What is the Purpose of the Church?
Here are Michael Frost’s thoughts on the purpose of the church. I love his movie trailer analogy.
Posted by jeremy
This is the personal blog of Jeremy Jernigan. Husband, father, teaching pastor, and student of truth.
This is the personal blog of Jeremy Jernigan. Husband, father, teaching pastor, and student of truth.
i really like the bit about our lives and the trailer too. in fact, i liked everything that he said, but i would have put more emphasis on the church’s purpose in announcing the restoration of our relationship with God. i mean God reigns, but he always has and always will. that’s part of the message we proclaim with our actions and words and, like Frost said, Israel said that too. but the truly unique thing we talk about and tell people is that God stepped down and sacrificed to make sure we could be restored to him. because he reigns, he can do that, ya know? i would think our purpose is to let people know that, through Christ, we have hope now where as before we didn’t.
i guess i’m just trying to think of what was unique about Christ since Christ is the message, and that’s what i believe it is, what gives the church her message and purpose. Frost is 100% right about God reigning, i’m just not sure if that is the primary purpose of the church to proclaim that, more that we proclaim it along with the truly unique message about Christ.
Coming Soon, to a heart near you.
I notice most of the time that the previews I see on TV or at a theatre are the best parts of the movie. In a comedy, they show the funny parts and you expect to see more funny bits, but alas, you already saw them.
When we, the church, are unknowingly acting as the preview of what will be, we often show the worst part of the movie. So, people outside will not want to come and experience the “movie” so to speak.
Kyle – I gathered that he was saying that as the Church today, we proclaim the reign of God through the person of Christ.
Greg – good point. Interesting thought though. Even at our best, we still wouldn’t be able to “give away” the best parts of God! It does make you wonder how people would respond to God differently if more Christians served as an accurate “trailer” for what is to come.
Exactly. What do I have that someone else would want? If I cant answer that, then there is a disconnect between the Grace I embrace and the Love I am supposed to convey.
CORE VALUES
•People are accepted – People can come as they are (authenticity)
When I look at church web sites, I always see this “promise” in one form or another. The question is how do we in the church keep that promise.
greg – not sure about the church as a whole, but i know that i found myself keeping that promise of being more accepting after i got a full and complete understanding of what grace was through Manning’s “Ragamuffin Gospel.” i just began to see people so much differently after that!
i’ll bet what keeps the church from accepting people “as they are” is that they might not have a real clear picture of what grace, salvation unearned, and God’s love really is. if they realized what that sacrifice actually did, like let it sink in ya know, you’d see that promise fulfilled every time. people want to see others being accepted as they are, because they know that it’s the right way (whether or not you’re a believer).
jeremy – i totally agree that he was saying that. i’m just saying that what made Christ unique wasn’t the God reigns message, and that the church’s primary purpose in it’s message isn’t that either. otherwise we would be no different than what Israel of old was supposed to be, and i think the church is way different because that message is tied into another, more awesome message of HOW God used his reign.
i hope i’m not sounding argumentative, i just don’t think he’s right is all. or more accurately, i think he’s partially right and just missing the key element as a focus.