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THE CHURCH
Spirituality of the Church
The Church is not to embroil itself in party politics, nationalism, or anything that Christ has not commissioned his church to do.
We agree with the following statement by R.B. Kuiper -
"The church’s task is to teach and preach the Word of God. Whatever else it may properly do is subordinate and subsidiary to that task. This is its supreme task."
"Just because the preaching of the Word is so great a task the church must devote itself to it alone. For the Church to undertake other activities, not indissolubly bound up with this one, is a colossal blunder, because it inevitably results in neglect of its proper task. Let not the church degenerate into a social club. Let not the church go into the entertainment business. Let not the church take sides on such aspects of economics, politics, or natural science as are not dealt with in the Word of God. And let the church be content to teach special, not general revelation. Let the church be the church."
Dr. Morton Smith explains further what the spirituality of the church entails:
"There is a twofold work for the Church to accomplish. It is the gathering of the elect through the preaching of the Word, and then the instruction of those thus gathered in the full teaching of the Word. In other words the mission of the Church is to evangelize the lost, and then to teach the whole counsel of God to those who have been evangelized. We see the Church in Acts also ministering to her poor, but ultimately this was to the end that they could be taught the faith. This and this alone is the mission of the Church....We may add further that since this was the only task given to the Church by her King, the Church should confine herself to carrying out this task and this task alone."
Civil magistrates receive their authority from God and are limited in their jurisdiction and powers to God’s warrant. As the church applies God’s word in her preaching and teaching to every area of life, she may speak to the civil government regarding what God’s word requires. However, as the civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; neither should church officers usurp the jurisdiction given by God to civil magistrates. The church speaks of biblical principles, not public policies, teaching special revelation and not general revelation.
As all men are sinners in need of God’s saving mercy, civil government will not save any nor bring in the kingdom of God. The church should remind all, Jesus Christ is the only savior and lord, and preach the gospel of salvation. The church will have its greatest impact upon government and society by faithfully preaching the word of God, worshiping him as He has commanded, and exercising biblical discipline within the household of God. The church is to be salt and light to the world. Her individual members take the Lordship of Christ into their homes, families, work, wealth, business, schools, associations, community and political involvement, exercising dominion as His stewards, praying His will might be done on earth as it is perfectly done in heaven, doing His business until He comes again.
To learn more about this understanding of the Church, read this linked article. [The Spirituality of the Church]