The Reformed Life

In today’s world, the church faces pressures on every side—cultural, political, and even internal. In these challenges, it’s easy for congregations to drift into pragmatism or adopt the latest trends in church growth. But without a biblical foundation for what the church is and how it should function, we risk losing our identity and our mission. Ecclesiology—the study of the church—matters deeply because the church is not man’s invention but God’s. When we ground our understanding of the church in Scripture, we anchor ourselves in God’s design for His people, ensuring that we function in a way that glorifies Him and builds His kingdom. Let’s consider six reasons the church matters. 

1. The Church Belongs to Christ

At the heart of biblical ecclesiology is the reality that the church belongs to Jesus Christ. He purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28) and is its head (Colossians 1:18). This truth reorients our perspective: the church is not ours to shape according to preference or culture. When we grasp that Christ is His church’s rightful owner and ruler, we are compelled to align its structure, worship, and mission with His Word, not our desires. Again, Christ is the head of the church, not our preferences nor the culture’s.

As believers, we should desire nothing less than to see our churches reflect God’s glorious design because when we do, the world will see an accurate picture of the church as it was meant to be: a radiant bride prepared for her King. 

2. God’s Glory Is at Stake

The local church is a visible reflection of God’s redemptive work in the world. It displays His glory through the proclamation of the gospel, the administration of the ordinances, and the unity of believers. When we stray from biblical ecclesiology, we obscure God’s glory and distort His purposes for the church. By faithfully adhering to Scripture, we protect the church’s witness and ensure that God, not man, remains at the center.

3. It Protects the Gospel

A church grounded in biblical ecclesiology guards the gospel’s integrity. This means preaching the gospel clearly and living it out in how the church is organized and governed. From church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17) to the role of elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3), biblical ecclesiology protects the purity of the gospel message by ensuring that the life of the church aligns with the truth of Scripture.

Christ is the head of the church, not our preferences nor the culture’s.

4. Biblical Leadership Strengthens the Church

The church’s health is directly tied to the kind of leadership it embraces. The Bible provides clear qualifications for church leaders (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) and establishes the necessity of shepherding, teaching, and guarding the flock. Leaders chosen according to biblical standards and who shepherd with humility and care promote spiritual growth and maturity within the congregation. Without this foundation, leadership can quickly become self-serving or ineffective, leaving the church vulnerable.

A biblical understanding of the church reminds us that we exist to make disciples, baptize, and teach all Christ commanded.

According to Brian Croft, “Most Baptist churches [of which denomination I belong] are faithful to have in some form the presence of these two separate offices [elders/deacons]. Where they often deviate from a more biblical pattern is in both qualifications and functions of these two offices.” He adds, “Faithfulness to the biblical paradigm involves having not only the offices, but a proper understanding of them as well.”¹

5. Unity and Accountability

Biblical ecclesiology fosters true unity in the body of Christ. This unity isn’t based on personal preferences or shared experiences but on a joint commitment to Christ and His Word. Furthermore, it creates structures of accountability, such as mutual submission among members (Ephesians 5:21) and godly leadership that safeguard against error. When churches drift from Scripture, they often fracture, as there’s no firm foundation to hold them together. 

6. The Church’s Mission Is Clarified

A church’s mission must be rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), but the mission often becomes confused when ecclesiology is untethered from Scripture. Some churches may drift toward social activism or political agendas, while others may focus only on personal spirituality. A biblical understanding of the church reminds us that we exist to make disciples, baptize, and teach all Christ commanded. This keeps the church laser-focused on its God-given mission and prevents it from being swayed by cultural pressures. 

Conclusion

Biblical ecclesiology isn’t an abstract academic concept—it is a roadmap for how the church can faithfully serve Christ in a broken world. When we allow Scripture to shape our understanding of the church, we honor Christ as its head, protect the gospel’s purity, and stay focused on the mission He gave us. As believers, we should desire nothing less than to see our churches reflect God’s glorious design because when we do, the world will see an accurate picture of the church as it was meant to be: a radiant bride prepared for her King. 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

1. Brian Croft, Biblical Church Revitalization: Solutions for Dying & Divided Churches (Fearn, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 2017), 70-71. ↩︎

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