What is:
The Purpose of the Church?

The purpose of the church is twofold. It is to be a light to the world, both individually and corporately.

Individually every member of the church is a single light. It burns brightly spreading the light of God to those around them: like a candle, giving light to everyone in the room.

Corporately, all the members of the church, burning brightly, become a bold light: like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, due to all the light shining in it, in the night.

As a believer dives deeper into his faith and begins reading Revelation, chapters 1, 2 and 3, he learns how there is a specific church, and a specific angel assigned to each church, assigned to the city in which the church resides. The angel of the church, and the church itself, are given the commission of God to bring the revelation of God to their city, to watch over it, and make it grow in the work of God, and to become a great light to the city in which it resides.

And collectively all the cities, with all their churches around the world, are called to work together, collectively to be a burning light, burning brightly. They will collectively become like yeast in a lump of dough, that will spread its influence, and to every area of society, bringing its light and its truth, it’s love and power, until the whole lump of dough is leavened.

That is why we are called to be his witnesses: to bear witness to him, his testimony, his teaching, his wisdom, his word, his will, and his way, his death, and his resurrection.

In Daniel chapter 10 (and Revelation 1):  We are confronted by one single person, who is the source of all light, and whose light is so bright that it hurts to draw near to him, that is, unless he gives us his help, to stand up, live, and breathe in his presence, for he is holy.

Daniel 10:4-21 (KJV)

 

4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

 

Yes, I admit, the above passage is a bit cryptic but: One thing is absolutely certain, the presence of God, and the unveiled and glorified nature of God’s holiness, is a supernatural light so strong that it, saps the strength of a natural man. And without the supernatural aid, given by a supernatural being, the life of the man gets crushed in the presence of the light of God, radiating in his heavenly, holy servants. The same similar condition is found in the first chapter of Revelation, where we can are confronted by the son of God once again:

Revelation 1:7-20 (KJV)

 

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

As we can see above clearly, the purpose of the church is to shine brightly for God, and the light it receives, comes from the presence of God himself. Without his light and his life shining through his people church of God is no different than a pub, where people gather to get some grub, and some booze, and possibly get drunk.

And that sense, a churches, no different than: a rotary club, or a biker’s fellowship, or a mafia crime family.

Without the power and the presence of God, leading and guiding the church of God, it is simply a human organization, run by a human administration, set up by human goals, and human strength and human abilities. This was not the original attention of the church, ever. Below is a simple outline can use to see a summary of the biblical parts that make up a whole church that represents the kingdom of God.