Have you ever heard people make any, or all, of the following comments?
- "I don't go to church; they are all a bunch of hypocrites."
- "I wouldn't go to that church; the singing is just terrible."
- "That church is too large or too small," or "the building is located in a bad part of town."
- "That church doesn't have young children with whom our children can associate."
- "I don't like that preacher; he preaches too long, not long enough, too hard, at me."
- "The members dress too fancy or not fancy enough."
Just choose any or all of the above. Do you get the picture?
The list could go on, and on, and on. Sometimes, it seems as though the only church, the only congregation, and the only preacher good enough for some folks would have to be perfect. You might ask: "Exactly what constitutes a perfect congregation?" Well, this is what we came up with (although it probably is NOT perfect).
- Perfect People: A congregation, or a church, consists of people. So a perfect congregation is made up of perfect people. They are "always in a state of undiminished, or highest, excellence; without defects; flawless" (American Heritage Dictionary). If there are children or babies, they, too, are perfect. They never cry, or fight, or play, or sleep, or talk out loud, or in any way disrupt the services. Everyone is in perfect accord. Nothing ever distracts them from the lesson being presented. Also, the building has been perfectly built to exclude any outside interference; thus, there are no distractions. And because all are perfect, no one gets sick or misses any of the assemblies. Each and every soul is in his seat every time the church meets. All are perfectly dressed and manicured from head to toe. Their day-to-day lives also model perfection. Why, everything about them is simply perfect.
- Perfect Preaching: The preacher is also perfect. Every lesson he delivers is a picture of perfection. He never misquotes the scriptures or their locations. There is no mispronunciation of O.T. names, or of any other words. There are no mistakes on his overheads, or the chalkboard, or PowerPoint presentations. His sermons always end at exactly the right time; so no one's roast is ever over-cooked. Every lesson is perfect for whatever occasion may arise, because he is perfectly acquainted with the congregation's requirements. His pulpit mannerisms are flawless. He stands appropriately; he walks at the right times; he never coughs or sneezes, or even needs a drink of water. He never stumbles or falls, and he never loses his place during the lesson. Of course, he never needs to reprove and rebuke, because the congregation is perfect.
- Perfect: Wait a minute! I'm wondering why, if a congregation consists of perfect people, who come and worship God perfectly, and hear perfect lessons from a perfect preacher, would there need to be a congregation at all? Each and every one of them is already perfect. Each and every one of them would, in essence, be God. (I guess I should have thought about this before I wrote this article. I could have saved myself, and you, a lot of time. But then, I'm NOT perfect.)
Some have a "flawed" picture of what is expected from a congregation of God's people and of our Lord's church. The truth is that congregations are made up of souls who are NOT perfect.
As for myself, I sin, make mistakes, sometimes sing off key, mispronounce O.T. words, refer to one scripture and read another, and misspell words on the board and overheads (I don't use a computer). Sometimes, I become distracted, cough, and need water. And I always deliver imperfect lessons, because I always think of a scripture I should have used, or a thought that I should have expressed. By now you know-I'm not perfect!
I know of only ONE man--Jesus Christ--who lived perfectly in this world. He came from heaven to earth to die for those who are NOT perfect. Paul wrote, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." (1 Timothy 1:15-16) He purchased the church with His blood (cf. Acts 20:28). What then is the church? It consists of "sinners" who have obeyed the Gospel of Christ: "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
There is a BIG difference between those who are outside the Body of Christ, and those who are within the body. Those in Christ KNOW they are not perfect; but they strive to reach the kind of perfection that Jesus exhibited and left as an example for us to follow (cf. 1 Peter 2:21-25). They declare, along with the apostle Paul: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12,14)
No, as long as this world stands, there will NEVER be a perfect congregation. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) But I know and believe that I would rather be part of an imperfect congregation of God's children now, than to be in a perfect assembly of the devil's own throughout eternity. If you are looking for a perfect congregation, your search will be futile. But if you are looking for a congregation of the Lord's people who are striving to follow their Lord, to live as He did, and to obey the Father as He did, you need look no further than the church of Christ, which seeks to do all by the authority of Jesus Christ. " And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17) " Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." {Ephesians 5:22-24} Also read the rest of the chapter. That congregation will be perfected in heaven.
On a final note, this article does not, and was not intended to, deal with doctrinal soundness. Some teach that one can believe imperfect doctrine, while still being in fellowship with God. This is true only up to a point--when truth is taught, and then rejected. Babes in Christ do not KNOW everything perfectly, but when they receive the truth, babes or not, they must either accept it and God's fellowship, or reject it and face His wrath on Judgment Day. "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." {2 John 9-11}
Brother Ross has shown the truth concerning perfection. Please remember this when you read this paper! (KMG)