What is the Main Purpose of a Church?

"The main purpose of a church is not worship" was the rather sweeping statement I made recently at a gathering on eleven churches in the Midlands. Afterwards someone described this as “putting the cat among the pigeons”. I suggested instead that evangelism was the main purpose of the church; a subject known to ruffle a few feathers. Was my assertion wrong?

When one asks a question about the main purpose of a church, people seem to drag up from their memories something that comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647 which states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him for ever”. Even though the use of this catechism is not something common to all Christian traditions it is often quoted and we all tend to pick up on it. But those who are familiar with the catechism know that this is only the first of 107 points. The remaining 106 points largely qualify what is meant by the first.

The second emphasises the importance of scripture, and the third emphasises the importance of obedience to its teachings. Thus it implies that to glorify God means to live in harmony with God’s character and his purposes as revealed in scripture.

At the end of his ministry Jesus left behind a band of disciples whom he tasked with the duty to be his witnesses, to take the gospel throughout the world, and to make disciples among all nations (or peoples). He made it clear that in his agenda this was “the main thing”. It is to be hoped that all Christians value the mission of Jesus that brought about his life and ministry on earth, his death and resurrection. Those first disciples had to continue the outworking of that mission, and indeed we in turn have to today.

But for many Christians we have substituted other things for that mission such as attending worship services and maintaining ecclesial systems and buildings. No matter how laudable these things may be the main thing is to ensure that the main thing remains the main thing.

King Saul’s excuse for his disobedience was his desire to offer worship to God (1 Samuel 15:15). But the prophet’s response was “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” Psalm 51 also emphasises the worthlessness of worship from a life that fails to be in line with God’s expectations. The prophecy of Malachi seems to be God’s disappointment in a people who go through the motions of worship but have compromised on obedience.

To these examples from the Hebrew Scriptures we could draw on what we often call the Lord’s Prayer. The first aspiration is for the Lord’s name to be hallowed, but we cannot divorce that from the following petitions relating to the coming of God’s kingdom and obedience to his will.

I find myself wondering what God thinks about our offerings of prayers and hymns and worship when we live in disobedience whether by deliberate acts or simple neglect. Just what value does God place on worship that is unsupported by genuine discipleship?

Now that's Church!

I was invited to speak at a small celebration event in Essex recently. It was organised by rural folk for people primarily from rural churches and people from about 5 or 6 churches were present. I had been asked to say something to encourage and inspire them in rural mission. It was to be be Bible based.

Anyone reading this blog who is not familiar with rural churches might not realise that they are often small congregations seeking to witness to their local communities but often feeling that they are burdened with maintaining ancient buildings and ecclesiastical structures. Often there is a sense of just surviving!

The celebration started at 4.00pm on a Sunday. Worship was led with a guitar and a keyboard and the songs were contemporary. These were interspersed with extempore praise and prayer. One of the local church leaders felt moved to give an exhortation within this time as well. Then I spoke and prayed. We sang one more song and then had the opportunity to enjoy informal fellowship while eating a two course meal (Shepherds Pie or Potato Cheese Bake with beans or peas) which we ate standing up. This was followed by cheese cakes or gateaux, tea or coffee.

As I drove away afterward I felt that I had just experienced church as God intends it to be. In the space of two hours we had worshipped, prayed, listened to God's word, and shared a fellowship meal together. It was good company and felt just the kind of event Jesus would have been at home at. Actually, I think he was!

Change is here to stay?

The Obama campaign used the need for change as its main appeal. It was therefore a little ironic to hear a Republican commentator stating that as he looked around the Republican's final gathering that night he could not help noticing that the average age was high and that he could not see one black face. "If we are to survive," he said, "We will have to change".

That has so many echoes for UK inherited churches in rural areas. The appeal (in as much as it does actually appeal to anyone) is usually to an older white person. Of course, minority ethnic groups are not to be found in great numbers in rural areas, but the mono-culture nature of so many of our churches and high average age should cause concern. Added to that, the average size is small, many have been seriously declining, and the cost of maintaining buildings and ministry is now a heavy burden. But is there readiness to change?

Someone once said that the only people group that always welcomes change is wet babies! That might be funny but it expresses an important aspect regarding change: it is far easier for change to happen once the status quo has become uncomfortable. My fear is that rather like lobsters in a slowly warming pot of hot water, we are already soporific and fail to be awakened to the need for change.

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