The church exists to uphold the truth of God’s Word — not to entertain the world.
Paul writes to Timothy and tells him plainly why he is writing — “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God.” Then he defines what the church is: “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” That phrase settles the matter. If you want to know the central focus of the church, here it is — the truth. The church does not exist to mirror culture, chase trends, or elevate opinions. It exists to uphold, support, and proclaim the truth of God.
A great and mighty church is the one place in this world where you can walk in with confidence and know you are going to hear truth. Not speculation. Not philosophy. Not the latest idea. From the days when the disciples walked with the Living Word, to the moments after Pentecost when believers gathered daily to hear the written Word, the Bible has always been central. It is impossible to miss the supreme emphasis and consistent centrality of Scripture in the life of the New Testament church.
A true believer is not enamored with the bells and whistles and bright lights the world tries to adorn the church with. We don’t come for a concert, an experience, or entertainment — we come to hear the Word of God preached. If the lights never came on, if the sound system didn’t work, if the parking lot pavement disappeared, we could still have church. Give us a Bible and some believers, and we can gather, sing a hymn, open the Word of God, and that would be enough.
