Any time the definition of “church” comes up, it seems someone brings up the distinction between the church being people or institution.
Is the church the collection of individuals who have accepted the call to follow Christ, or is the church the social structure that operates as Christ’s presence in the world.
The two, though, can’t really be separated.
Any time people come together—whether it’s two people, 200, 2 million or however many, they start to act in ways they don’t as individuals. Spoken or unspoken, rules and expectations develop that influence the way they act. Those rules and expectations don’t just affect the way they act as a group, but also shape the way they act individually.
I think the wording of the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church isn’t as strong as it could be. In defining the church, the catechism first relies on what happens within the “redemptive fellowship”: “the word of God is preached by those divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered…” It then explains why the church exists (“maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.”)
This is understandable in that the Bible has more direction on what the church is to do than what it is to be, but seems to evade the question we want answered: what is the church?
Jesus himself uses the word only seldom. In Matthew 16, he responds to Simon’s profession of faith by saying that he will build his church upon that rock. Catholics and Protestants don’t agree on if that rock is Simon Peter himself or the profession he made, but in either case, Jesus immediately speaks of the church “binding” and “loosing.”
In Matthew 16, Jesus speaks of the church’s response to a brother or sister who refuses the discipline of the church.
In Communion, we see the church as Christ’s body. Jesus refers to his followers also as witnesses. Acts repeatedly refers to the church in terms of welcoming, sending or selecting people. Leaders are referred to as shepherds, using a common image from Jesus himself of the church as a flock.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 5, Paul reminds his readers that it is not his place to judge people outside the church, but only those inside.
The same letter uses the strong image of the church being a body, with Paul emphasizing that the different parts of the body are distinct from one another, but still interconnected. The image of the church being a body recalls to mind the words of Jesus in instituting Communion.
Throughout, there is the sense that the church is a community that works as a community to understand, and live out, the ministry of Jesus. Deliberating, understanding and organizing that ministry all seem to be necessary functions that the church must do, both in order to be the church, and in order that individual Christians can live out their own callings.
– Rev. Mark Fleming
This is part of a sermon/reading series in July-August, 2024, looking at some core Christian beliefs, along with distinctive emphases of the Methodist branch of Christianity.
The daily readings are my own, but they are loosely based on the topics covered in the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church. The column at the right contains the questions from the catechism and the sources it lists.
You can find the full catechism and other information about the Global Methodist Church at globalmethodist.org.
I invite you to join us for worship and other church gatherings at China Methodist Church and Forest Park Methodist Church.
Respectful conversation is welcome. Use the comment section at the end of this post.
From the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church:
29. What is the church?
It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by those divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Acts 2:41-47 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 11:23-27 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
Confession of Faith Article V* We believe the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and catholic. It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.
30. Why does the church exist?
Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:6-10 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Ephesians 4:11-16 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upuntil we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Hebrews 3:12-14 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Confession of Faith Article V* We believe the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and catholic. It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.