How Not To Glorify God as a Local Church
I was raised with reciting Westminster Shorter Catechism as a child. Although I was not converted at the time, it was my first introduction to Christian theology in some systematic fashion. Now as a follower of Christ I really appreciate the catechism even more. The first question in the catechism states: What is the chief end of man? In which the replied answer is: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. To me that is the best theological summation of why God does what he does, namely to glorify himself.
Furthermore, the catechism’s first question and answer is the best theological summation of why you and I are created and what we are called to do in this life, namely we exist to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. But I want you to know that such doctrinal statement did not come from nowhere. Rather, it comes from the Bible, the word of God. With that in mind, I would like to turn to one passage in the Bible where such theological summary is built upon. It is First Corinthians 10:31, which says:
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
That statement in the Bible is the best biblical summary of why we exist and what we are called to do in life. The latter part of verse 31, “Do all to the glory of God” in Greek is imperative in its verb. That is to say, do all to the glory of God is not a suggestion but an explicit command of God to his people. If you want to know what God’s will is for your life this is it: do all to the glory of God! This is the life purpose statement for every Christian.
So by now you have both biblical and theological summary as to why we exist or what our purpose in life is. But let me raise a follow-up question: why? Why do we Christians have to glorify God? The answer is twofold, and the answer has to do with who God is and what we are. First, we have to glorify God because God is our Sovereign Creator and we are his subjects. That is how the Bible begins. That is how the redemptive story begins. In fact, that is how the gospel begins. The fact that God is our Sovereign Creator and that we are his subjects implies that we are accountable to him, and that we exist to serve him and to worship him. That was true before the fall and it is true after the fall. And when we act as though we’re not accountable to our Sovereign Creator and we fail to serve and worship him, then the Bible says that God’s glory is displayed through his judgment. That is precisely the thesis of Romans 1. With that in mind, would you please turn your Bible to Romans 1:18-32?
So the first half of the twofold answer to the question why we Christians have to glorify God, the answer is because God is our Sovereign Creator and we are his subjects. The key is to understand the implications between the Creator and creation relationship.
Now the second half of the twofold answer to why we Christians have to glorify God is because God is not only our Sovereign Creator, but he is also our Sovereign Redeemer and that we are the recipients of his sovereign grace. If you know the gospel, you know that Christians are none other than the recipients of God’s sovereign grace. That is what a Christian is.
But just in case you don’t know the gospel (the story of God’s redemption), here it is: the gospel is that God created man to glorify and to enjoy his creator. However, man chose to disobey and transgressed against his creator. As a result, the man who was once “the image bearer of God” has been tainted with sin and all his descendents now have been born with sinful disposition. Although God could have allowed the whole humanity to remain condemned, he chose to save some. So, God sent his son Jesus to fulfill such mission. As a result of his finished mission, God demands that all men everywhere to repent and be reconciled to their creator and the only redeemer. Hence, that is why Christians are to glorify God. This is true of Christians individually and also Christians corporately as a church.
I now want to shift gear from glorifying God individually as Christians to corporately as a church. I would like for you to know that church was not God’s back-up plan in his redemptive purpose. In other words, church was not Plan B or an alternative plan in case God’s original plan failed. No. Church was in the sovereign plan of God all along. In fact, according to Ephesians 1 God chose the people who would be in the community of God’s redeemed before the foundation of this world.[1] In fact, according Ephesians 3 this is the mystery “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (vv. 5-6).
If we agree that Christians are to glorify God individually, isn’t it also true then that Christians are to glorify God corporately as a church? Yes or no? Amen or no? However, I’m sorry to tell you that not all so-called churches glorify God. Just as what Jesus said in his letter to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1, “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead,” there are churches that are dead. What’s sad is some of these dead churches don’t even know that they’re dead. As Warren Wiersbe used to say these churches have the stench of grace gone sour and rotten. These churches function as business as usual.
So what I want to speak to you in our remaining time is to point out five ways a church would not glorify God. Although I could have you turn here and there throughout the Bible, I’m going to simply park at one specific book in the Bible, namely the First Corinthians. This is because the church of Corinth teaches us what not to be as a church.
NAU 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Just as Paul used the disobedient Israel in the OT as an example, we can certainly apply the same principle for Corinthian church as our example of what not to do as a church. When you study First Corinthians I’m certain that you can find more than five ways a church would not glorify God, but due to time, I’ll only address five of them here. So if you’re taking notes, let me begin with the first example how a church would not glorify God.
I. God is not glorified when a church is divided (1:10-13; 3:1-9, 16-17).
This is church was clearly divided over the cult of personalities of the apostles. Today it’s similar to that of churches divided over the celebrity preachers’ groupies. I’m for Piper. I’m for Keller. I’m for so and so. And then there are always those pseudo-pietists who say, “I’m for Jesus.” May I say to you that church is not a fan club for celebrity preachers?
A church may not be divided over celebrity preachers, but sometimes a church is divided over something else – e.g. music, worship, homeschooling, politics, and so on. Sometimes a church is divided by people who are hungry for power and positions in the church.
II. God is not glorified when a church is ignorant of the gospel (1:26-31).
This implies that some in the Corinthian church believed that they were Christians because they had something to boast of or to take credit for their salvation. For Paul he clearly points out things that do not contribute to their salvation – such as, not many wise according to the flesh – i.e., worldly wisdom/intellect/academic achievements. Not many mighty – i.e., not due to their power or powerful positions. Not many noble – i.e., not according to socioeconomic status.
Notice how many times Paul repeats and puts emphasis on the word “calling” and “chosen” in this paragraph. His point is those things are simply beyond us and outside of us. That is, the Christian view of salvation is that it is God who calls and it is God who chooses. Hence, the emphasis is on who God is and what God does.
Isn’t it any wonder that there are many in the church that call themselves Christians but think that salvation is the work of God plus the efforts of man? This type of synergistic theology is so prevalent in churches – e.g. God helps those who help themselves. If you want to know whether people understand the gospel, just ask them why they think they’re a Christian or why they think they’re going to heaven.
III. God is not glorified when a church utterly disregards the church discipline (5:1-2).
According to John Calvin, one of the Magisterial Reformers, a true church is simply known by three things: 1) preaching the gospel, 2) performing sacraments (Lord’s Table and baptism), and 3) practicing church discipline. The key word here is “and” not “or.” That is, a true church will possess all three marks. To say it negatively, if a church fails to possess all three marks, then it’s not a church. Call it something else, but it is not a church.
According to John Dagg, one of the early American Baptist pastors, “If discipline leaves the church, Christ leaves.”
When a church fails to practice church discipline, what does the church say about the holiness of God and holiness for God? What does the church say about man’s sinfulness? What does the church say about the gospel, Christ, his members, membership, and worship? Hence, a church that is not interested in pursuing holiness is not a church. Jesus Christ instituted the process of church discipline as a means to purify his church. That is why a church that fails to practice this Christ-ordained means not only disqualifies herself as a church, but disobeys and dishonors Christ and brings a great judgment. And God’s judgment does not have to be loud and noticeable as fire and brimstone, but often in a subtle form – a slow death by starvation of his word.
NAU Amos 8:11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.
I want to make one more exegetical observation regarding church discipline. For Paul, he makes the connection between failing to practice church discipline with arrogance. Out of all the epistles of Paul, First Corinthians is the only place where he uses the word “arrogant” the most (e.g., 4:6, 18-19; and 5:2). In other words, a church that fails to practice church discipline is an arrogant or prideful church. And you know what the Bible says: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Isn’t it any wonder that when such people of this church came together for the Lord’s Table God killed some?
NAU 1 Corinthians 11:27 ¶ Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
IV. God is not glorified when a church does not have a sense of order (14:40).
This church was known for having charismatic chaos during their so called worship service. You can read about that in regards to how the church used or misused spiritual gifts and so on.
However, for some churches a sense of order does not have to be about charismatic chaos but simply having chaos, namely disorderly conduct or communication where there is no accountability, responsibility, failing to honor a chain of command, or usurping authority.
V. God is not glorified when a church does not stand for what honors God (11:17-19).
Church is known by what she stands for. At the same time, a church is known by what she refuses to stand for. The Psalmist says:
NAU Psalm 1:1 ¶ How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Although there is sinful divisiveness that Paul warns, not all factions are bad, sinful, or evil. That is, there is (and should be) legitimate factions. In fact, Paul commands for biblical separation.
NAU 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
[1]There are four major biblical motifs in the redemptive history from Genesis to Revelation, namely creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. However, I would include one more: election (Ephesians 1). That is, God chose the people who would be in the community of God’s redeemed before the foundation of the world.
