Theology 101 No. 30

The Church

What is the church? That is an important question in determining the goal and purpose of the local congregation. Part of the confusion about this goal and purpose stems from the confusion of how the term Achurch@ is used and understood. Church can mean the building where a group of believers gathers. It can mean the body of believers itself B the congregation. It can be used as a synonym for denomination. It can also mean the Universal Church which consists of all believers in heaven and one earth throughout all time.

The church on earth can be further divided into what is termed the visible and the invisible church. The visible church, simply put is all people who claim membership in Christ=s church here on earth. It is, however, true that there are hypocrites among true believers. Since we cannot see into another=s heart, only God knows which Amember@ of the visible church is also a member of the invisible church. Only true believers are members of the invisible church. Despite the denominational divisions that exist, there is only one Christian church and it is made up of all members in Christ throughout the world. Christ did not die only for the Lutherans or only for the Catholics or only for the Baptists. It is membership in the invisible church that saves and not membership in a particular denomination.

With that said it is important to recognize that there are church bodies that are orthodox and those that are heterodox. Orthodox churches are those that teach God=s Word in truth and purity and administer Christ=s sacraments according to His institution. Heterodox churches are those that teach in and practice in contradiction to God=s Word. The standard or the rule/norm by which orthodoxy is measured is the Lutheran symbols [The Book of Concord containing The Augsburg Confession, Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Smalcald Articles, and etc.]. The teaching of God=s Word in accordance with that norm determines the orthodoxy of a congregation and its preacher. All pastors are forbidden by Scripture Ato teach otherwise@ (I Timothy 1:3, 6:3ff) from the orthodox doctrine past down to them through the ages (Galatians 1:8; Philippians 4:9; II Timothy 3:14). Likewise Scripture does not anywhere permit the individual Christian the license to Afraternize with a teacher who deviates from the Word of God@ (Christian Dogmatics. Francis Pieper p. 422). [Jeremiah 23:31ff; Romans 16:17; I Timothy 6:3ff]

This is a difficult concept for many in the ecumenical age in which we live. The general attitude is that Awe are all Christians and we should all just get along.@ But Christians are commanded to avoid heterodox teachers and churches/congregations. The command is in place to protect the salvation of the individual believer. False doctrine is like yeast and only a little bit is needed for it to invade the whole lump of dough (Matthew 16:6ff; I Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9). As such false doctrine is dangerous and always has the potential of replacing true faith with a false faith or no faith at all.

We tend, however, to diminish the importance of doctrine and teaching, but Scripture and Christ do not. False doctrine is based on lies about what God=s Word says or does not say. The devil is the Afather of lies.@ Therefore all false doctrine is the work of the devil. To willingly and knowingly ally ourselves with false doctrine is to ally ourselves with Satan and his goal to separate believers from God (See John 8:31ff). This does not mean we are to never speak to or work with Christians who are currently members of heterodox churches. Our goal should be to keep dialogue open and to help them see their error. We are to never claim that we LCMS Lutherans are the only ones going to heaven, for this could not be further from the truth.

We do have a God who is holy and pure. As such He demands holiness and purity from us in all that we say and do. We recognize that complete purity in doctrine and purity in life are not going to be attainable in this life because of the sin that remains in the world. But that does not give license or excuse to not strive for the standard God has set. And when we fail, we can rely upon His forgiveness. It is through Christ=s sacrifice for us and the Means of Grace gifted to the church that we are given the knowledge (through the hearing and learning the Word) and the strengthening (through the power of the Gospel and the Sacraments) to aspire to that which God desires for our life here on earth.

The congregation is its strongest and most effective when its member purpose to live with this goal of pure doctrine and pure living in mind. When there is unity in doctrine and unity in spirit a congregation=s energy can be turned outward from itself and internal dysfunction (See the I Corinthians congregation as an example of this). President Al Barry of the LCMS once said, AGet the Word straight. Get the Word out.@ Our witness to Jesus Christ and the winning of souls to the Lord is most effective when the Word of God is unhindered by human additions or subtractions.

For further information please see the insert containing The Thesis on the Church by CFW Walther and the quote from Dr. Francis Pieper.