The Difference Between the Mission of the Church and the Mission of the Individual
Introduction
Frequent Confusion: Many problems within congregations arise from failing to differentiate between what is the responsibility of the church as an institution and what is the responsibility of the individual Christian.
The Danger of Mixing Functions: When we fail to distinguish these functions, we often end up violating the Word of God by engaging in unauthorized practices.
The Church’s Function: The church’s function is entirely spiritual. Blurring the church's spiritual mission with material or secular activities inevitably leads to deviations from divine authority.
Purpose of this Study: To clearly analyze the distinction between the church and the individual believer to avoid organizational and spiritual errors.
Individual Liberty: The individual Christian possesses liberties and responsibilities that the church, as a divine institution, does not have.
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I. The Mission of the Church (Spiritual Function)
A. The Church is Not of This World
Jesus clearly affirmed: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). The church belongs to the spiritual kingdom; it must not be confused with human structures, worldly governments, or secular activities.
B. The Three Missions of the Church
The church, according to the New Testament, has three distinct functions authorized by God:
1. Evangelism This is the command of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The church is the herald of the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
2. Edification (or Nurturing) The church exists to build up and equip the saints (Ephesians 4:11-13). Growth occurs through the proper working of each individual member within the body (Ephesians 4:16).
• Warning: Bible institutes or colleges funded by the church treasury lack biblical authority. The church, through its teaching ministry (elders, teachers), is sufficient to prepare and equip its saints.
3. Benevolence (Exclusively for Saints) The church is authorized to help only needy saints (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Scripture confirms this repeatedly:
• Acts 2:44-45 – Aid was for those who had believed.
• Acts 4:32 – Aid was for the believers.
• Acts 6:1-6 – The distribution was among the disciples (believers).
• Acts 11:27-30 – Aid was sent only to the brethren (saints) in Judea, even though famine was widespread.
• Romans 15:25-27 – Assistance was for the poor saints.
• 1 Timothy 5:16 – Help is designated for believing widows.
• Application: When we use the church’s financial collection (the treasury) for non-Christians, general social projects, or secular charities, we violate the specific divine law regarding the use of the collection.
C. The Church Sins if It Acts Outside These Functions
The church has only three authorized functions: evangelism, edification, and benevolence toward saints. Outside of these, the church as an institution lacks biblical authority to act.
D. The Biblical Method of Obtaining Funds
The church obtains its treasury through the regular collection on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2).
• Contemporary Errors: Fundraising raffles, food sales, special collections for unauthorized projects, and donation boxes outside the regular Sunday worship.
• These practices imitate human organizations and denominations and do not have biblical authorization.
II. The Liberties of the Individual
The Christian individual, however, is given far greater freedom in the use of their time, talents, and personal resources.
A. The Individual Can Help Everyone
The command is for us, as individuals, to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). The church helps only saints; the individual is free to help whomever they desire.
B. The Individual Can Undertake Material Projects
An individual Christian can create companies, provide employment, or open businesses. This is a personal endeavor and not a function of the church.
C. The Individual Works and Shares
Ephesians 4:28 instructs the individual to work so that he may have “something to share with anyone in need.” These are personal acts of charity and stewardship, not institutional ones.
D. The Individual Can Promote Recreational Activities
A Christian is free to organize football teams, baseball leagues, or general recreational activities. The church as an institution cannot do this. The concept of “church-sponsored sports teams” lacks biblical authority.
E. The Individual Can Develop Humanitarian Projects
Personal involvement in clinics, general social aid, scholarships, etc., is a noble individual work. However, the church, as an institution, has no authority to engage in these functions using the collective treasury.
F. The Need for Discernment
Many errors occur today because people fail to distinguish between what is proper for the individual (liberty) and what is proper for the church (divine limits). We take the individual’s freedom and impose it upon the institutional church, thereby usurping God’s authority.
See also
- How a Christian Ought to Live in This World
- What should a Christian's devotion be like?
- Why We Must Thank God Psalm 103:1-5
Conclusion
Many local churches today are failing because they do not respect the authority of God’s Word regarding the church's mission.
The confusion between the functions of the church and the individual leads to unauthorized—and therefore sinful—practices.
As individuals, we have great freedoms to do good; as the church, we have divine limits that we must respect.
Let us return to the Scriptures and respect God's authority in all things.
