Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
January 7, 1971
NUMBER 34, PAGE 5

Why We Exist As A Church

Bob Walton

Every religious institution on earth must be concerned with its reason for existing as a church; unless it does, it is apt to be caught up in the fast-moving, changing society of this present age and forget the real motive for its existence on this earth.

To honor the teaching of the New Testament is to contend that the work of the church includes preaching the gospel, edification of its own members, and benevolence. This is indeed the mission of the church today. This mission pertains to matters eternal in their nature. We exist as a church to make people lead better and happier lives by adhering their lives to the word of God (by being Christians) that their souls might be saved in the day of judgment.

The church of today exists in a worldly, materialistic age; it is therefore imperative that it not forget the nature of its calling for in so doing it will turn aside to the things of this life as a reason for existing. This is evident when we look around us and see the activities that are a part of the work of many churches — activities such as scout work, kindergartens, and almost every conceivable kind of secular, social and recreational activities. We are not opposed to scouting, education for our young, nor recreation, but I search in vain for authority or direction from the Bible to authorize such as a part of the work of the church; nor have I seen any scriptural evidence by those who advocate that the church is charged with these responsibilities. The mission of the church of the Lord is neither social nor recreational in nature. We appeal to the hearts of people (both young and old) and not to their fleshly appetites. Social and recreational activities will not attract the spiritual minded, nor will it make anyone more spiritual. If we win people through such activities, we will have to hold them the same way; if we win and hold people by these means, we certainly haven't won them to Christ! For the church to engage in these activities is to allow the perishing things of this life to burden and distract her from her divinely appointed mission.

We have observed from statistical reports that several of the large protestant denominations in the United States have declined in church membership in recent years. Could it be that more and more people are simply fed up with an institution that claims that its mission is spiritual in nature, but by the activities thereof, it is evident that it is not adhering to such a mission. Could it be that more and more people are simply not willing to commit even their lives, not to mention the eternal destiny of their souls, to such a fleeting, shallow and inconsistent goal — the goal being purely material and temporal in nature.

Every church professing to belong to the Lord should ever keep its divine mission clearly in focus. It should exert every effort in preaching the soul-saving gospel of Christ; it must ever work at its mission of edifying the saved, and on every occasion wherein it assembles, the mission of worship to God and the study of His word should be carefully observed. Finally, the building and facilities thereof should be used to expedite worship, study, and the preaching of the gospel. Those truly converted to the Lord will support such a high and holy mission; those truly interested in spiritual matters will labor and sacrifice in such an endeavour.

— 103 Gaylane Drive, Columbus, Mississippi