OK, it’s not a real word. It is a made-up word which roughly means “one who loves the church.” I do love the church. I have been attending a Baptist church since I was a few weeks old. That doesn’t mean I love only Baptist churches, it is simply the church culture in which I grew up. At age 25, I became a pastor of a Baptist church and have been serving in this capacity ever since (I am now 43). The church has shaped my life significantly. Through her proclamation, discipleship, ordinances, and people, she has been a formative influence upon me.
Even if I were not a pastor, I would love the church because Jesus Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). It is the only entity on earth which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28).
Just so you know the perspective from which I will post about the church and things related to the church, I will give a couple of points of clarification.
- The church is the company of the redeemed who have been reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not confined to any particular denomination but includes all those who are genuine believers. This aspect of the church is sometimes called the universal or invisible church.
- The Bible also refers to the local church. This use of the term church refers to local assemblies of baptized believers who gather for worship, instruction, ordinances, ministry, and mission.
Much more could be said about the church, but these brief points give you an idea of where I am coming from.
I suppose one of my pet peeves is people who say they are Christians but have no interest in or regard for the church. Those who claim to belong to the first group (universal) should also belong to the second group (local). All who love Jesus should be ecclesiophilists – they should love the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church which is His body (Colossians 1:18). If you love the Head, you should also love His body.
The truth is that we cannot really think ourselves biblical Christians without the church. The biblical pattern is that all who are saved are added to the church (Acts 2:47). In context, this refers to the local assembly of believers gathered for community life in Christ. God designed the Christian life to be lived in connection with other believers.
Now, I do not entertain any naive idea that the church on earth is perfect (though it is in the process of being perfected). I try not to allow my love for the church to cloud my discernment or critical evaluation of her faith and practice. Sometimes my posts will be critical of certain aspects of church life. But, all that said, I do love the church. I am an incurable ecclesiophile. I hope you are as well.
Kelly-
I am privileged to be the first to comment on this maiden blog post of yours. May I call you Dr. Phil – EcclesioPhil…that is (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)?
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that Jesus loved , loves, and will continue to love His church. So if we love the church, we’re in good, no great company!
Dr. EcclesioPhil-
When Jesus tells Peter in Matt. 16:18 that He will build His church, what do think are the building materials? Is this a reference to God’s sovereignty in salvation?
By: Xtramiler on September 6, 2006
at 3:32 pm
Kelly, this is a great blog and is formatted very well. I am looking forward to reading and posting comments.
Thank you for the proper perspective regarding the church. I think you saw the post that Jon made on their blog, that the church is more than a building. Therein lies many of the problem with churches today, they recognize themselves as a building and not a body. That is why I have such a disdain for the word “mega church” to me it say’s we are a big building with lots of people. It should be that we are many people who are in love with the head of the church, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for starting this, I look forward to many more post from you. I will be sure and pass this along to Joel and Jon. By the way, do you like my moniker? completed Jew
By: completed Jew on September 6, 2006
at 11:03 pm
xtramiler-
I think Jesus was expressing the fact that the church exists by His power and because of His saving work in the cross and resurrection. I think Jesus also expresses in those words the certain triumph of the church because it is His church. I suppose indirectly it has implications for Christ’s sovereignty in salvation.
By: Kelly Randolph on September 8, 2006
at 8:13 pm
completed Jew-
Thanks for commenting. I like the moniker!
By: Kelly Randolph on September 8, 2006
at 8:14 pm
Kelly, I just discovered your CABC blog site a few weeks ago and I want you to know that I enjoy it very much. This is for two reasons. First, you let everyone know your heart as a pastor, you reveal your true intentions in ministry and you show what is going through your thoughts as far as concern for the CABC family and also the church universal. The fact that you put your thoughts in print keep you focused in your calling and it also keeps you accountable to all who view your blog. Your life and ministry becomes an open book.
Secondly, for my part, I enjoy commenting to your thoughts, not to catch you in error or to be antogonistic, but to lay my responses down in print forces me to discern biblically and to think in logical, objective biblical fashion. In other words, writing becomes an exercise to help me to form a biblical worldview and to make the Bible second nature in my thinking. It is one thing to verbally remark toward others and it is another thing to place thoughts down in print. You force me to compose and discern and think critically, and I appreciate it.
David
By: Anonymous on November 9, 2006
at 9:19 pm