Why church? because Jesus said so!

Why Church?

I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.—Mathew 16:18b

On membership Sundays at Oakland, those, who have taken the membership class and publicly professed Jesus as their personal Savior, join the church. I introduce this portion of the service with a paragraph from our Book of Worship:

Dear church family, the Church is of God, and will be preserved to the end of time, for the conduct of worship and the administration of His Word and Sacraments, the maintenance of Christian fellowship and discipline, the edification of believers, and the conversion of the world. All, of every age and station, stand in need of the means of grace which it alone supplies.

This paragraph gives a carefully thought out reason why the church exists. The Church exists to bring believers together to worship. Proclaiming the Word of God and celebrating the Sacraments are central to the universal Church and every local church. Christian fellowship is more than coffee and stories. It includes accountability, growth, and support. The Church exists for its members, “edification of believers,” and for those not yet members, “conversion of the world.”

A simpler and more authoritative reason for “Why Church” is because Jesus said so. My children and grandchildren used to ask a lot of questions. What is this? What is that for? And the inevitable, “Why questions?” Why do I have to keep my diaper on? Why do I have to share? Why can’t I play with matches? Why can’t I drive the family car to the after prom party? Why, why, why? As parents and grandparents, we do our best to give perfect and accurate answers to the whys? But eventually, we all get to the correct answer, “Because I said so.” End of discussion.

Why Church? Because Jesus said so—end of discussion. After Peter’s Confession of Jesus as the Christ the Son of the Living God, Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:17-18). Jesus said that He would build His Church and nothing could overcome it.

Why is there light? Because in the beginning God said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Why must we come to Jesus to be saved? Because Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Because the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus Christ’s Church will be built and nothing can stop it. A bigger question is not “Why” but “Will you be part of God’s Kingdom?” Will you like Peter confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Will you receive God’s forgiveness in Jesus and invite the Holy Spirit to come live and lead in your life? There are many whys out there that you may never understand on this side of eternity. But, one thing you can know for certain. God loves you and calls you to come to Jesus to be saved.