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Misconceptions About the Church


RETIREDFAN1

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Misconceptions about the Church

 

The Lord’s Church, the Church of Christ, was established around the year 30 when the gates were thrown open by Peter on the Day of Pentecost recorded for us in Acts 2. There was a purpose for the establishment of the Church. 

Ephesians 3: 10 - 11

 

Since that time, there have been many wrong and inaccurate notions about the Lord’s Church. Some of these come from misunderstanding the scriptures. Some from being influenced by false teachers and false doctrine. We want to take time today to look at some of the common misconceptions about the one church that was established by Jesus. We do this, so that when someone brings one of them up to us, we can correct them. Sadly, many of these misconceptions are often held by folks who are actually members of a local congregation of the Lord’s Church, so it’s important to help them overcome their false ideas. 

 

The first misconception that many have about the Church is that it is a building. That is very wrong. The building does not matter. The Church is the people, not the building. A building is simply a place where people come together to meet. 


 

The Lord has shown that He wants us to assemble on every first day of every week. 

Acts 20: 7

I Corinthians 16: 1 - 2

Hebrews 10: 25

 

An assembly means that there needs to be a place to assemble. Now this does not mean a building is necessary, but it is nice to have one. The word “church” means the called out. The Church is made up of those who have been delivered from darkness and placed into the Kingdom of God. 

Colossians 1: 13

 

The Lord didn’t add people to a building’s roster. He added them to His Church. 

Acts 2: 47

 

The building is not relevant. The Church is the people, and people can assemble anywhere, building optional. 

 

Another misconception is that the Church is only a temporary substitute for the Kingdom. Some people actually believe that Christ came to establish His Kingdom, but was rejected by the Jews so He established the Church instead. 


 

Putting aside the fact that no man can stop God from doing whatever He has planned, it’s very clear that had Jesus come to establish a physical kingdom, He would have. When He fed the 5000, there were some who wanted to make Him king right then and there. 

John 6: 14 - 15

 

The prophets spoke of the Church. They prophesied about the days of the Church.

I Peter 1: 10 - 12

 

Peter also mentions this in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2: 16

 

The Kingdom that Christ came to establish was instituted just as was prophesied. The church is not a temporary substitute for the Kingdom. The church IS the Kingdom. 

Mark 9: 1

 

Now we have 3 possible outcomes here. Either God lied. God made an error. The Kingdom was established. 

 

God does not lie.

Titus 1: 2

Proverbs 6: 16 - 19


 

God does not make errors.

II Samuel 22: 31

Matthew 5: 48

 

Since God does not lie. Since God does not make errors, only one option remains: The Kingdom was established exactly as God had willed. The Church is the Kingdom, not a temporary substitute. 

 

Another misconception is that the Lord’s Church is made up of all the various denominations. Most people believe that one church is just as good as another. They use a false view of what John was teaching.

John 15: 1 - 8

 

What they either fail to see or are ignoring on purpose is that Jesus is referring to individuals, not to groups. Notice how he uses the terms “me”, “you”, and so forth. While most still believe the error taught by men, their belief does not change what God taught. 

 

Now it IS true that one denomination is just as good as another. That’s because NONE of them are supported by the Bible. None of them were founded by Jesus Christ. None of them existed in the First Century. All of them were established by men centuries after the Lord established His Church, the one and only true Church. 

We read of the ONE body in the New Testament.

Matthew 16: 18

Ephesians 4: 4 - 6

 

Christ didn’t establish denominations. He established only one church, and only those who are in that one church will be saved.

 

Another misconception that has caught on in the past few decades is that the Church is a social organization. Most people have the idea that church should be all fun and games. Many programs developed by the denominations and even by fallen congregations of the Lord’s Church are designed to satisfy the physical and social needs of others. Any event or building used only to entertain is not what the Lord’s Church exists for. The drawing power of the Lord’s Church is not fun and entertainment. It is not taking care of the physical and social needs of the world. The purpose of the Lord’s Church is to teach the Gospel.

Romans 1: 16

 

Those who use entertainment and other activities are evidently ashamed of the power of the gospel. There is a time and a place for entertainment, but it is not the function of a true congregation of the Lord’s Church to provide them. 



 

Finally, there is a misconception that the church is not necessary for salvation. Jesus believed that the Church was important enough to die for. 

Acts 20: 28

 

If the Church is not an essential part of our salvation, then Christ died for nothing. People think that they can live a good life and go to Heaven without being a member of the Lord’s Church. When the Lord returns, it will be to save His body, which is the Church of Christ. 

Ephesians 5: 23

Colossians 1: 18

 

Those who are not wearing the right garment, will not be saved.

Matthew 22: 11 - 13

 

Most people have many misconceptions and false ideas about the Lord’s Church. When we hear them, we must attempt to correct them. We can do this by using the Bible.

II Peter 1: 3


 

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