What is the Role of the Church?

Introduction

Over the next few blog posts, I want to explore different ideas about the church’s role in the community. Throughout the history of the church, she has played many different roles in many different communities. What roles are appropriate and which are inappropriate? When should it play those roles and in what types of communities? The modern church scene is vastly different from the one that the Apostle Paul inhabited 2,000 years ago. How has the role changed now that there are roughly 58 churches within 10 miles of Grove City rather than one church in Ephesus, one in Phillipi, etc., etc.?

Quick Background (My starting place)

Early Church (~30-300 AD)

An emerging church amid persecution and ignorance, developing its role in a hostile community through outreach, service, and love by witnesses of Jesus and his followers.

Medieval (476-1500 AD)

A church established and rooted in tradition, focused on caring for the poor, preserving literature, thought, art, and the tradition of faith and worship – growing in corruption as in size.

Reformation (1517-1648 AD)

A church focused on good theology to combat the corruption that had worked into the tradition, and a push to make the gospel and scripture accessible, as did the early church.

Modern (1650-present)

A church divided both by the things of faith and the things of the world, struggling in western civilization’s melting pot of religions, denominations, and postmodernism, but shining like a diamond wedding ring at the bottom of a storm drain.

Questions to Answer

How does church size affect the role of the church? What about community size? Are there places where the church should “stay in her lane”? Should different denominations work together within the community? What should they work together on? Should churches work with parachurch organizations? Are parachurch organizations stealing roles from the church? Should pastors strive to be present in church buildings? Should church buildings remain locked or unlocked for most of the hours of the day/week? What is the church’s role in education? What isn’t? Is there a place for enterprise within the church? What does a successful church look like?

These are the questions I want to answer throughout this blog series by researching history, examining case studies, and exegeting scripture, culture, and business. I hope you enjoy this journey and that it helps you to think about what kind of church you want to be a part of and how you can serve her.