts Jesus Christ’s true Church in complete opposition to this world. It makes people very uncomfortable when they are faced with God’s truth as found in the Bible because it is so different from the pagan traditions taught by mainstream churches.

Another trait that identifies God’s true Church is the keeping and teaching of God's commandments, which were given to man to show us how to have a relationship with Him and our fellow man. They are not a burden nor have they been done away with. If we say we are Christians but don’t keep His commandments, God says we are liars (I John 2:4). Today’s churches preach that the commandments have all been done away. Why would they say that? Because they don’t want to keep God’s Sabbath! God’s true Church keeps His Sabbath and all His other commandments, too.

Gods true Church also practices the form of government that Jesus Christ will establish at His second coming. The Kingdom of God will not be run by any form of man’s government. Why then would the true Church want to adopt what God is going to destroy? God has always used one individual to lead His people. God’s government has always been from the top down, and it always works so long as the one at the top yields to and looks to God for everything. God removes non–compliant leaders and starts over with someone who will follow Him with his whole heart.

One more identifying sign of God’s true church is unity of mind and belief. Paul admonished the Corinthian church to “all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same judgment” (I Cor. 1:10). Would this be an accurate description of the church you attend? Those in God’s Church must think the same way and have the same spiritual goals. Such cohesiveness cannot be achieved through committees or voting, but rather by yielding ourselves to God and allowing Him to live in us. Varying beliefs, double standards, backbiting, bickering and politicking for positions creates a complete lack of unity.

Will Christ return to a temple?

We find in Malachi 3:1–3 a prophecy not yet fulfilled about the return of Christ to His temple. But which temple? Where is this temple? Is it a physical structure already built or one yet to be built? The temple to which Christ will return has been under construction for quite some time now, but is spiritual not physical: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (I Cor. 3:16–17).