A great many Christians have cognitive deviations from the church, said Rev. Chen Dehong in a Sunday service at Yancheng Church, Jiangsu. It is an important cause of church splits, he added.
The Apostles' Creed claims, "I believe in the holy Catholic Church." The Nicene Creed also states, "We believe also in only One, Universal, Apostolic, and [Holy] Church." Rev. Chen said, "Christians should believe in God and also the church."
Regarding joining a church as unnecessary, some Christians attend multiple churches; some despise the church's faith convictions and teachings even though they are members; some even leave the church and defy it.
Then why does the church matter? Rev. Chen explained that the church is the house and kingdom of God. Therefore, Christians call each other "brothers and sisters." All the ministries and authorities set up in the church follow the order of love rather than show ranks. He reminded that the sign of a healthy church is kinship, warm and mutual care. A church with an unfriendly and quarreling atmosphere is sick.
Second, the church is Christ's body and bride according to the Bible. A normal church must respect the headship of Christ and submit to Him in everything. As the bride of Christ, it must be ready for His second coming.
Third, the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). The Holy Spirit has given all the truth of God to the church. That shows the importance of the church.
So the pastor held that a man who wanted to know God and His thoughts will have a better grasp of God in the church. The church must be equipped with the truth of God, experience God, and proclaim the truth.
Teacher Zhu Yunxia of Yancheng Church spoke at another Sunday service that a Christian has an inseparable relationship with the church and needs to fully know about the church.
She defined the church as a big spiritual family, different from other social organizations in the world. "It is not an organization formed for some interest, but an animated body made of brothers and sisters. As the center of our life, it is the place where our faith is put into practice."
She said that today's church should witness the glory of God in the world and each part bind together from the heart to give play to the overall function of the church.
- Translated by Karen Luo
