Christendom and the Church
What is the Church’s role in society? Is it simply to offer locations for individuals to worship and fellowship? What roles has it abdicated to civil government? Welcome to the third article in this series on Christendom—this article addresses how the Church is to impact society for Christ.
Restoration Era on the History of Liberty Timeline
Providential History
Take a listen . . .What is the Church?
Let’s start out by defining what the Church is. Per Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, Church is defined as:
“1. A house consecrated to the worship of God, among Christians; the Lords house. This seems to be the original meaning of the word. The Greek, to call out or call together, denotes an assembly or collection. But, Lord, a term applied by the early Christians to Jesus Christ; and the house in which they worshipped was named from the title. So church goods, bona ecclesiastica; the Lords day, dies dominica.”
“2. The collective body of Christians, or of those who profess to believe in Christ, and acknowledge him to be the Savior of mankind. In this sense, the church is sometimes called the Catholic or Universal church.”
“3. A particular number of Christians, united under one form of ecclesiastical government, in one creed, and using the same ritual and ceremonies; as the English church; the Gallican church; the Presbyterian church; the Romish church; the Greek church“
The Church’s Acknowledgement of Christendom
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines Christendom as:
“CHRISTENDOM, noun: 1. The territories, countries or regions inhabited by Christians, or those who profess to believe in the Christian religion.”
The definition of Christendom relates to the definition of kingdom:
“KING’DOM, noun [king and dom, jurisdiction.] 1. The territory or country subject to a king; an undivided territory under the dominion of a king or monarch. 5. In Scripture, the government or universal dominion of God. 1 Chronicles 29:11. Psalms 145:11.”
The Church as a whole is to acknowledge that in addition to being our Savior, Christ is King now. He is Lord over all now.
In Matthew 2:1-2 we learn that the Magi, the wise men, knew that Christ was born King, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (KJV)
As the Church, we have a role that is local and we have a role that is broader in every day life.
The Church’s Role as a Local Fellowship
The Church is to come together as a body to evangelize, worship God (His non-choice attributes), praise God (His choice attributes), edify believers to mature in Christ, admonish one another—that is to say, counsel one another against wrong practices (Colossians 3:16), pray for each other, and disciple the body of believers. Sometimes this is done as individuals meet within a designated building, and sometimes it’s done within individual homes.
The body of Christ isn’t confined to a particular denomination or regularly-attended group. However, it is beneficial to have a consistent place to fellowship and build relationships. The body can bless each other at a local level—as we learn about from the several accounts within the Bible. Of course, caring for each other’s needs will entail learning about individual needs and individuals will need to reach out to their pastors when they need help.
Wherever a body of believers meet is only one place to apply the Bible’s teaching. All too often, it stays contained within the walls of where believers meet.
The Church’s Role in Every Day Life
Life everywhere else is also where application is to take place—Christendom entails applying God’s principles so that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That entails all the spheres of life because there isn’t a sacred-secular divide.
Abraham Kuyper was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands between 1901 and 1905 and he said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existences over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'”
As individuals who make up the collective body of Christ, we are to fulfill several duties. Below are some examples:
- caring for those in true need (James 2:14-17)
- education—home or school (Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 1:7)
- civil government (Proverbs 29:2 – righteous in authority brings rejoicing)
- business (Proverbs 11:1 – accurate weights)
- the arts (Philippians 4:8 – honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable)
- media (Philippians 4:8)
The Church’s Purpose In Christendom
The Church is able to help heal individuals and nations. That is the case because as the Church fulfills her role in every are of life, Truth is spread. As Christians we know that absolute Truth is found in God’s Word, and we know that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
God gives us principles because they are wise, intelligent, and practical. They are doable, a blessing, and He gave them to us because they have purpose in this world. The Church is to help shape culture, civilizations, through Biblical teachings and application.
Christendom’s Influence on the Nations
To begin with, Liberty is God’s idea. As we trace Liberty on the timeline of history, Liberty flourishes in nations which implement Biblical ideas. History teaches us that the Protestant Reformers, Pilgrims, and Christians of America’s Funding Era embraced the idea of Christendom through the Church and via education.
Protestant Reformer William Tyndale
Tyndale (c. 1494–1536), said: “I defy the Pope and all his laws. . . . If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost.”
How would Tyndale make that happen? He did it by translating the Bible into English and through education as a tutor. He wanted individuals to know the truth by reading the Bible for themselves.
The Pilgrims
Under the teachings of Pastor Robinson in Holland, the Pilgrims learned Biblical principles for all of life and their application to the real world. There were some learning curves for them, as there are for all of us.
One example of that is when they originally tried applying the Counter-Principle of Collectivism. They tried “communal farming” on common grounds. The trouble was that some individuals wouldn’t farm; they just wanted to reap the benefits of those who would labor. Governor William Bradford wisely changed things by honoring God’s Principle of Private Property. So, individuals would have private property to grow their own food, and tend it. As a result, everyone in the community was industrious and was able to thrive.
Through the study of Scripture, the application of God’s Principle of Private Property was learned. This was passed down to consecutive generations through education—through discipleship.
The Founding Era
Some of the Founders were descendants of the Pilgrims who had Biblical wisdom passed down to them (Noah Webster is an example of one of those descendants).
Needless to say, the Founders were impacted through education. For instance, the writings of John Locke and William Blackstone contained Biblical wisdom and influenced the Founders in the framing of the United States of America. Our founding documents prove Biblical education of the Founding Fathers.
Other Nations Were Influenced by America
Christendom’s shaping of the most free nation in the world influenced other nations so their people could have more Liberty. Unfortunately, a revolution took place before Christendom could shape America. In some cases, revolutions were used to make changes in other nations. In other cases, changes were made without a revolution.
As an example, Thaddeus Kościuszko was a Polish general, military engineer, and revolutionary. He fought in America’s Revolutionary War, and afterward was a part of a revolution in Poland. As a result, on May 3, 1792 Poland had a written Constitution which was influenced by America’s Constitution and form of government—which are in place because of Biblical principles.
Another example is the Hatian Revolution which took place between 1791-1804. Haiti was also influenced, to a degree, by America’s Constitution and form of government. Hatians have been able to know more Liberty than they previously did because of America’s witness to the nations about the wise, intelligent, and practical Biblical Principles contained in God’s Word.
Christendom Won’t Be Perfect This Side of Eternity
Nothing is going to be perfect until Christ’s return, and that really goes without saying—as Christians we know the fallen state of mankind and the world. But, in the meantime Christians are to “occupy” until He returns. That looks like carrying out the Great Commission in all spheres of life.
Proverbs 29:2 teaches us: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Where can the righteous be in authority? Is it only a few individuals in a church denomination’s leadership? Or is it also in individual families, business, education, the arts, media, and civil government?
We have sobering responsibilities, fellow Christians. Let’s no longer abdicate our role to other jurisdictions. Instead, let’s follow our King and take our role in life as His Ambassadors seriously.
Emphatic Conclusion
Biblically, the Church is to bring God glory through worship and praise in our daily lives, edify and educate the body of Christ in how to think and reason Biblically in all areas of life, and to help those in need.
