Three Purposes for Identifying with My Local Church

Why do we need to identify with a local church? Rev Jessamyn Tian delves into the Bible and presents her findings.

The word ‘church’ In the New Testament (NT) is the translation of the Greek term ekklesia. It identifies a gathering of a group of believers in Jesus Christ. Hence, when Jesus declares, “I will build my church’’ (Matthew 16:18), Peter and the others knew what Jesus meant. It should be noted that ‘church’ was never used to refer to a building (synagogue, tabernacle, temple, chapel, etc.) where believers gathered.

The word ‘church’ in the NT refers to (a) “Local” churches: communities of believers defined by their geographical settings; and (b) “Universal” church: all believers (Jews and Gentiles) in Jesus Christ from all times and places. The first meeting of the universal church will take place during the Rapture. Until then, the local church is the believers’ expression of community.

God’s Purposes in Establishing the Local Church

Every local church comprises a group of people saved, united in the Spirit, and called (individually and collectively) to represent and reflect Christ to the world. God’s design is for the local church to fulfill the following purposes.

Every local church comprises a group of people saved, united in the Spirit, and called (individually and collectively) to represent and reflect Christ to the world.

1. Exaltation of God. First and foremost, believers come together to worship God and exalt His Name.

2. Edification of the saints. This is accomplished through the five-fold ministry of the church. The pastor-teacher’s role is to teach sound doctrine and its application to church members and help them to grow in spiritual maturity, that is, building up of the body of Christ. The church that is growing in faith and love is seen in their doing life together, caring for one another through prayer, honoring one another, encouraging one another, and meeting one another’s needs through practical acts of kindness.

3. Evangelization of the world. As believers grow and mature in Christ, they would be compelled by the love of Christ to obey the Great Commission, to “go … and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all things [Jesus] has commanded.”

As followers of Jesus Christ, let us give ourselves wholeheartedly to see God’s purposes for His local church fulfilled in and through our lives.

The ministerial responsibility of the local church therefore falls upon the members. We are the church. Yet, most churches do not function this way. Rather, they fit the “80/20 syndrome” where 20% of the members conduct 80% of the ministerial responsibility. Friends, this should not be so. As followers of Jesus Christ, let us give ourselves wholeheartedly to see God’s purposes for His local church fulfilled in and through our lives. Let us heed the admonition of the apostles, Christ’s first disciples.

• Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

• John 9:4-5, NLT, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

• 2 Peter 1:1, NLT, apostle Peter’s letter was addressed to those “who share the same precious faith we have…” and acknowledged that spiritual maturity is a remedy for false teaching, and a right response to heretics in the light of Christ’s second coming.

• Ephesians 4:1-3, NLT, apostle Paul urged the believers “to lead a life worthy of your calling…” and reminded them of their roles in keeping the unity in the body.

Reflection and Response

Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly in society and in the church. Generally, local church leaders have done well in navigating their flocks through the confusion and chaos, albeit losing some along the way. Overall, the local church has weathered the most difficult period of the pandemic and has emerged stronger. We witnessed with joy that church leaders have used the season to seek God as they innovate new ways to reach out to the lost and to care for those in the household of faith. This work is on-going, and our prayer is that God will give us the wisdom and courage to accomplish all the work He has for the church as we move into the next season.

This work is on-going, and our prayer is that God will give us the wisdom and courage to accomplish all the work He has for the church as we move into the next season.

However, the local church needs to do more than just to ‘keep the church going.’ More needs to be done in teaching and building up the church (the body of believers) so that we will be gripped by the urgency to fulfill the Great Commission. Dr Dallas Willard in his book, The Great Omission made two profound statements that support the observation above.

• “… the greatest issue facing the world today … is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as Christians will become disciples—students, apprentices, practitioners—of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence” (p. xv).

• Additionally, Dr Dallas Willard said that a great misconception of the 21st Century church is that “we can be Christians forever and never become disciples” (p. xi).

The church is “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and “Christ-following.”

For the local church to live up to God’s design, we must commit to a life of worship that pleases God and brings Him glory—not just when we gather on Sunday, but also when we go shopping, supervise our staff, parent our children, serve in the church, go on overseas mission, or exercise our citizenship. Then, the local church will be doing the same things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and “Christ-following.”