Your perspective about God, life and your purpose for living will determine your posture either with or against this article. However, there is a sharp contrast between the truth and the fact. The fact will always remain as fact, irrespective of how long it has been; while the truth cannot be changed for time sake.
The common knowledge about the Church by most professing Christians is that the Church is a Non-Governmental and Not-For-Profit Organization. The two phrases may appear to be facts; however, they are not necessarily true. But you see, the Church is now old, having many “fathers” and “leaders”. The implication is that, there is now tendency for the traditions of the elders, fathers and leaders to take precedence over the truth about the identity and purpose of the Church.
There is usually a correlation between how you see a thing, people or an institution; and how you treat or relate with such. Therefore, whether we are right or wrong, our perception of the identity and purpose of the Church will determine how we conduct ourselves as a church and how we are conducted by the world. Let us now understand the Church from the Scripture:
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18
The Scripture above reveals the identity of the Church, while the few verses after this, shows the purpose of the Church. The Church is not a religious entity, but an entity of the Kingdom of heaven on the earth. The Church is the annex of the throne of God. The Church was not founded by men; it was founded by the Lord Jesus Christ (the King) in the hearts of everyone that believes in Him as the Lord and Saviour.
Therefore, the building of the Church was not entrusted any man or woman; but an exclusive of the Lord Himself. Hence, no man is capable of giving identity and purpose to the Church – for no man founded it. Psalms 24:7-10 reveals the identity of the “gates” that strives against the Church, we might not know the identity of the Church.
In the book of Matthew 16;18, Jesus said, “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (the Church)”. Are the gates religions? If you think that they are religions; then, you must believe that the Church is also a religious body, which must be registered as an NGO. However, we must begin from the understanding of Hades. I believe that the gates are governments (or power, or authorities, and rulers). No wonder, the Scriptures says in Psalms 24:7-10 that the gates should be lifted up, because the King of glory is coming. The Lord is not a religious founder and the prophecy about Him in the book of Isaiah 9:6-7 says, “…and the government will be upon His shoulders… Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end…”
The devil is not afraid of us, as long as we live on earth in complete denial of our identity. The Church is a governmental “organization” – entity; the Church is the Embassy of the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church is not supposed to be registered by the governments of this world as a Non-Governmental Organization. According to the book of Hebrews 12:22-24, the Church is already registered in heaven.
If you are a leader in the Church in your area; please desist from this denial; you have not been saved from the governments of Hades for mere jamboree; but for a purpose (function) – therefore, realize your royalty on earth and fulfill your purpose as the Church – Heaven’s Embassy on Earth! (1 Peter 2:9)
