What Would a Church Look Like If We Simply Took the New Testament Seriously?

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Here is a question which ought to make every minister tremble, every church member examine himself, and every congregation search the Scriptures: What would our church look like, if we simply took the New Testament seriously?

Not our denomination.
Not our traditions.
Not our church-growth methods.
Not what produces the largest crowds.
Not what keeps people comfortable.
Not what the culture approves.
Not what the "successful" churches are doing.
But what does the New Testament say?

The church belongs to Jesus. He purchased it with His own blood. He is its Head, its King, and its Lord. Therefore, His church has no authority to:
  invent its own message,
  manufacture its own worship,
  redefine what a Christian is,
  or lower its standards of holiness.

The first thing we would see would be a church trembling before the Word of God.

The Bible would not be an ornament carried into the pulpit and then ignored. Scripture would govern the preaching, the worship, the ordinances, the leadership, the discipline, and the daily life of the congregation.

Paul did not tell Timothy to entertain the goats. He commanded him: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

A church that takes the New Testament seriously, would therefore preach the whole counsel of God -- including sin, wrath, judgment, repentance, holiness, self-denial, perseverance, and the necessity of the new birth.

The gospel would be precious, because sin would be dreadful.

There would be no superficial treatment of man's ruined condition. The lost sinner would not be flattered as basically good, spiritually capable, or merely in need of encouragement. The terrible truth of man's sinfulness would be declared plainly. By nature we are:
  dead in trespasses and sins,
  enemies of God,
  children of the devil,
  and utterly unable to save ourselves.

And against this black background, would shine the glorious grace and mercy of Jesus.

The church would proclaim that salvation is entirely of God's grace -- that sinners are justified through faith in Jesus alone, not through works, religious performance, human merit, church membership, baptism, or outward profession.

There would be no manipulation masquerading as evangelism.
No emotional machinery designed to produce decisions.
No pressure to walk an aisle, or sign a decision card.
No congratulating people because they repeated a prayer.
Instead, lost sinners would be confronted with the living God, and summoned to repent and believe the gospel.

And the church would understand that a mere profession of faith, is not necessarily proof of saving faith.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." 2 Corinthians 13:5

A church taking the New Testament seriously, would therefore be deeply concerned about false converts.

It would not tell every person who "made a decision" as a child, that heaven is certainly his destination.
Does he love Jesus?
Does he love the brethren?
Does he obey God's commandments?
Does he hate his sin?
Does he desire holiness?
Does he persevere in the faith?

The church would not be content to gather multitudes of unconverted people under the Christian name. It would understand that the visible church is to be a holy people -- those who profess allegiance to Jesus, and whose lives give evidence consistent with that profession.

And baptism would follow the New Testament pattern:
 the gospel preached -- faith in Jesus -- baptism by immersion.
Not infant baptism.
Not baptismal regeneration.
Not baptism as a magical ceremony.
But the obedient testimony of one who has personally trusted Jesus.

A church that takes the New Testament seriously, would also recover reverent worship.
The sanctuary would not become a theater.
The pulpit would not become a stage.
The pastor would not become a celebrity.
The worship leader would not become a performer.
The congregation would not be treated as consumers who must continually be entertained lest they become bored and leave.

The holy God would be worshiped.
His Word would be proclaimed.
They would be instructed in righteousness.

And they would leave asking not, "Did I enjoy the service?" but:
"Did I hear from God through His Word?
 What sin did He expose?
 What truth did I learn?
 What command must I obey?
 What promise must I believe?
 How must I live differently because Jesus is my Lord?"

A church taking the New Testament seriously would also take holiness and church discipline seriously.

Sin would not be renamed "brokenness" in order to make it more palatable.

Adultery would not be tolerated because the offender is influential.

Covetousness would not be excused because the person is generous.

Pride would not be overlooked because the man is gifted.

Worldliness would not be brought into the church because it attracts a crowd.

Paul commanded the Corinthians to exercise severe discipline against open, unrepentant sin. A church that refuses to discipline notorious sin while claiming to love sinners does not understand biblical love. Holy love confronts what destroys souls.

The ministers of such a church would likewise understand that they are not entertainers hired to keep religious consumers satisfied. They are shepherds who must one day give an account.

They would preach truth even when it is hated.
They would rebuke when rebuke is necessary.
They would warn the careless.
They would comfort the broken.
They would expose false doctrine.
They would call sinners to repentance.
They would feed the sheep.
They would guard the flock.
They would fear God more than they fear losing members.
And they would remember the solemn words: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account." Hebrews 13:17

Finally, a church that takes the New Testament seriously would be radically Jesus-centered rather than man-centered.

Its message would not be:
"Come to Jesus and He will make your life comfortable."
"Come to Jesus and your dreams will come true."
"Come to Jesus and you will become successful."
"Come to Jesus because He wants you to feel better about yourself."

Its message would be infinitely more glorious and infinitely more terrifying: You are a sinner before a holy God. You cannot save yourself. You deserve His righteous judgment. You must be born again. But there is a Savior! Jesus died as the substitute for the sins of His people and rose again in victory. Flee to Him! Trust Him! Repent! Believe! Deny yourself! Take up your cross! Follow Him!

Such a church might be small.
It might be despised.
It might have no impressive building.
It might have no celebrity pastor.
It might never appear on a list of the "fastest-growing churches in America."

But if it is faithful to Jesus and His Word, then it has nothing for which to be ashamed.

The great tragedy of our generation is not that there are too few churches.

It is that there are churches everywhere which bear the Christian name, while scarcely resembling the Christianity of the New Testament.

There is preaching without repentance.
Profession without possession.
Religion without regeneration.
Worship without reverence.
Assurance without examination.
Growth without godliness.
Decision without discipleship.
And crowds without conversion.

May God deliver us from the awful temptation to call a church "successful" merely because it is large.

Jesus did not command His church to be impressive. He commanded it to be faithful.

But now, dear reader, turn the question upon yourself.

Do not merely think about "the church" in general.

Think about your church.

What if Jesus Himself were to walk through the doors next Sunday?
Not as a sentimental figure portrayed by Hollywood.
Not as the Jesus of popular Christianity who asks little and comforts much.
But the risen, reigning, searching Jesus of Revelation 1 -- whose eyes are "like a blazing fire," whose voice is "like the roar of many waters," and from whose mouth comes a sharp sword.

What would He say to your church?
Would He commend its faithfulness?
Would He expose its worldliness?
Would He approve its worship?
Would He condemn its entertainment?
Would He commend its preaching?
Would He expose its compromise?
Would He find sheep being fed -- or goats being entertained?
Would He find lost sinners being warned -- or merely made comfortable?
Would He find holiness being pursued -- or sin being tolerated?
Would He find His gospel being proclaimed -- or a therapeutic substitute being offered in its place?
Would He find a people who tremble at His Word -- or a people who have learned to silence every uncomfortable command by calling it "legalism"?

And what of your profession?

You say you are a Christian.
But are you?

You have attended church. You have been baptized. You have repeated a prayer. You have walked an aisle. You have raised a hand. You have prayed with someone. Perhaps you have taught a class, sung in the choir, served on a committee, or even preached from a pulpit.

But have you been born again?
Do you love Jesus?
Do you love His people?
Do you hate the sins you once cherished?
Do you hunger after holiness?
Do you obey His commandments?
Do you grieve when you sin against Him?
Do you desire communion with Him?
Do you persevere when Christianity becomes costly?
Do you have that new heart which only sovereign grace can give?

The New Testament does not permit us to hide behind a church membership roll.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." 2 Corinthians 13:5

Perhaps the most dangerous place in the world is not outside a church.

Perhaps it is inside a church where you have learned to feel safe, without ever being saved.

A false profession may survive years of religious activity.
It may sing hymns.
It may pray.
It may give money.
It may speak Christian language.
It may sit beneath faithful preaching.
And yet, at the last day, it may hear those dreadful words:
"I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!" Matthew 7:23

Therefore, let us not merely ask whether our church looks Christian.
Let us ask whether it looks biblical.

Let us not merely ask whether our worship is attractive.
Let us ask whether it is acceptable to God.

Let us not merely ask whether our church is growing.
Let us ask whether it is faithful.

Let us not merely ask whether people are making professions.
Let us ask whether there is evidence of regeneration.

And let us not merely ask whether we have found a good church.
Let us ask the infinitely more searching question: Has Jesus truly saved us?

At the final judgment, Jesus will not be impressed by our denominational labels, our buildings, our programs, our crowds, our reputation, or our statistics.
His Word will be the standard.
His holiness will expose every counterfeit.
His eyes will search every heart.

Therefore, while there is still time, let the church return to the New Testament.

Let the preacher return to the Word.
Let the congregation return to holiness.
Let the lost sinner flee to Jesus.
Let the Christian return to obedience.
Let every profession be tested.
Let every doctrine be examined.
Let every practice be brought beneath the authority of Scripture.

And let us cry with the psalmist: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23–24

 

 

What Would a Church Look Like if We Simply Took the New Testament Seriously?

Here is a question which ought to make every minister tremble, every church member examine himself, and every congregation search the Scriptures:

What would our church look like if we simply took the New Testament seriously?

Not our denomination.

Not our traditions.

Not our church-growth strategies.

Not what produces the largest crowds.

Not what keeps people comfortable.

Not what the culture approves.

Not what the "successful" churches are doing.

What does the New Testament say?

The church belongs to Jesus. He purchased it with His own blood. He is its Head, its King, and its Lord. Therefore, His church has no right to invent its own message, manufacture its own worship, redefine its own membership, or determine its own standards of holiness.

The first thing we would see would be a church trembling before the Word of God.

The Bible would not be an ornament carried into the pulpit and then ignored. Scripture would govern the preaching, the worship, the doctrine, the ordinances, the leadership, the discipline, and the daily life of the congregation.

Paul did not tell Timothy to entertain the goats. He commanded him:

"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

A church that takes the New Testament seriously would therefore preach the whole counsel of God -- including sin, wrath, judgment, repentance, holiness, self-denial, perseverance, and the necessity of the new birth.

The gospel would be precious because sin would be dreadful.

There would be no superficial treatment of man's ruined condition. The sinner would not be flattered as basically good, spiritually capable, or merely in need of a little encouragement. The terrible truth of man's sinfulness would be declared plainly: by nature we are dead in trespasses and sins, enemies of God, and utterly unable to save ourselves.

And against this black background would shine the glorious mercy of Jesus.

The church would proclaim that salvation is entirely of God's grace -- that sinners are justified through faith in Jesus, not through works, religious performance, human decision, church membership, baptism, or outward profession.

There would be no manipulation masquerading as evangelism.

No emotional machinery designed to produce decisions.

No pressure to walk an aisle.

No counting raised hands as though heaven's books had been opened.

No congratulating people because they repeated a prayer.

Instead, sinners would be confronted with the living God and summoned to repent and believe the gospel.

And the church would understand that a profession of faith is not necessarily proof of saving faith.

The New Testament commands us to examine ourselves.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." 2 Corinthians 13:5

A church taking the New Testament seriously would therefore be deeply concerned about false assurance.

It would not tell every person who once "made a decision" that heaven is certainly his destination. It would examine the marks of grace. Does he love Jesus? Does he love the brethren? Does he obey God's commandments? Does he hate his sin? Does he desire holiness? Does he persevere in the faith?

First John would not be treated as an interesting devotional letter. It would be used as a spiritual examination room.

There would also be a regenerate church membership.

The church would not be content to gather multitudes of unconverted people under the Christian name. It would understand that the visible church is to be a holy people -- those who profess allegiance to Jesus and whose lives give evidence consistent with that profession.

And baptism would follow the New Testament pattern:

the gospel preached -- faith in Jesus -- baptism.

Not infant baptism.

Not baptismal regeneration.

Not baptism as a magical ceremony.

But the obedient testimony of one who has personally trusted Jesus.

A church that takes the New Testament seriously would also recover reverent worship.

The sanctuary would not become a theater.
The pulpit would not become a stage.
The pastor would not become a celebrity.
The worship leader would not become a performer.
The congregation would not be treated as consumers who must continually be entertained lest they become bored and leave.

The holy God would be worshiped.
His Word would be proclaimed.
His people would pray.
They would worship God.
They would remember Jesus.
They would confess sin.
They would hear the gospel.
They would be instructed in holy living.

And they would leave asking not, "Did I enjoy the service?" but:
"Did I meet with God through His Word?
 What sin did He expose?
 What truth did I learn?
 What command must I obey?
 What promise must I believe?
 How must I live differently because Jesus is my Lord?"

A church taking the New Testament seriously would also take church discipline seriously.
Sin would not be renamed "brokenness" in order to make it more palatable.
Adultery would not be tolerated because the offender is influential.
Covetousness would not be excused because the person is generous.
Pride would not be overlooked because the man is gifted.
Worldliness would not be brought into the church because it attracts a crowd.

The church would remember that Jesus said:
"If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately." Matthew 18:15
And Paul commanded the Corinthians to exercise severe discipline against open, unrepentant sin.
A church that refuses to discipline notorious sin while claiming to love sinners, does not understand biblical love. Holy love confronts what destroys souls.

The ministers of such a church would likewise understand that they are not entertainers hired to keep religious consumers satisfied. They are shepherds who must one day give an account.

They would preach truth, even when it is popular and when it is hated.
They would rebuke sin, when rebuke is necessary.
They would warn the careless.
They would comfort the broken.
They would expose false doctrine.
They would call sinners to repentance.
They would feed the sheep.
They would guard the flock.
They would fear God, more than they fear losing members.

And they would remember the solemn words: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account." Hebrews 13:17

Finally, a church that takes the New Testament seriously, would be radically Christ-centered rather than man-centered.

Its message would not be:
"Come to Jesus and He will make your life comfortable."
"Come to Jesus and your dreams will come true."
"Come to Jesus and you will become successful."
"Come to Jesus because He wants you to feel better about yourself."

Its message would be infinitely more glorious and infinitely more solemn:
You are a sinner before a holy God.
You cannot save yourself.
You deserve His righteous judgment.
You must be born again.
But there is a Savior!
Jesus died as the substitute for the sins of His people and rose again in victory.
Flee to Him! Trust Him! Repent! Believe! Deny yourself! Take up your cross! Follow Him!

Such a church might be small.
It might be despised.
It might have no impressive building.
It might have no celebrity pastor.
It might never appear on a list of the "fastest-growing churches in America."

But if it is faithful to Jesus and His Word, it has nothing for which to be ashamed.

The great tragedy of our generation is not that there are too few churches. It is that there are churches everywhere which bear the Christian name, while scarcely resembling the Christianity of the New Testament.
There is preaching without repentance.
Profession without possession.
Religion without regeneration.
Worship without reverence.
Assurance without examination.
Growth without godliness.
Decision without discipleship.
And crowds without conversion.

May God deliver us from the awful temptation to call a church "successful" merely because it is large.

Jesus did not command His church to be impressive. He commanded it to be faithful.

The final question will not be:
"How many people attended?"
  "How much money was raised?"
    "How many programs did we offer?"
      "How many campuses did we build?"
        "How many decisions did we record?"

The question will be:
"Were we faithful to the Word of God?"

The church belongs to Jesus.
His Word is our authority.
His gospel is our message.
His holiness is our standard.
His glory is our goal.

Therefore, let us cease asking what will make the church attractive to the world.

Let us ask something far more searching: What does Jesus require of His church?

And then, with our Bibles open before us, let us obey Him.

"Test all things. Hold fast to what is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21