Jesus was no limp-handed sissy. During His last week before His crucifixion, He spent His days in Jerusalem (in anticipation of the Passover), teaching and conversing with the Jews in the public spaces. Upon entering the temple, He saw people exchanging money and selling animals for sacrifices, and the sight moved Him to drive those people out of the temple. He didn’t ask politely. He flipped tables and knocked over their seats. Imagine money scattering all over the floor with angry men scrambling to gather the rolling coins, pigeons squawking, a general panic running through the crowd as Jesus forced them off the temple property.
“It is written,” said Jesus, “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21.12–13)
One could make a case that those vendors were providing helpful services. After all, some Jews had travelled many miles, and it would have been difficult to tow an animal all that way. They would need to purchase an animal for sacrifice, and how convenient it would be to have an animal store right there in the temple. Just plop down some cash, grab your animal, and haul it over to the priest for slaughter.
But Jesus characterized what the vendors were doing as robbery. They were using religion as a wealth-building enterprise. First, they were not trying to help their fellow man; they were trying to make a few bucks. Second, they should not have been running a business in the temple!
Churches Today
Now listen, our church’s meeting place is not the same as the Jewish temple. We, the people of God, are God’s temple today. However, this principle continues: God has a purpose for His church, and it ain’t about making money.
Churches have become big business. They are usually organized as 501(c)(3) companies under a non-profit status, which makes charitable donations to them tax-exempt. But what do churches today do? Many not only build a worship room and classrooms but also kitchens, gymnasiums, education centers, theaters, books stores, coffee and snack shops, etc. During the week, many offer daycare and after-school programs. They have sports teams, workout programs, and health classes.
But what did Jesus identify as the church’s purpose? What did the apostles say the church was about? I know, that sounds suspiciously authoritarian—like we have to follow rules or something. But hang with me.
Christ’s Church
Jesus spoke of His church in Matthew 16.18: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” So we learn the church is in a battle against hell, and the church will overcome.
Though He didn’t often use the word “church,” Jesus talked a lot about the kingdom of heaven, and His kingdom and His church are, while not always synonymous, closely related. His Sermon on the Mount directs us in kingdom thinking, and it’s all about how we treat others and keep God’s law. Jesus quite firmly believed in keeping God’s law. “Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5.19).
From Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom, we should understand how important it is to listen to God’s word and obey it.
Churches of the Bible vs. Today’s Churches
The apostles reveal that local churches existed to equip and edify the saints so every member grew up into Jesus Christ (Eph. 4.11–16; 1 Cor. 14.26). They assembled frequently (Acts 2.42–47; Heb. 10.24–25). Paul called the church the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3.15).
Only a few verses in the New Testament speak on what the gathered church did or give direction on what it should do. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2.42). They prayed together (Acts 4.24; 12.12). They appointed elders in every church (Acts 14.23) with prayer and fasting. Reading through Acts you’ll see plenty of teaching and preaching the word of the Lord (see Acts 15.35 for example). The church of God in Corinth ate the Lord’s Supper together (1 Corinthians 10.14–22; 11.17–34), and they sang hymns, presented lessons, prophesied, and spoke in tongues (with an interpreter) to build each other up in the Lord (1 Corinthians 14.26–35).
Christ gave the church the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in order to build up the body of Christ towards unity and maturity (Ephesians 4.11–12). This is the heart of the mission of the church—to build everyone up in Christ and to continue the unity which the Holy Spirit began in us (Ephesians 4.1–3).
Something I’m not seeing in my Bible reading is any kind of making money off the church. In fact, the church is a giving entity (Phil. 4.14–16; Acts 11.27–30; 1 Cor. 8–9), not a money-making entity. Why do some churches look like the businesses of the world around us? How is their coffee shop different from the coffee shop down the road (aside from a clever name like “Higher Grounds” or “The Cup that Overfloweth”)? How is their daycare center different from any other daycare center? “Because it’s a Christian daycare.” But why should the church get involved in these things? Is this what Christ directed us to do? Are we not getting off mission? The church trains the members of the body for mission, for service (Eph. 4.11–12). Christ did not create the church (as an organization) to serve in all the ways our people serve in the world. The church provides direction and godly motivation; then the individual members execute their personal missions each week.
Getting Back on Mission
What would Jesus do if He came into our churches today? Would He overturn some tables with books piled up for sale? Would He tear down some gymnasiums? Would He command our church leaders to repent and get back to the mission He gave His church?
We are storming the gates of hell, folks! Christ’s kingdom has come, and Jesus has paid the price for our sins. The fellowship we enjoy when the church gathers is unique, special, and spiritual. Since Christ leads us against the forces of darkness in the heavenly places, we must be about the business of strapping on armor, swinging our sword, and praying at all times in the Spirit (Eph. 6.10–20). Church raves don’t accomplish this. Church coffee shops don’t fit the ticket. Church sports and video games miss the point. Building monster worship halls and attracting thousands with catchy music, professional lighting, and joke-saturated messages may keep the money flowing into the church’s bank account, but it often hinders rather than advances the true mission of the kingdom of Christ.
We should keep the main thing the main thing, as Stephen Covey likes to say. Our churches are not supposed to be in the money-making business. They should focus entirely on the God-glorifying, people-building, heart-healing, sin-fighting business. If we are not on point, we should repent and return to the simple mission Christ has given us!