The Church Does What It Is

March 27, 2008 | Filed Under church, ecclesiology |

The church is missionary by nature, created by the Spirit to participate fully in the redemptive reign of God. The very existence of the church in the world creates a missionary condition. All that the church does in living its life and in carrying out its ministry is missionary by intent.

The church is missionary by nature because God through the Spirit calls, creates, and commissions the church to communicate to the world that the redemptive reign of God has broken into human history.

Because the church is the creation of the Spirit, its ministry is a work of the Spirit. The church’s ministry flows naturally out of its nature. This means that the church does what it is. . . . It is helpful to summarize the key elements of the church’s nature that have a direct bearing on the church’s ministry.

1. The nature of the church is defined by the mission of God in the world.

2. The nature of the church is the result of the redemptive work of Christ.

3. The nature of the church is holistic in relating redemption to all of life.

4. The church exists as a social community that is both spiritual & human.

5. The church exists as a full demonstration of a new humanity.

The attributes of the church’s nature determine the church’s ministry.

– The Essence of the Church by Craig Van Gelder