Why You Cannot Take the Word “Church” Out of Christ’s Church
When preachers of the Gospel stop preaching the Gospel, the church cannot grow, spiritually or numerically. The God of the Bible, Yahweh the God of Israel, is the one true God and He has a predetermined plan (Acts 2:23). From the Bible, we know there was a beginning to this creation (Gen 1–2); and we know there is an end (2 Pet 3:13). In order for the plan of God to arrive at its intended end, there must, of necessity, be a means to an end.
In the plan of God, there was the creation (Gen 1–2); the fall (Gen 3); the revelation of God to ethnic Israel (Old Testament); the Messiah and His redemption (Gospels); the ingathering by the Holy Spirit (church); and the end of the story of this world. The Bible also reveals the new creation; a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells (Is 65–66; Rev 21–22).
The ingathering by the Holy Spirit is our interest here. The Gospel preacher, filled with the Holy Spirit, heralds the good news of Messiah’s redemptive work to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). In purchasing His church with His precious blood upon the Roman cross at Golgotha, Jesus Christ ransomed many from the total population of humanity, across history (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). Today, many are called, but few are chosen to come to the Son of God, by the irresistible draw of God the Father (Jn 6:44, 65). Of all that Yahweh has given to Jesus (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24), our Lord loses none of them (Jn 10:28–29).
The Gospel call is the Good Shepherd calling His own, lost sheep to come to Him (Jn 10). In Adam, all have wandered away from Yahweh (Rom 3:23). Not all have been predestined to election; not all have been redeemed; and not all have received or will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of Christ plants the seed of God’s Word in the hearts of the elect, redeemed, it produces spiritual fruit, including new and abundant life (Jn 10:10; 2 Cor 5:17).
The main point is that God’s chosen people hear their Great Shepherd calling them to repentance and faith when the Gospel is preached (Acts 17:30; Rom 10:17). Those who do not belong to Jesus Messiah cannot hear the effectual call because the Father is not drawing them to Christ, nor do they receive the Holy Spirit at any point in their lives (Jn 14:17), so to be born again of God. Simply put, God is not calling reprobate sinners out of the world. He those who are His (2 Tim 1:9); and those He has chosen (Rom 11:5–6), He calls (2 Pet 1:10), and by the Spirit opening their hearts, they respond (Acts 16:14).
The called-out ones (Gk. ekklesia) are Christ’s church — people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). Thus, the reader of the Bible detects two groups of people in the world as the only distinction (Gal 3:28).
Romans 9 is the chapter in the Bible providing the clearest view to this distinction (especially Rom 9:22–23). Christ’s church is identified with numerous descriptive titles. God’s chosen people are the elect; the redeemed; the born again; believers in Jesus; Christians; the children of God; sheep; wheat; beloved; disciples; etc. For every title ascribed to members of the body of Christ, there is an opposite name/title for those outside the flock of God.
Our question is, “Should the church rid itself of the term ‘church’ to become more appealing to the world of unbelievers?” First, there is a distorted sentiment in the church that suggests anyone, head for head, can be saved (Arminian heresy). This is a significant doctrinal error, promoted by those who are not serious students of the doctrines of the Bible.
Second, those who imagine the Gospel to be a product to sell, instead of a decree heralded from the throne of the sovereign King, will distort the message. In turn, this produces false conversions. Some “buyers” of Christianity are afraid of judgment and punishment in fiery hell. Others have motives to be better citizens in their communities. Others wish to carry on a tradition.
Third, those who are baptized with water into the church, but not baptized by the Holy Spirit, will try to improve the Spirit’s work by attempting to improve the marketing scheme, for the purpose of popularity. Numerical growth is the idol in view. It is pursued as goal #1. Preaching the great doctrines of the Bible is never the means toward this end; it is always a form of gimmickry, typically playing on peoples’ emotions.
Is the term “church” offensive to you? Do you prefer terms like “ministries”; “congregation”; “community”? Let us remember that “church” is an English (also Dutch; German; and Norse) word translated from the New Testament that means “called out ones.” Ekklesia (Greek) emphasizes the separation of one group from another. It was employed by Jesus when He promised to build His church (Mt 16:18). For this reason, alone, the word should not be discarded.
People who do not love Christ’s church want to change the language of the Bible. It is the Holy Spirit who gave us the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21); and those people, devoid of the Spirit (Jn 14:17; Jude 19), are the ones embarrassed by Christ’s church. They may occupy physical space and pretend to worship God on Sunday morning; but they only wish to hijack the church for their own wrong motives.
My dear reader, flee from those who change the words of the Bible. Avoid those who are trying to “improve” Christ’s chosen bride, the true Israel of God. Every attempt to appear more relevant should be refuted. The church in this world will never be big and popular. She will be hated and despised the more she resembles her Lord. She is hated because she has been chosen and called out of the world by Him (Jn 15:19; 2 Pet 1:10). She is not ashamed of Christ Jesus her Lord, nor the fact He calls her His “church”.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 20, 2024
