All around us are many para-church organizations that have popped up, and they are continuing to pop up. Should they replace the church? Are they the same as the church? If we attend these, does that mean we have attended “church”? The answer is, “No.” Here are a few things to consider regarding the church:
- Jesus Christ began His church with His disciples, according to the Scriptures. The church does not have a man-made, unless you mean the God-Man Jesus Christ, origin as do many of these para-church organizations.
- The church is the last of three Biblical (emphasis BIBLICAL) institutions, according to the Scriptures.
- The church is local and visible according to the Scriptures.
- The church is mandated to be obedient to the Great Mandate according to the Scriptures.
- The church does not have the goal of changing herself or prostituting her purity to bring people in, but rather edifying believers so that they can go out and fulfill the Great Mandate, according to the Scriptures.
- The church is the pillar and ground of the truth according to the Scriptures.
- The church is the institution that Christ gave Himself for, according to the Scriptures.
- The assembling together of the church is not to be forsaken according to the Scriptures.
There are many other things which the Word of God gives regarding the church, and para-church ministries are not evil. There is a common goal, but the Biblical method for accomplishing the work of God is the local, New Testament church — Not para-church ministries. If you want to remain Biblical, get into a local, visible, autonomous church. Work through that church. Remain faithful to that church (all gatherings), and begin ministries through that local body of people.
One of the greatest mistakes young people can make is to replace Christ’s church with attendance to some para-church ministry. Don’t make the mistake, and if you have, simply get back to the Word of God and see what He says about His church.
