From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Introduction to a series

In this time of multiplied evils in "the church" we must recognize and cling to the Biblical definition of "the Church".

Literally every week, we hear from Christians who are alarmed by the un-Biblical direction of their churches. We hear from people in all sorts of ecclesiastical situations. Some are in purportedly conservative Presbyterian bodies such as the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, or the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Others are Southern Baptists, or in other Baptist bodies. Others belong to independent churches that were once true to the fundamentals of the faith. Increasingly, we hear from people outside the United States who are likewise grieved by the spiritual departures in their once-sound churches. Sadly, in many cases the evils they are seeing were exported from American churches.

"Nowhere To Go"

As one of our readers put it, echoing a statement of Charles Spurgeon with an aching heart, "It seems that Biblical truth has become optional in our church." Another wrote, "Sunday morning comes, and it seems there's no place around here for us to go." The tidal wave of spiritual compromises, doctrinal weakness, worldliness, immorality, and outright heresy that these saddened Christians recount to us could easily overwhelm us. We must admit that there are times in this ministry when it is all very deeply depressing. We could well give up, but for one thing: Our Lord Jesus Christ has declared that on the Rock of Himself alone He will build His Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:15-18).

What Is The Church?

There is no little comfort in Christ's words. But in order to take heart from His great statement, we must recognize the Biblical definition of the Church. It is not a denomination, association, convention, council, or even a visible local assembly. The true Church, the Body of Christ, is "the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in Heaven" (Hebrews 13:23) - the blood-bought saints of God, wherever they may be, in Heaven or on Earth. Our Lord has told us that in such company, where even two or three are gathered together in His almighty name, He is there with them (Matthew 18:20).

Christians Must Make Judgments

This Biblical definition of Christ's true Church is at the forefront of our efforts to help those who contact us about conditions in their local churches or ecclesiastical bodies. We point them to the Word of God, because we have no other authority, and we have no wisdom of our own. We tell them how Scripture says we are to judge these matters - and yes, God's Word does call upon us to make judgments. The non-judgmental philosophy of the postmodern church is like a cancer upon it. But the Christian's judgment of men and matters must have its foundation in the objective truth of Holy Scripture, so that the judgments we make are not our own, but those of our Lord and His Word.

In this series of articles, we shall set forth much of the counsel that we give to these dear people from the Word, with the hope and prayer that it benefits others who find themselves in similar circumstances.

Next: What Happens When Truth Becomes Optional?

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