Theology Blog

I have found myself asking this question more frequently than usual lately, but own my own head and out loud. For whom does the church exist, those already in the church, or those not in the church. We all know that the answer is both, but our actions often do not match this belief. While this is a simple and perhaps obvious answer that requires better application, I think there is a more difficult, more important question the church should be asking itself:

For whom does the church primarily exist, those inside the church or those outside of the church?

Its interesting how much discomfort this question can create, especially amongst pastors, church members and otherwise religious people. I am not the first to ask it, nor is this time in history the first time that this question has been raised and needs to be raised. Jesus did ministry in a culture that needed to ask and answer this question as well.

I believe wholeheartedly that the church exists primarily for those outside of the church.

There are many reasons for this and as a pastor; I have to confess that this truth makes both church members and me uncomfortable. The truth is that our churches are not operating in a way that is consistent with the reality that our churches exist primarily for those outside of the church.

I supposed I could write for days as to why this is true, why this matters and how we should look at those of us inside of the church, but instead, I want to share three simple reasons the church exists primarily for those outside of the church.

3 reasons the church exists for those primarily outside of the church:

1. It is consistent with the ministry and teachings of Jesus.

The truth is that most of Jesus ministry was focused on those on the outside. Jesus often criticized the religious leaders and rarely focused his ministry on them. Even his disciples found themselves in second place to adulterers, tax collectors and other cultural degenerates. Jesus came for the whole world (in and outside of the church), for anyone who would follow, but the focus of his earthly ministry was primarily on those outside of the church.

2. The church exists for the world, not for itself.

Bill Hybels correctly states that ‘the local church is the hope of the world.’ The church is truly a mission organization. It is meant to serve, care for and share the gospel with the world. Every local church is located in its place in any season to serve and care for its community. The church is meant to be more like a hospital than a country club. Even those who grew up in the church come from outside of the church in some ways. If the church only existed for itself, most of us would not be in the church today.

3. The church will not survive it is primary purpose is internal.

Practically speaking, the local church would cease to exist in its current form if its primary purpose is internal. Any organization, organism, business or community that is completely internal will eventually die. Whether irrelevancy, lack of resources or age and death, any organization with an internal focus is doomed to die. In the church we see this happening at a saddening rate. Churches continue to close as they are no longer viable, financially and in terms of living members. We often forget that there were those who went before us and were committed to their communities so that the church could thrive for generations to come.

Its not an easy question, but its an important one. Answering this question should be a mental exercise, a theological exercise and something that shapes and changes our mission and function as a church in the world.