Because the church doesn’t exist for you, it’s somewhat easier to find the right one. God should be central in the life of any local church. His greater glory should be its mission. So too should be the aim of every believer.

We all desire a church that would make us feel comfortable. A church where we would be valued, appreciated and sometimes even consulted. A church where no one would intrude into our personal space, but allow us to be who we are. Does this resonate with you? Is anything listed here wrong? And if not, is it wrong to have such a mind-set concerning the church?

I reckon some would say that everything listed in the above paragraph is necessary, in some way or other, for a church to be relevant and helpful. However, the danger in what is listed above is the focus. The focus of all those things is anthropocentric. That is, they are man-centred. They are things tailored to make man happy.

All of this brings out a question concerning the existence of the church. Is the purpose of the church to make mankind happy? What does the Bible teach is the purpose of the church?

The Church Exists for God’s Glory

Paul writes that God established the church so that through it his manifold wisdom might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

He writes, “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realised in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Ephesians 3:8-12).

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