The Church

What is "the Church"? What does it do? Why?

I don't have any definitive answers to these questions, but like many, I have a story to tell, and in the telling may be able to help others whether currently involved with a church, or not. I am not.

So, what is the purpose of the church? Some may think it is for entertainment, and with some contemporary churches, one could be forgiven for thinking that. Some may feel that it exists for the maintenance of community standards and conscience, brought about at least in part through teaching and preaching. Maybe it provides elements of deeper meaning, of drama and occasion, of ritual into a society that all too often lacks this? What about simply being some sort of social club - and opportunity to meet, greet and build networks?

Of course, being a grouping of people, it inevitably can gain political power and thus the name given to any such grouping can become a political label, as has occurred throughout history to the cost of those on both sides of conflicts between groups. For example, I am thinking of the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland that continued for generations between the "Roman Catholics" and the "Protestants". In the context of the conflict, these labels were more political than they were spiritual. (Although some would associate "spiritual forces" with political movements. This would depend on your view of the spiritual.)

Yes, the church can be all these things - entertainment, social conscience, ritual, social club, political movement and more, but that is looking at it from a pretty superficial point of view.

For the sake of this discussion, I am not considering the political labels in use, but rather groups of people that consider themselves to have a common "spiritual" focus.

If we are discussing the "Christian" Church, then because this term refers to "followers of Christ", (Acts 11:26 records, "... The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."), we could ask, "What would Jesus think? What would Jesus do?" In trying to answer these questions in discussing what the purpose of the church is, I am not arrogant enough to think that I have definitive answers, but I do hope that I can provoke some sort of personal reaction and deeper thought in readers. I can assure you that I have been giving this much thought for decades, and will continue to do so. Any feedback - negative or otherwise - is welcomed.

So, what would Jesus think about contemporary churches? I can't and won't comment on individual churches or movements, but I think that we can look at what Jesus had to say about the religious authorities of his day, and think about why he said these things.

In Jesus' Day

To understand the things that Jesus said, we need first to understand a little bit about the world in which Jesus lived. Firstly, Palestine was ruled by the occupation forces of the Roman Empire, supported by the Jewish authorities of the day. There were two main groups of religious leaders claiming authority from the God of Isaac, Abraham and Jacob. These were the Pharisees and the Sadducees There were other lesser groups, such as the Essenes and Zealots, but these were the main ones.

The Sadducees were quite rigid and elitist, believing only in the first five books of our Bible, (the Torah), which they took quite literally, rejecting oral tradition. Their concern was primarily with ceremony and priestly rituals. Interestingly enough, they did not believe in angels, or an after life.

The Pharisees were the largest and most powerful group, being mainly men from the middle and upper classes, and having most of the wealth and influence. The meaning of the word "Pharisee" is "separated", because they separated themselves from others that they considered to be unholy and sinful.

Jesus had the most criticism for this group. One of the biggest problems with the Pharisees was that they believed that the oral tradition was just as authoritative and inspired as the Torah – and perhaps more so, the way they applied their beliefs. Their legalistic, outward observance of the Law and their traditions took precedence over the Law itself. Their emphasis was on many “do’s” and “don’ts” which governed every aspect of life, but made it practically impossible to keep the Law! Unlike the Sadducees, they believed in angels and an after-life including rewards or retribution from God.

The Pharisees, then, had been setting impossible standards, so as to keep the people in bondage to them, because when people failed (as they inevitably did, they would then look to their spiritual "leaders" for help and inspiration, finding instead only further condemnation. Jesus made his disapproval very clear in Mark 7:9, "And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!", then again in Mark 7:13, "Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." ".

On the other hand, Jesus was much more concerned with inward condition of the individual's heart - their attitudes, and motivation, rather than on external practices and apparent outward conformity to the Law. Mark 12:28-31 records that, "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." " Then in Matthew 7:12, he taught, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." This cut at the heart of the false doctrines of the Pharisees.

At least six times in his sermon on the Mount of Olives, Jesus used the expressions, "You have heard" and "It has been said". This was in direct reference to the oral traditions of the Pharisees, which were sayings of old, famous rabbis. He quoted popular sayings each time, then showed them to be erroneous and contrary to God.

In Matthew 5:21 Jesus states, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. ...' Again, in Matthew 5:27 and 28, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ..." and in Matthew 5:31 and 32, "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. ..." Then in Matthew 5:33 and 34, "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; …" (It was a habit, as it is today, for some to swear on various gods, sacred objects or people.) Again, in Matthew 5:38 and 39, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…", and Matthew 5:43 and 44, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ...".

History Since

The Dark Ages still have an influence echoed down through time to the present day. More to come ...

The Church Today

More to come ...

All Scriptural references quoted are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Feel free to make contact with me: alan@alanmiles.co.nz