The Distracted Church

Ask any Christian in any church what is to be the purpose of the church in the world today, and one will receive as many answers as there are churches! Clearly, one of the greatest enemies of the church today can be summed up in the 

words distraction or diversion. 

Why is distraction or diversion such a problem—such an enemy of the church today? It is because when one is distracted or diverted, it keeps him or her from fulfilling the task needed to be accomplished! 

Many professing Christians do not understand what they are to be doing as Christians; therefore, they get caught up focusing on everything but what they should be doing! They have become distracted and diverted away from fulfilling the very calling God has given to the church. Why do Christians meet together on the Lord’s Day and at other times throughout the week? What are Christians to do when they leave the confines of the church building and live life at home, at school, or at the office throughout the rest of the week? One of the greatest problems permeating the church today is a failure to understand its purpose. As a result of this misunderstanding, churches are riddled with Christians who possess a shallow understanding of Scripture and a lack of purpose. This often leads believers to get off track and meander aimlessly through life and even become “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” that comes along (Eph. 4:14). Obviously, this cannot be God’s will for the lives of His children.  The local church plays a vital role in equipping believers to avoid such aimlessness and instability. Yet in order for Christians to fulfill God’s will of glorifying Him and shining as lights and testimonies to the world, the leadership of the local church must clearly understand God’s will and His directives for the local church body and then communicate this to God’s flock. God’s Word is clear—the purpose of the church is to bring glory to God through the ministry of the Word of God. When believers gather together on the Lord’s Day and at other times throughout the week, the focus of such gatherings must center around the ministry of discipleship. And, when God’s people disperse into the world, they must continue to focus on the work of making disciples. Notice several key texts detailing the purpose and objectives of the church: Acts 2:42-47—This text contains a picture of life in the early church in Jerusalem. Believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, and to prayer. When they gathered together, they worshipped and praised God through their belief and behavior. This fellowship in the Word led to action—particularly, through their love and selflessness shown toward other believers and their testimony and witness to unbelievers. Acts 20:27-28—Here, the apostle Paul exhorted the elders of the church at Ephesus to feed God’s flock. Paul was about to leave the area, and he reminded them that he had declared to them “all the counsel of God” and told them to do the same after his departure. Clearly, the exposition of God’s Word was to be the priority of the elders and the focus of the assembly. Ephesians 4:11-16—Probably the single-most descriptive text relating to the purpose of the local church, these verses describe the focus of all ministry. God gifted the church with leaders “for” (pros—“with a view toward”) the equipping of the believers “for” (eis—“to” or “into,” indicating the point reached) the work of the ministry “for” (eis) the edification of the body of Christ. In other words, church leaders must equip disciples to minister to others. The local church is to be a training ground for God’s people. It is not to be a social club, a gathering place for social programs, or even a venue to attract the unsaved. It is to be a place where Christians are taught God’s Word so they can go into the world and teach others. Conclusion It is necessary to understand what God has called His children—His church—to do until He returns. Without a proper understanding of the work of the church in this world, one can expend a great amount of energy in various endeavors that take away from the true focus and ministry of the body of Christ. So, to summarize: 1.    Believers must realize that, ultimately, the purpose of the church is to glorify God.  One’s purpose for existence as an individual is to bring glory to God, and because the church is comprised of individuals, the church body as a whole exists to bring glory to Jesus Christ. “Unto Him (Jesus Christ) be glory in the church” (Eph. 3:21). Paul told the believers in the church at Rome to be likeminded so they could “with one mind and one mouth glorify God” (Rom. 15:6). Clearly, everything accomplished by the saints in a local church foremost should bring glory to God. 2.    Believers must realize that the focus of the local assembly is to equip God’s people to do the work of the ministry.  Paul told the Ephesian saints that God gifts the local church with pastor-teachers who then equip the saints to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12). The local church is to be a training ground for believers. And, of course, the food that is to be fed is the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 5:2). In fact, the very epistles of the New Testament were letters written to local churches, and these letters were (and are) to be studied, taught, and obeyed by the saints. 3.    Believers must realize that the “Great Commission” is a charge to make disciples, not just “get people saved.” Evangelism is an important part of the Great Commission, but it is only one part (Matt. 28:19-20). God saves, not man. Christians are responsible to be witnesses of the person and work of Jesus Christ, allowing God to work in the hearts and lives of men, women, and children. Yet the responsibility of the church goes beyond evangelism. Discipleship is of paramount importance, and such discipleship takes place within the confines of the local church fellowship (2 Tim. 2:2). God’s Word is clear—the purpose of the local church is to glorify God by equipping the saints to go out into the world and be the church in the world. When God’s people realize this fact, they will desire to learn more about God, to abide with Him, and to allow Him to produce the fruit of the Spirit in their lives each day.