{"id":24410,"date":"2016-09-09T10:00:31","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T09:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/\/uk\/?p=24410"},"modified":"2016-09-02T12:56:17","modified_gmt":"2016-09-02T11:56:17","slug":"churchs-chief-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banneroftruth.org\/uk\/resources\/articles\/2016\/churchs-chief-end\/","title":{"rendered":"The Church&#8217;s Chief End"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There\u00a0 is\u00a0 much\u00a0 debate\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 modern\u00a0 church\u00a0 about\u00a0 what\u00a0 exactly\u00a0 is\u00a0 her\u00a0 mission.\u00a0 Often\u00a0 the\u00a0 answer\u00a0 that\u00a0 is\u00a0 given\u00a0 is\u00a0 not\u00a0 so\u00a0 much\u00a0 wrong\u00a0 as\u00a0 lop-sided,\u00a0 and\u00a0 exaggerated\u00a0 implications\u00a0 and\u00a0 conclusions\u00a0 are\u00a0 drawn\u00a0 from\u00a0 that.\u00a0 There\u00a0 are\u00a0 probably\u00a0 three\u00a0 main\u00a0 views:\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 exists\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God;\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 exists\u00a0 to\u00a0 build\u00a0 up\u00a0 the\u00a0 saints;\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 exists\u00a0 for\u00a0 mission,\u00a0 to\u00a0 evangelise\u00a0 the\u00a0 world.\u00a0 These\u00a0 three\u00a0 views\u00a0 should\u00a0 not\u00a0 be \u00a0played\u00a0 off\u00a0 against\u00a0 one\u00a0 another,\u00a0 and\u00a0 a\u00a0 grasp\u00a0 of\u00a0 each\u00a0 one\u00a0 will\u00a0 prevent\u00a0 us\u00a0 from\u00a0 misinterpreting\u00a0 any\u00a0 one\u00a0 of\u00a0 them.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0 Church\u2019s\u00a0 first\u00a0 task,\u00a0 surely,\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God.\u00a0 Paul\u00a0 says\u00a0 that\u00a0 \u2018whether\u00a0 you\u00a0 eat\u00a0 or\u00a0 drink,\u00a0 or\u00a0 whatever\u00a0 you\u00a0 do,\u00a0 do\u00a0 all\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 glory\u00a0 of\u00a0 God\u2019\u00a0 (1 Cor.10:31).\u00a0 Earlier\u00a0 in\u00a0 1 Corinthians,\u00a0 Paul\u00a0 had\u00a0 said,\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 context\u00a0 of\u00a0 sexual\u00a0 ethics,\u00a0 that\u00a0 we\u00a0 are\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God\u00a0 in\u00a0 our\u00a0 bodies\u00a0 (1 Cor.6:20).\u00a0 The\u00a0 unbeliever\u00a0 is\u00a0 meant\u00a0 to\u00a0 see\u00a0 the\u00a0 good\u00a0 deeds\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Christian\u00a0 and\u00a0 go\u00a0 on\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God\u00a0 (1 Pet.2:12).\u00a0 The\u00a0 Psalmist\u00a0 tells\u00a0 us\u00a0 of\u00a0 God\u2019s\u00a0 attributes\u00a0 and\u00a0 character\u00a0 in\u00a0 such\u00a0 a\u00a0 way\u00a0 that\u00a0 we\u00a0 are\u00a0 meant\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 and\u00a0 worship\u00a0 our\u00a0 creator\u00a0 and\u00a0 Lord:\u00a0 \u2018Your\u00a0 righteousness,\u00a0 O\u00a0 God,\u00a0 reaches\u00a0 the\u00a0 high\u00a0 heavens. You\u00a0 who\u00a0 have\u00a0 done\u00a0 great\u00a0 things,\u00a0 O\u00a0 God,\u00a0 who\u00a0 is\u00a0 like\u00a0 You?\u2019\u00a0 (Ps.71:19)<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0 fact,\u00a0 \u2018Great\u00a0 is\u00a0 the\u00a0 Lord,\u00a0 and\u00a0 greatly\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 praised,\u00a0 and\u00a0 His\u00a0 greatness\u00a0 is\u00a0 unsearchable\u2019\u00a0 (Psalm 145:3).\u00a0 This\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 reflected\u00a0 in\u00a0 our\u00a0 meetings\u00a0 together.\u00a0 They\u00a0 are\u00a0 not\u00a0 just\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 where\u00a0 we\u00a0 are\u00a0 encouraged\u00a0 or\u00a0 learn\u00a0 something\u00a0 that\u00a0 is\u00a0 handy\u00a0 for\u00a0 daily\u00a0 living.\u00a0 The\u00a0 priority\u00a0 is\u00a0 not\u00a0 that\u00a0 we\u00a0 \u2018get\u00a0 something\u2019\u00a0 out\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 service.\u00a0 Rather,\u00a0 it\u00a0 is\u00a0 that\u00a0 God\u00a0 is\u00a0 glorified\u00a0 with\u00a0 true\u00a0 adoration\u00a0 and\u00a0 praise.\u00a0 Paul\u00a0 holds\u00a0 out\u00a0 the\u00a0 hope\u00a0 that\u00a0 an\u00a0 unbeliever\u00a0 or\u00a0 outsider\u00a0 might\u00a0 enter\u00a0 the\u00a0 meeting,\u00a0 and\u00a0 be\u00a0 convicted\u00a0 and\u00a0 called to\u00a0 account.\u00a0 The\u00a0 secrets\u00a0 of\u00a0 his\u00a0 heart\u00a0 are disclosed,\u00a0 and\u00a0 so,\u00a0 falling\u00a0 on\u00a0 his\u00a0 face,\u00a0 he\u00a0 will\u00a0 worship\u00a0 God\u00a0 and\u00a0 declare\u00a0 that\u00a0 He\u00a0 is\u00a0 present\u00a0 (1 Cor.14:24-25).\u00a0 Fellowship\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 found\u00a0 amongst\u00a0 Christians,\u00a0 yes,\u00a0 but\u00a0 also\u00a0 with\u00a0 the\u00a0 Father\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 Son,\u00a0 Jesus\u00a0 Christ\u00a0 (1 John 1:3).\u00a0 This\u00a0 takes\u00a0 us\u00a0 out\u00a0 of\u00a0 ourselves\u00a0 when\u00a0 we\u00a0 pray,\u00a0 we\u00a0 hear\u00a0 the\u00a0 Word\u00a0 of\u00a0 God,\u00a0 and\u00a0 we\u00a0 sing\u00a0 His\u00a0 praises.\u00a0 We\u00a0 are\u00a0 meant\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 glorifying\u00a0 God\u00a0 more\u00a0 than\u00a0 satisfying\u00a0 our\u00a0 needs.\u00a0 There\u00a0 is\u00a0 an\u00a0 ever-present\u00a0 danger\u00a0 that\u00a0 expedience\u00a0 or\u00a0 the\u00a0 desire\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 relevant\u00a0 may\u00a0 entice\u00a0 us\u00a0 to\u00a0 follow\u00a0 Nadab\u00a0 and\u00a0 Abihu\u00a0 in\u00a0 offering\u00a0 up\u00a0 profane\u00a0 fire\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 Lord\u00a0 (see\u00a0 Lev.10:1-3).\u00a0 The\u00a0 Psalmist\u2019s\u00a0 perspective\u00a0 must\u00a0 be\u00a0 a\u00a0 constant\u00a0 corrective:\u00a0 \u2018Not\u00a0 to\u00a0 us,\u00a0 O\u00a0 Lord,\u00a0 not\u00a0 to\u00a0 us,\u00a0 but\u00a0 to\u00a0 Your\u00a0 name\u00a0 give\u00a0 glory,\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 sake\u00a0 of\u00a0 Your\u00a0 steadfast\u00a0 love\u00a0 and\u00a0 Your\u00a0 faithfulness\u2019\u00a0 (Ps.115:1).<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0 Church\u2019s\u00a0 second\u00a0 task\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 edify\u00a0 the\u00a0 saints. \u00a0Dietrich\u00a0 Bonhoeffer\u00a0 declared\u00a0 that\u00a0 \u2018The\u00a0 essence\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 church\u00a0 is\u00a0 not\u00a0 to\u00a0 practise\u00a0 theology\u00a0 but\u00a0 to\u00a0 believe\u00a0 and\u00a0 obey\u00a0 the\u00a0 word\u00a0 of\u00a0 God.\u2019\u00a0 Christopher\u00a0 Ash\u00a0 interprets\u00a0 Bonhoeffer\u00a0 to\u00a0 mean\u00a0 that\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u2019s\u00a0 task\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 build\u00a0 itself\u00a0 up\u00a0 by\u00a0 the\u00a0 Word\u00a0 of\u00a0 God.\u00a0 In\u00a0 Ash\u2019s\u00a0 words:\u00a0 \u2018We\u00a0 reach\u00a0 the\u00a0 world\u00a0 by\u00a0 preaching\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 church.\u2019\u00a0 Certainly,\u00a0 the\u00a0 New\u00a0 Testament\u00a0 places\u00a0 much\u00a0 emphasis\u00a0 on\u00a0 the\u00a0 spiritual\u00a0 growth\u00a0 of\u00a0 those\u00a0 who\u00a0 are\u00a0 Christians.\u00a0 For\u00a0 example,\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 epistles\u00a0 at\u00a0 least,\u00a0 Paul\u00a0 prays\u00a0 more\u00a0 frequently\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 sanctification\u00a0 of\u00a0 those\u00a0 who\u00a0 are\u00a0 professing\u00a0 Christians\u00a0 than\u00a0 he\u00a0 does\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 conversion\u00a0 of\u00a0 those\u00a0 who\u00a0 are\u00a0 not\u00a0 (e.g.\u00a0 Eph.1:15-23;\u00a0 3:14-21;\u00a0 Phil.1:3-11;\u00a0 Col.1:9-12;\u00a0 2 Thess.1:3).\u00a0 In\u00a0 keeping\u00a0 with\u00a0 this\u00a0 approach,\u00a0 Paul\u00a0 was\u00a0 concerned\u00a0 that\u00a0 all\u00a0 Christians\u00a0 would\u00a0 see\u00a0 the\u00a0 progress\u00a0 in\u00a0 Timothy\u00a0 (1 Tim.4:15).<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0 Jeremiah\u2019s\u00a0 day,\u00a0 God\u00a0 promised\u00a0 a\u00a0 repentant\u00a0 people:\u00a0 \u2018I\u00a0 will\u00a0 give\u00a0 you\u00a0 shepherds\u00a0 after\u00a0 My\u00a0 own\u00a0 heart,\u00a0 who\u00a0 will\u00a0 feed\u00a0 you\u00a0 with\u00a0 knowledge\u00a0 and understanding\u2019\u00a0 (Jer.3:15).\u00a0 Jesus\u00a0\u00a0 told\u00a0 a\u00a0 restored\u00a0 Peter\u00a0 that\u00a0 his\u00a0 task\u00a0 was\u00a0 to\u00a0 feed\u00a0 the\u00a0 sheep\u00a0 (John 21:15-17).\u00a0 Part\u00a0 of\u00a0 meeting\u00a0 together\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 stir\u00a0 up\u00a0 one\u00a0 another\u00a0 to\u00a0 love\u00a0 and\u00a0 good\u00a0 works\u00a0 (Heb.10:24-25).\u00a0 Christ\u00a0 gives \u00a0gifts\u00a0 to\u00a0 His\u00a0 people\u00a0 in\u00a0 order\u00a0 \u2018to\u00a0 equip\u00a0 the\u00a0 saints\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 work\u00a0 of\u00a0 ministry,\u00a0 for\u00a0 building\u00a0 up\u00a0 the\u00a0 body\u00a0 of\u00a0 Christ\u2019\u00a0 (Eph.4:12).<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0 third\u00a0 task\u00a0 is\u00a0 to\u00a0 evangelise\u00a0 the\u00a0 world.\u00a0 In\u00a0 1839\u00a0 Alexander\u00a0 Duff\u00a0 preached\u00a0 at\u00a0 the\u00a0 ordination \u00a0service\u00a0 of\u00a0 Thomas\u00a0 Smith,\u00a0 who\u00a0 was\u00a0 leaving\u00a0 for\u00a0 work\u00a0 in\u00a0 India,\u00a0 from\u00a0 where\u00a0 Duff\u00a0 had\u00a0 just\u00a0 come\u00a0 and\u00a0 to\u00a0 where\u00a0 he\u00a0 was\u00a0 just\u00a0 returning.\u00a0 The\u00a0 sermon\u00a0 was\u00a0 published\u00a0 with\u00a0 the\u00a0 title\u00a0 \u2018Missions\u00a0 the\u00a0 Chief\u00a0 End\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Christian\u00a0 Church\u2019.\u00a0 It\u00a0 was\u00a0 based\u00a0 on\u00a0 Psalm\u00a0 67:1-2\u00a0 (which\u00a0 the\u00a0 published\u00a0 edition\u00a0 mistakenly\u00a0 identified\u00a0 as\u00a0 Psalm 47:1-2):\u00a0 \u2018God\u00a0 be\u00a0 merciful\u00a0 unto\u00a0 us,\u00a0 and\u00a0 bless\u00a0 us;\u00a0 and\u00a0 cause\u00a0 his\u00a0 face\u00a0 to\u00a0 shine\u00a0 upon\u00a0 us.\u00a0 That\u00a0 thy\u00a0 way\u00a0 may\u00a0 be\u00a0 known\u00a0 upon\u00a0 earth,\u00a0 thy\u00a0 saving\u00a0 health\u00a0 among\u00a0 all\u00a0 nations.\u2019 \u00a0Duff\u2019s\u00a0 opening\u00a0 sentence\u00a0 was:\u00a0 \u2018The\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Psalmist,\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 spirit\u00a0 of\u00a0 inspiration,\u00a0 personating\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 redeemed\u00a0 in\u00a0 every\u00a0 age,\u00a0 and\u00a0 more\u00a0 especially\u00a0 under\u00a0 its\u00a0 last\u00a0 and\u00a0 most\u00a0 perfect\u00a0 dispensation,\u00a0 here\u00a0 offers\u00a0 up\u00a0 a\u00a0 sublime\u00a0 prayer\u00a0 for\u00a0 its\u00a0 inward\u00a0 prosperity,\u00a0 and\u00a0 outward\u00a0 universal\u00a0 extension.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>God\u00a0 gives\u00a0 us\u00a0 some\u00a0 flexibility\u00a0 in\u00a0 doing\u00a0 this,\u00a0 in\u00a0 that\u00a0 we\u00a0 are\u00a0 to\u00a0 become\u00a0 all\u00a0 things\u00a0 to\u00a0 all\u00a0 people\u00a0 that\u00a0 we\u00a0 might\u00a0 save\u00a0 some\u00a0 (1 Cor.9:22).\u00a0 Some,\u00a0 however,\u00a0 have\u00a0 combined\u00a0 this\u00a0 with\u00a0 the\u00a0 evangelistic\u00a0 commission\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 point\u00a0 where\u00a0 the\u00a0 unbelieving\u00a0 world\u00a0 almost\u00a0 dictates\u00a0 what\u00a0 takes\u00a0 place\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 church\u00a0 buildings\u00a0 on\u00a0 Sunday.\u00a0 A\u00a0 better\u00a0 and\u00a0 more\u00a0 biblical\u00a0 approach\u00a0 would\u00a0 seem\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 that\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 as\u00a0 it\u00a0 meets\u00a0 ought\u00a0 to\u00a0 desire\u00a0 three\u00a0 things:\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God,\u00a0 to\u00a0 build\u00a0 up\u00a0 Christians,\u00a0 and\u00a0 to\u00a0 evangelise\u00a0 unbelievers.\u00a0 These\u00a0 three\u00a0 aims\u00a0 need\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 kept\u00a0 together.\u00a0 As\u00a0 Scripture\u00a0 says\u00a0 in\u00a0 another\u00a0 context,\u00a0 a\u00a0 threefold\u00a0 cord\u00a0 is\u00a0 not\u00a0 quickly\u00a0 broken\u00a0 (Eccles.4:12).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u00a0 is\u00a0 much\u00a0 debate\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 modern\u00a0 church\u00a0 about\u00a0 what\u00a0 exactly\u00a0 is\u00a0 her\u00a0 mission.\u00a0 Often\u00a0 the\u00a0 answer\u00a0 that\u00a0 is\u00a0 given\u00a0 is\u00a0 not\u00a0 so\u00a0 much\u00a0 wrong\u00a0 as\u00a0 lop-sided,\u00a0 and\u00a0 exaggerated\u00a0 implications\u00a0 and\u00a0 conclusions\u00a0 are\u00a0 drawn\u00a0 from\u00a0 that.\u00a0 There\u00a0 are\u00a0 probably\u00a0 three\u00a0 main\u00a0 views:\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 exists\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God;\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 exists\u00a0 to\u00a0 build\u00a0 up\u00a0 the\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"resource-author":[6005],"topic":[4906,5943],"class_list":["post-24410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","resource-author-barnes-peter","topic-church-and-ministry-2","topic-missions-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Church&#039;s Chief End - Banner of Truth UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/banneroftruth.org\/uk\/resources\/articles\/2016\/churchs-chief-end\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Church&#039;s Chief End\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There\u00a0 is\u00a0 much\u00a0 debate\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 modern\u00a0 church\u00a0 about\u00a0 what\u00a0 exactly\u00a0 is\u00a0 her\u00a0 mission.\u00a0 Often\u00a0 the\u00a0 answer\u00a0 that\u00a0 is\u00a0 given\u00a0 is\u00a0 not\u00a0 so\u00a0 much\u00a0 wrong\u00a0 as\u00a0 lop-sided,\u00a0 and\u00a0 exaggerated\u00a0 implications\u00a0 and\u00a0 conclusions\u00a0 are\u00a0 drawn\u00a0 from\u00a0 that.\u00a0 There\u00a0 are\u00a0 probably\u00a0 three\u00a0 main\u00a0 views:\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 exists\u00a0 to\u00a0 glorify\u00a0 God;\u00a0 the\u00a0 Church\u00a0 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name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/banneroftruth.org\\\/uk\\\/resources\\\/articles\\\/2016\\\/churchs-chief-end\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/banneroftruth.org\\\/uk\\\/resources\\\/articles\\\/2016\\\/churchs-chief-end\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"colinadmin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/banneroftruth.org\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/91e4b84b00316b05c1d088e21aef3b61\"},\"headline\":\"The Church&#8217;s Chief 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