3 Things the Church Must Do

The Christian Church has been involved in many things, from establishing hospitals to killing “infidels” and “heretics.” Obviously some of the things that the Church has done has been closer to the teachings of Jesus than others.

I see three things as that which the Church must do. I don’t mean that in the sense of doing these things will guarantee numerical growth. In fact these things may not help with that at all. You might have better luck by working at your entertainment value.

These are the three things that I see as representing the teachings of Jesus and the model of the early church. Here they are:

1. Proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Some people would have put worship and evangelism in the list. I would include them in this role of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The gospel that Jesus preached was that the Kingdom was at hand. We celebrate this in worship and share the Good News with those we encounter.
2. Building Healthy Community. Some churches focus on outreach and evangelism. I appreciate that but it might surprise some that there is more of a focus on building the community of faith. The early Christians really saw themselves as a family and those outside longed for the community of those Jesus followers. People in our congregations are not just a pool of volunteers, they are our sisters and brothers.
3. Helping Those in Need. Some Christians get concerned when churches are doing “too much” to help with physical needs. They worry that it is a slippery slop to a social gospel. Both Jesus and the early Christians were known for what they were doing for others. Go through the New Testament and see how often we are told to care for the poor. That is not “the liberal agenda.” That is the mission of the Church.

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