Church: What's the point?

Why does the church exist?

Now, how many of you think I am off my rocker for even posing this question? You can be honest, it won’t hurt my feelings. The question is important, because we live in an age where people are giving up on “organized religion” for personal spirituality or spiritual growth. Many people are simply walking away from the church. Why does this group exist at all? Why did Jesus and his disciples set up a church to continue on his tradition after he had left?

Many people simply write off church as non-essential. It is too hypocritical, too long, too boring. (Important: These are not my feelings, they are the ones statisticians report.) They see church as simply being one more thing to add to their already-too-large list of activities; something’s gotta give, and it often becomes church. So we are left to wonder, Why does the church exist in the first place? Is it even necessary?

I think Luke clues us in to the answer. Acts covers the foundation of the church and its actions for the Kingdom of God. Luke begins the book of Acts with this thought: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up into heaven…” (Acts 1:1-2). Luke’s choice of words is very important. Listen to them again: “… I wrote about all the Jesus had begun to do and to teach…” The rest of Acts is the continuation of Christ’s ministry on earth.



It’s no wonder that Paul picks up on this idea in his own writings. Paul refers to the church as the Soma Christou, the “Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12; Eph. 3-5; Col. 3). We are all called to be part of the body of Christ. A hand cannot grasp, an ear cannot hear, and feet cannot walk on their own; these actions are worthless without a body to make them whole. Body parts are just that: parts of the Body. They have no use outside of that function. So too are Christians: we need to be connected to a body of believers in order to grow and live our full potential.

Why is the church important? Because we carry on the work of Jesus in the world. Is being part of a church easy? Rarely. Is it worth it? Usually. Is it what Christ would have us do? Absolutely.