Hey, Calvary Fremont –
The following is Dr. Roger Olson’s article on the Patheos website appearing on 4.4.20 entitled, “What Makes a Group of People ‘Church?’” He writes –
I am convinced that not every group of people who calls itself “church” really is a church—theologically speaking. I do not go with the common opinion that every group that calls itself “church” really deserves that identity. As a Christian theologian who is also an avid student of churches, I have decided that there are many so-called “churches” in America that I do not consider authentically churches.
My two main areas of research, study and teaching are historical theology and systematic theology. In other words, I do not approach “church” merely descriptively but also prescriptively. I believe we must divide the marks of the true church into two groups — necessary and helpful. The necessary marks are those that must be present within a group of people for me to consider it “church.” The helpful marks are those that should be present within a group of people. In other words, a true church might be defective in its true ‘churchness.’ (Tim: a group with all the necessary marks of a true church could be lacking some of the helpful marks of a true church.)
On the basis of my study of the Bible and numerous books by Christian theologians and 40 years of visiting congregations and studying denominations, I have reached these conclusions about the necessary marks or characteristics of a true church:
1st – the people of God must be gathered (physically if possible) in the name of Jesus Christ for worship, learning, spiritual formation/discipleship, mission and fellowship. “People of God” means people who confess Jesus Christ as God and Savior and who seek together earthly embodiment of his kingdom.
2nd – the group must proclaim, teach, and adhere to basic biblical truths such as the gospel of salvation from sin by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, and through faith in him and that “faith” must be robust repentance and trust and commitment to Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord of the world.
3rd – the group must adhere to the basic truths of the Nicene Creed whether the creed itself is ever repeated in worship or printed in some publication of the church.
4th – the group must at least be open to all kinds of people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, class and culture.
5th – the group must not be focused on a particular personality other than Jesus Christ to the extent of treating him or her as beyond questioning and the group must not permit unbiblical, heretical ideas to be taught within its ranks.
I have reached these conclusions about the helpful marks or characteristics of a true church:
1st – the group ought to resist the temptation to be trendy, relevant, “contemporary,” appealing, attractive insofar as that takes attention away from the gospel of Jesus Christ and reduces the group’s gatherings to entertainment.
2nd – the group ought to avoid the temptation to focus its preaching and teaching, its worship, its fellowship on feelings or success in life or anything else that undermines the need for conviction and repentance and amendment of life.
3rd – the group ought to practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible reading and study, the sacraments/ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, outreach to the poor and confession of sins.
4th – the group ought to face outward toward the world with engagement with projects and programs for the common good of the community outside the church and not be solely focused on itself. This includes evangelism and missions as well as seeking justice for the victims of injustice.
5th – the group should offer opportunities for members of the congregation to participate in worship beyond merely singing and watching and listening.
I appreciate Dr. Olson’s article and I find very helpful his distinctions between the Necessary Marks and the Helpful Marks of a true church. Using his criteria as a guideline, how does your church measure up? How many of THE NECESSARY MARKS OF A TRUE CHURCH and THE HELPFUL MARKS OF A TRUE CHURCH can you identify in your fellowship? Or do you think he’s off-mark or has he failed to miss what you consider to be an essential mark? Do you think that one or more of THE NECESSARY MARKS OF A TRUE CHURCH aren’t necessary at all? Do you think that what he identifies as the helpful marks of a true church are actually necessary marks? Anyway – good food for thought and evaluation for pastors and elders and the whole church.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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