THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH(Excerpt from "CHURCH & MINISTRY by O. Wendell Davis) Jesus came into this world to redeem humankind. He revealed God to people and His purpose was to set people free from sin. The mission of the church is to carry on the life and work of Christ in the world. It is now the church's responsibility to show God to people and to present the redemptive message of Jesus Christ. Christ himself committed this responsibility to His church: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:19-20). The redeeming power of Christ makes the church different from any other movement, organization, or society. Even though the church is made up of persons organized for work and gathered by choice, it is distinct because of the presence and purpose of Jesus Christ. This writer sees the "keys of the Kingdom as the evidence of the power that Jesus gave to His church to be His witnesses. Keys are used to lock and unlock doors. The "keys of the Kingdom represent the gospel that Jesus gave to His church. So, if the church binds the gospel on earth by not proclaiming it, "heaven has already decreed that there is no other way whereby people can be saved and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. On the other hand, if the church looses the gospel on earth by proclaiming it, heaven has also decreed that people will hear it. "Some will believe it and those who do will enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is the primary function of the church in the world. |
