Be the Church… Go to Church… Grow the Church
By Chuck E. Tate
There is a popular social media trend that includes men being asked whether or not they think much about the Roman Empire. I personally don't think about the Roman Empire often, but I do reference the Book of Romans regularly as it is foundational for our Christian faith.
The Book of Romans, a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the early Christian community in Rome, is one of the most profound pieces of New Testament Scripture and has been quoted and commented on by pastors, theologians, scholars, and writers throughout the centuries.
Martin Luther, the pivotal figure of the Protestant Reformation, remarked on the significance of the Book of Romans:
"This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul."
The following two verses from the Book of Romans are not only two of the most memorized Scriptures in Romans, but are two of the most memorized Scriptures in the entire Bible because they detail how to respond to the Gospel and what it means to become a Christian.
"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." —Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)
Paul confirms that when we confess Jesus—and believe that God raised Him from the dead—we are saved. We're born again, our name is written in a book called the Lamb's Book of Life, and we are guaranteed to live in God's very presence for eternity. According to this passage, confessing Christ and placing your faith in Him is what makes you a Christian—and the very moment that happens, God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit—the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11)—comes to live inside of you.
This is why Paul said that our body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). This means God no longer occupies man-made buildings. Instead, our very body becomes His temple. This is how and when we become the Church. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are the church.
Be the Church
To be the Church is to not simply believe in Jesus; it's reflecting the teachings and love of Jesus, thus producing and displaying the fruit of His very Spirit that's inside of us. This means everywhere you go, church is in session.
Let that sink in. Everywhere you go. When you get to work, church is in session. When you're driving to work, church is in session. When you get cut off in traffic, church is in session. (That one was for me.) When you're talking to your neighbor, church is in session. When you're arguing at the dinner table, church is in session. When you're scrolling social media and browsing websites, church is in session. When you're hanging out with friends over the weekend, church is in session. When you're in line at Starbucks, church is in session. Everywhere you go, church is in session—so let's represent Jesus well.
Go to Church
Not only are we called to be the Church, but we are also commanded to gather together at church as the Church. Hebrews 10:25 (CEV) says, "Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer."
Notice the word habit. Attending church a few times each year is not a habit. Attending church a few times a year is not good enough when we are called to be the Church. This confirms that saying, "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian" is one of the most foolish things you can say as a member of the body of Christ. Gathering as the church regularly at a physical location serves as a spiritual community where individuals (the Church) come together (at church) in faith, fellowship, and service to worship Jesus and learn — learn about His teachings. But that's not all. I like the way the New Living Translation says it:
"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25)
If we're going to be effective at being the Church, we can't be the "some people" who neglect meeting together. Why? We need the encouragement that comes with gathering. Notice the Scripture says, "but encourage one another."
To live an isolated Christian life is not only foolish and dangerous, God never intended it to be that way, as we were created for community — with God and each other. You can worship on your own, you can study the Bible by yourself (2 Timothy 2:15, Jude 20), but one of the main reasons we are commanded to gather is so we can encourage each other!
Grow the Church
Did you know church is God's idea? Jesus died so the church could exist, Jesus is the Head of it and the One leading it, God chose it to advance His Kingdom, and He exclaimed that the gates of hell can't stop it! This means to be the church is to accept its mission: grow it.
God's mission for His church is to be a beacon of hope, love, and truth in the world. Jesus breaks this down in Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19-20.
“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
These two passages are known as the Great Commission (not the Great Suggestion) because it's a command — and when we obey it, God's Kingdom advances and His church grows larger.
In closing, notice the final words of Jesus in chapter Matthew 28: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." We must never forget that God is with us, He’s for us, He loves us, and Jesus is at His right hand cheering us on in prayer.
Be the church. Go to church. Grow the church.
Chuck E. Tate is a pastor, podcaster (Revival Town Podcast), and an award-winning author (41 Will Come). Tate is also a contributing writer at Think Eternity.