Over the last several posts, we have studied how the church was in the mind of God from all of eternity (Ephesians 3:10-11). It follows the authority of Christ and a divine pattern (Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 8:5). That pattern states that the work of the church is the building up of the saints, benevolence among saints and the enlargement of the church by the preaching of the gospel (Ephesians 4:12).

But men have perverted the work of the church to include many items which God never intended. These include “food and frolic,” merchandising, manufacturing, counseling and psychology, teaching secular subjects and dabbling in politics. Where is the scriptural authority for such perversions? No one has the right to take away from the energy, strength, zeal or re- sources of the church of our Lord to serve human aims or purposes. The church should be kept faithful to the divine mission that was God’s purpose from eternity for her to serve. It is the all-sufficient instrument of God to carry out His purpose.

If we deny the adequacy of the church to do the work God has assigned, we admit that the saints have not been perfected, and this in turn argues that Christ did not give the necessary gifts to get the job done. Such thinking is a serious blow to the wisdom of God. If you belong to a “church” that has left the Word of God, please contact us for a study to see the simplicity of God’s plan.

Kyle Campbell