"Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.~ Luke 5:31

The best analogy to describe the church is a command post where Jesus is our General, ministers are the officers serving under Him, and Christians are the enlisted privates. The church leaders help to build, train, and rebuke the body of Christ to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, the General, in the battle of faith.

The Hospital

The church is not a hospital for the sick. When Jesus said He came for the sick, He meant those outside the church. Christians experience healing through the blood of Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit, and are transformed from death to life. What Christians need is to learn how to empower the life within them. Labeling the church as a hospital keeps people in a state of perpetual illness, hindering their growth and fostering a sinner mentality. While we may continue to wrestle with sin, it no longer defines us; Jesus has defeated it. Our focus should be on following Christ to avoid fulfilling our sinful nature.

In any battle, there is a mash unit for the wounded, and I know sometimes, as Christians, we will be wounded, but the church's goal should be to patch us up to send us back into the world. Picture a war, and your primary focus is the hospital. You are going to lose that war because your soldiers will be ailing.

Business

The church is not a business venture; its purpose is not profit, and money should never overshadow its mission. While financial resources are necessary for its operation, we should trust in God's provision rather than making money our primary focus. By entrusting our needs to God, we create room for Him to shape the church according to His vision for us.

To think that church is about money would be like thinking a war is for profit.

The church isn't primarily an educational institution. Its role is to deepen our understanding of God's Word, leading to a closer relationship with Jesus. Rather than focusing solely on academic theology, the aim is to cultivate Christians who bear fruit and shine as beacons of light in the world. A profound connection with Jesus empowers us to demonstrate love to the world, serving as our arsenal in the spiritual battle.

We have enough people who know the Bible but we need more people who actually live it.

Social Club

The church is not for people to make friends, gather with family, or spend it socializing. It is a place for Christian soldiers to gather together in discipleship to fight the battle of faith. If friendships develop through this, praise God, but that should not be the goal.

Support Groups

The church is not a place of restoration, support, and counseling. Christ serves as our source of restoration, support, and guidance. Our task is to align ourselves with God's will and purpose. It's crucial to allow God to work in each person's life as we journey alongside them in their walk with Jesus.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.~ Acts 2:42-47

Exploring the early stages of the church in the Book of Acts highlights how God methodically laid its groundwork.

The people of Acts came with humble hearts, ready to learn and serve God. They demonstrated they had found a treasure worth giving up everything for. The people had found a common bond with Jesus and were ready to be enlisted in God's army. Through this common bond, they became a community that worshiped God, served, and followed Jesus. These people were soldiers for God who left behind the things of this world to fight the battle of faith.

The individuals in Acts weren't seeking help, restoration, companionship, or wisdom; they came to serve God, having discovered everything in Christ. Today, if people seek something from the church, the church must question whether they've genuinely found Christ. If not, should we be fulfilling their desires? The church embodies Christ's presence, and its primary inquiry should be whether individuals are fully committed, not what they require.