Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - The Role of the Church
The edification of believers is a primary function of the church, designed to directly benefit and build up its members. While worship focuses on God, edification concentrates on the spiritual growth of believers, a process Paul frequently emphasized for the body of Christ. It involves mutual upbuilding by all members, not just ministers, and serves as a criterion for all church activities.
The church facilitates edification through several key means:
- Fellowship (koinōnia): This involves sharing experiences, which lessens hurt and increases joy. Believers are encouraged to support, sympathize, and bear one another's burdens. This also includes loving correction and rebuke, sometimes even extending to disciplinary action, with the primary aim of restoring individuals to righteous living and fellowship, and safeguarding community standards.
- Instruction and teaching: A fundamental part of discipling, this means teaching converts "to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you." God provides "pastors and teachers" for this purpose, but all members contribute to instruction. This encompasses Christian education in local churches, theological seminaries, biblical scholarship, and other Christian educational institutions that train individuals and deepen understanding of God’s revelation.
- Preaching: From the church's beginning, preaching has been a vital means of instruction, strengthening, encouraging, and comforting believers.
- Exercise of spiritual gifts: The Holy Spirit equips the church with diverse gifts, specifically apportioned for mutual edification, ensuring the proper building up of the entire body.
- Worship: Although primarily directed towards God, worship is also intended to benefit worshipers. Paul's warnings against unintelligible worship imply that understandable and meaningful worship contributes to the spiritual edification of believers.
Ultimately, everything done within the church must contribute to its being built up, ensuring the spiritual health and development of its members.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
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