I was very impressed by Stephen Carl’s introduction, by memory, no less, of the “Great Ends of the Church” found in G-1.0200 of the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I thought to myself: “I wish I could do that!” Then, “I need to introduce those to the congregation before I leave.” And that is what I am doing now.
The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA) can be a daunting document for both clergy and laity. It is not nearly as exciting as Harry Potter, I assure you. But it is very important for all Presbyterians, and I am proud to introduce you to the “Great Ends of the Church.”
This short paragraph lays out the great mission of our denomination. It reads:
The great ends of the church are:
• the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.
That is why we exist. The gospel is for the sake of the whole world. And the church exists, not for itself, but as God’s witness to God’s love for the world. God calls us to love the world as deeply and as sacrificially as our Lord Jesus Christ.
• the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.
The Book of Order deals with lots of constitutional questions and church discipline, not exactly what one might think of as “spiritual.” But the incarnation is about God becoming flesh. The Book of Order exists to provide order for spiritual growth and service. When we forget this in our assembly debates we forget what we are about.
• the maintenance of divine worship.
Worship is at the heart of who we are and what we are about. We may worship God in different ways. Some of us may prefer a traditional service. Others may prefer a contemporary service. But that is not the point. Our very hearts long to worship our living, redeeming God whose love is so great that he suffered with us and for us, to lift us up unto himself. And that is what the Book of Order is at pains to emphasize.
• the preservation of the truth.
I know—truth is hard to discern some times. Our “truth” often gets confused with our cultural values and personal experiences. Yet, the Presbyterian Church has always maintained that while we may never know the “whole” truth, the truth of God’s love in Jesus Christ for the world (however that is expressed) has been revealed to the deepest recesses of our hearts. We might argue about many things, but on this essential “truth” we are united.
• the promotion of social righteousness.
“Justice,” I suppose, is a bit like “truth.” Social issues are often complex and many faceted. What is “just” to one may seem “unjust” to another. This may lead (even in the most spiritual congregations) to tense differences of opinion and much stress. Yet, the Holy Spirit does lay upon the Christian heart, I believe, the need to reach out with Jesus to the socially vulnerable, the poor and sick, the helpless neighbor. God does not tell us to ignore such issues to maintain “peace,” but to love one another even when we disagree.
• and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
Like it or not, the world is watching us. Our behavior and words are all the world can see to determine what we are about and who we are. If we scream hatred, that is how the world will perceive the Kingdom of Heaven. If we refuse to offer forgiveness to those who hurt us, then that is how the world will evaluate our claim to be “ambassadors” of Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. If we exclude others from our fellowship, that is exactly the message the world will receive from the “exhibition” we present. The 70’s hymn, “They will know we are Christians by our love” may be an impossibly high ideal, but at least it points us in the right direction.
These “Great Ends of the Church” need to be discussed at the meetings of session and deacons and by committees. My commentary does not exhaust their depth. Church members need to post them on the doors of refrigerators and wrap them in their hearts. The list is not long, but each end is vitally crucial in guiding us in our mission and in our daily lives. They exist, as do we, to “glorify God forever.” Amen.
Loren M. Scribner, Interim Pastor