With so many challenges facing this region and society in general, the church tends to come up in the conversation before the dialogue ends. There are various opinions as to the role the church should be playing in solving and confronting the ills that tend to plague us. Those conclusions that have merit come from a root of understanding the purpose of the church. At the same time, there are others who “assign/define” the role of the church but are not affiliated with the church, and as a result are not aware of the foundation upon which it is built.
I would like to clarify the role in a non-technical fashion so that readers may, at least in the future when these conversations reconvene, be able to appropriately hold the church accountable for what it really is.
My background allows me to speak to this question. I have been ordained in ministry for 30 years, pastoring for 22. I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and my godfather (Fred Shuttlesworth) was one of the chief architects of the Civil Rights Movement. My education is in the social science and counseling field, with Washington University in St. Louis being one of the schools attended.
The church consists of individuals around the world who have accepted the gift of salvation as a result of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, who is a part of the Trinity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The mission of the church is to evangelize and make disciples, which is consistent with the teaching of all 66 inerrant books of the Bible.
The church has regular meetings, with the goal being to encourage one another by telling how the works of God have been manifest since they were last together. Teaching is ongoing in order that we live more as Jesus did while here, most importantly, by being a servant.
Individuals who make up the church are each uniquely gifted to respond as a servant to mankind in areas consistent with their strengths. For example, some individuals are gifted to work with/lead youth, elderly, financial management, counseling, etc. The needs of those who are a part of the church are to be addressed first.
In the church gatherings, worship occurs, which includes prayers, scripture reading, singing and instruction. The individuals are reminded of the mandate to serve in the community in those areas of giftedness only, so that their stewardship is effective. Everyone is not gifted to do the same thing. You would not go to a cardiologist for a broken leg even if they were the best in the world just because they are a doctor; instead, you would be better served by a specialist in that area of expertise.
The church is not assigned to be in politics; however, the individuals are to become politically aware and honor the process. It does not endorse candidates; however, individuals are admonished to exercise their civic responsibility.
The church is not assigned to walk picket lines, boycott or disrupt businesses; however, individuals are to take a God-honoring, peaceful stand against unjust practices.
The pastors are gifted and called to teach and to lead the individuals who choose to affiliate with the local gathering of which they are the overseer. Individuals who are gifted to articulate societal concerns in a God-honoring way to the appropriate entities are the ones who should be visible in those situations. The pastor is a nurturer, peacemaker, and strong, fearless advocate for justice and defense of what the Bible teaches.
The bottom line is that we should not look to a building with an address and name of a church to take the responsibility from the individuals who attend such settings. The corporate response of the church is to challenge the individual members. The individuals’ charge is to be visible advocates in representing righteousness.
Except divine intervention occurs, those who labor, protest, and show hostility and hate, do it all in vain.
Douglass Petty is pastor of Fresh Start Bible Church and a life coach and member of several community organizations. You can find out more about him by going to www.kingdomanswers.org.
