Why Christians should go to Church part 4 - To reveal the wisdom of God

God is making his wisdom known to the entire created order through the Church. The argument could be put that God could easily do that with one sincere person, or even nobody at all.

That’s true, but this is not about what God could do but about what he says he is doing. If he says it is one particular way, then that is the end of the matter.

This is true of the revelation of God’s wisdom as well although it’s not often spoken about. Perhaps we have such a low view of the Church today we have forgotten how God sees it.

To him it is not simply a retirement home for Christians who await the second coming, nor is it thwarting his plans through its sinfulness. It is the vehicle for him to display his wisdom. Listen to how Paul puts it;

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Eph 3:10-11)

Note how Paul says it was God’s intent all along to display his wisdom “through the church” because it is now the earthly manifestation of his Son who accomplished his eternal purpose. Christ is the head of this body and it is alive through the inner working of the Holy Spirit since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. This is how God has chosen to relate to his children and how he wants to reach the non-believing world. There is no other way.

Furthermore, the display of God’s wisdom through the Church shines even to the heavenly realms. We are on show in the heavenlies! How does this fit with those who deliberately withdraw from fellowship? They have set themselves up in opposition to God’s eternal purpose. That’s how serious it is.

It is only by God’s grace the whole thing doesn’t run off the rails. Imagine the Church without God’s Holy Spirit, on show in the heavenlies, before rulers and principalities. What a disaster! Even now we wonder what they think when they see of some of the things going on down here.

I can only trust that God, in his wisdom, has some sort of filter which prevents our shortcomings from being displayed and allows only that which brings him glory to shine through.

In a similar way, even when people ‘leave’ the body, it is still a complete body from God’s perspective. That’s not to say they are not missed, but by his grace, the body continues to enjoy his blessing and perform its function. Exactly how he does this we are not sure, but it certainly did not come about by our arrangement.

Being a visible part of the Church is not an optional extra God has placed in front of us for the benefit of those who are more tolerant than most or who care too little about doctrine. It is God’s one and only plan for the display of his wisdom “to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms”.

It grieves God when his children wander away from his revealed will and that is what happens on a massive scale as Christians drop out of fellowship. Yet, through it all, God’s manifold wisdom continues to be displayed to his glory. Now that’s grace!