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The Church Doesn't Matter?
The prevalent attitude toward the church among religious people for years has been, “Oh, the church is not important. It makes no difference whether one is a member or not. One church is just as good as another. The church is non-essential to man’s eternal welfare.” If what is meant by these statements concerns man-made churches, then we would agree heartily. Jesus said, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up,” (Matt. 15:13). Every last “church” built, named, and governed by man is doomed to destruction. Jesus Christ fervently prayed against them all (Jn. 17:20-21). In reality Roman Catholicism and Protestantism have no connection at all with one’s salvation. However, if some are saying that the Lord’s church does not matter, now we have a problem, because I strongly protest. God’s Book has never taught the concept that the church of Jesus Christ is a worthless institution, one void of all value. If the church doesn’t matter, what is it that you are telling me?
You are telling me that the body of Christ doesn’t matter. Christ is the “savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). Paul teaches that there is one body (Eph. 4:4). How many bodies is He the Savior of? “But now in deed there are many members, yet one body” (1 Cor. 12:20). Paul, as we see, has taught time after time the oneness of the body. What is the body? THE CHURCH! (Eph. 1:22-23). In this passage Paul tells us that the church is the body. In Colossians 1:18 he teaches that the body is the church. So the church is the body and the body is the church. There is only one body; therefore there is only one church. How perfectly this agrees with the promise, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). Salvation is found in this one church. This does not mean the church is the Savior. The church is the saved! If the church does not matter, neither does salvation matter which is graciously conferred within the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul was persecuting the church (Acts 9), he was persecuting Christ (Acts 9:4). The church and Christ cannot be separated. The church is important! If the church doesn’t matter, then:
You are also telling me the blood of Christ doesn't matter. In his epistle to the Ephesian church Paul said that Jesus “loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25). Christ shed His blood for the church (Acts 20:28). How could anyone say the church is not important? The blood of Christ purchased the church. If the church doesn’t matter, then the blood of Christ doesn’t matter. It is the blood of Christ that made it possible for us to be reconciled back to God (Rom. 5:10). We are reconciled unto God in one body (Eph. 2:16), which is the church (Col. 1:18, 24). Thus, one is saved from his sins, reconciled unto God, when he enters the one body, the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16). Who would say that Christ wasted His blood on the cross for a worthless institution? You do if you say the church doesn't matter, that the church is unimportant.
Every Christian, child of God, is a member of the church of Christ. No one can be saved without the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:22; Eph. 1:7), and the church of Christ was purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Thus, there are no Christians who are not members of the church of Christ. If the church doesn't matter, then:
You are telling me that God’s eternal plan doesn't matter. Who would say this? You do when you say the church is unimportant. The church was not an after-thought on God's part (Eph. 3:8-11). It existed in purpose before the world was; it existed in prophecy (Isa. 2:2-4; Dan. 2:44). God had His plan of redemption before He made man; the church was and is a central part of it. No other foundation is man permitted to lay (1 Cor. 3:11). If the church does not matter, then you are also saying a couple of other things do not matter.
You are saying the Lord’s Supper does not matter. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed in His kingdom (Luke 22:29-30). In 1 Corinthians 11:20-34 the sacred penman taught the brethren at Corinth to observe the Lord’s Supper in their church assembly. The church at Troas observed the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). This sacred feast was and is to be done in the church of the Lord. God never commanded anyone to partake of His Son’s Supper save those in the church and only upon the first day of the week, Sunday. If the church doesn’t matter, you’re telling me the Lord’s Supper doesn’t matter. Who would do this? You, if you say the church is not important, one church is just as good as another. If the church doesn’t matter, then:
You are saying that the gospel doesn’t matter. The gospel of Christ produces the church of Christ; it is the seed (Luke 8:11). If the gospel had never been preached, then the church never could have existed. The church and the gospel are inseparably linked. If the church doesn’t matter, neither does the gospel matter. The gospel is composed of facts that must be believed. We must believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, that He died, was buried and rose again for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The gospel tells us what we must do to be saved. One must hear God’s Word (Rom. 10:17); believe it (Mark 16:16); repent (Luke 13:3, 5); confess Christ is the Son of God (Rom. 10:9-10); be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and live a life of continued faithfulness (Rev. 2:10). None of these are important if the church doesn’t matter. If the church is of no value, neither is the Bible which produces the church. Who would say this?
Does the church really matter to you?
http://moodychurchofchrist.com/index.php/bible-study/articles/112-the-church-doesnt-matter
