Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—Beauty Demonstrated

Monday, 31st October 2022
Image: lets-read-why-should-we-love-the-local-churchbeauty-demonstrated

Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—Beauty Demonstrated

By Davy Ellison

Mr Universe/Miss World

If there was a Mr or Miss Church competition and you were on the judging panel, what would you be looking for? What characteristics or features would be high on your list of desirables for a church to be considered a contender for the title of Mr Church or Miss Church? If you are anything like me—and if it is anything like the Mr Universe and Miss World competitions—mere externals are the immediate things that come to mind.

In the chapters that we have been reading and meditating on over the past month, Dustin Benge points us to two things that should make that list. They are not mere externals, however, but vital dispositions for any church to adopt if its beauty is to be demonstrated.

Defending the Truth for the Sake of Worship

The church’s beauty is first demonstrated in it defending the truth for the sake of worship. The church must protect the truth. Benge puts it this way:

The truth is her mission. The truth is her message. The truth is her reason for existing in the world . . . Jesus came to bear witness to only one truth, God’s truth, the only truth that exists. The only truth that will be standing when heaven and earth pass away (Matt. 24:35). (pp. 40–41)

The truth that Jesus bore witness to is the truth that the church must defend for it is the truth that will remain standing at the end of time. Naturally, being so dogmatic about the truth is not easy, especially in this day and age when everyone is encouraged to simply live their truth. But defending the truth is necessary. For, “Unless we are held captive by God’s word, the very heart of the church is susceptible to Satan’s cunning deception” (p. 40). Despite the claims of our culture which confuse many, the source of truth is strikingly simple: the Bible. Benge explains that “The truth meant to be heralded by the church is found in a book” (p. 41). The church must defend the truth of Scripture.

There is a glorious purpose in this necessity. The church must defend the truth of Scripture because doing so promotes true worship. If, as Benge argues, “Worship isn’t born in the void of our conscience but proceeds from truth” (p. 45), then it befits the church to defend truth for the sake of worship. A significant way in which protecting the truth demonstrates beauty is that it promotes true worship—worship informed, inspired and superintended by the truth of Scripture.

Godly Shepherds who Feed the Flock the Gospel

The church’s beauty is demonstrated secondly by it appointing godly shepherds who feed the flock with the gospel. This is of course predicated on defending the truth for the sake of worship, but it is a further application of that reality.

Godly leadership begins with the appointment of elders, whether paid or voluntary. “A church radiates the beauty of Christ only when they are faithful to appoint men who themselves are beautiful in character and holiness,” or to put it another way, their “heart must beat in rhythm with the heart of Christ, both privately and publicly” (p. 49). The ministry of elders is then supplemented by the ministry of deacons, and there the church must appoint individuals who “beautify the church by caring for those who have no one else to care for them” (p. 50). These different offices in different, but complementary, ways guard the church and promote its beauty.

One facet of the beauty of godly leadership is found in their feeding those in their care with the gospel. Leaders who hold fast the gospel message serve both God and his people:

No church has the freedom to tamper with, tweak, add to, or subtract from the good news of Jesus Christ—we are just to herald it. For there is nothing more beautiful and lovely in the sight of God than the extricating of sinners from the kingdom of darkness and delivering them to the kingdom of light. (pp. 59–60)  

It therefore befits elders and deacons to resist promoting their own agendas and champion only one: the gospel. After all, “Feeding the flock of God is a fundamental duty in contributing to the beauty and loveliness of the church. As God’s truth is proclaimed, men and women are saved and sanctified, and the church is made beautiful” (p. 56). Those who are fed the pure unadulterated gospel, by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit, are saved and sanctified. This is beautiful.

The next time you are weighing up the beauty of a local church, ask two questions: Is it defending the truth for the sake of worship? Is it led by godly shepherds who feed the flock the gospel? If the answer to these two questions is yes, the church is beautiful.

Questions for Reflection

  • Is the Bible central to church life in your local church? How can you make it more so?
  • When it comes to electing church leaders how might we avoid entertaining a popularity contest?
  • Pray now for your local church, asking God to help it demonstrate its beauty by defending the truth for the sake of worship and by godly shepherds feeding the flock.

    Blog Archive

Let’s Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: Recovering a Biblical and Theological Vision for Ministry Let's Talk: Surviving Ministry Staff & Students Favourite Books of 2022 Let's Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Gathered BYE Teams Hugh D. Brown Lectures How I spent my sabbatical Let’s Read Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Identified 1st Year Reflections from Andrew and Debbie Second Year Placement (Josh and Glenn) Final Year Reflection: Chris Banks Let’s Read Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Functioning New Library Books (April 2023) Easter Reflection 2023 Irish Baptist Historical Society Lecture Report on the Life of Hugh Orr Let's Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Multiplying Friends of the College May 2023 Let's Read: Reflections on Spurgeon the Pastor by Geoff Chang Student Reflections on Graduation 2023 Where will our students will be serving this summer? Pray Without Ceasing: A Week of Summer Prayer 2023 Reflections on returning to Peru Recognition Service Report 2023 Commencement Service Report 2023 Cross Cultural Report in Ireland Cross Cultural Reports 2023 2 Short Book Reviews Let's Read: Keeping Your Children's Ministry On Mission: Practical Strategies For Discipling The Next Generation by Jared Kennedy Let's Read: When Children Become Brothers And Sisters What's in a name? Evangelism Teams 2023: Coleraine and Keady Evangelism Teams 2023: Castlederg and Tobermore Let's Read: Welcoming and Safeguarding Book Review: Weakness Our Strength A Strange Man from Another World
Let’s Read: The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring Graduate Updates Tribute How to Avoid Becoming a Graceless Theological Thug Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor Hugh D. Brown Lectures—Understanding and Applying Zephaniah Book Review: Children of Abraham: A Reformed Baptist View of the Covenants by David Kingdon Graduate Updates: Laetitia Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor (chapters 5-12) New Books in the Library Friends of the College—March 2022 Graduate Updates: Andrew Let's Read: The Path To Being A Pastor (chapters 13-23) Deacons The Risen Christ Changes Everything Why Four Gospels? Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor (Chapters 24–27) The College Graduation MA Missions Module Reflection Student Reflections (first and second year) Book Review: The Crucible of Leadership Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church? (Introduction) Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church? (Introduction) Friends of the College: September 2022 Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—You’re Beautiful Commencement Report Cross Cultural Placements 1 Cross Cultural Placements 2 Cross Cultural Placements 3 Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—Beauty Demonstrated 1st Year Reflection (Ana Rut) Evangelism Teams 2022 (Armagh and Cavan) Evangelism Team 2022 (Ballycrochan & Comber) Let's Read: Living Beautifully Let's Read: Why Should We Love The Local Church “Always winter and never Christmas” Three Kings
Let’s Read Irish Baptist College Conference (Online) From Intern to Undergraduate (Emily Middleton) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Reason for Redemption Baptists and Revival in the Long 18th Century Second Year Placements From Intern to Undergraduate (Josh Brown) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The What and Why of Holiness Final Year During A Pandemic 2nd Year Placement Experience Friends of the College 2021 Update The Art of Reading More Books Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Real Possibility of Holiness A Basic Easter Fact The Servant King Podcast Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — You Are Holy Third Year Reflection Gospel Guardians: Protecting the Purity of the Gospel for Future Generations Graduation 2021 Book Review: Succeeding at Seminary Let's Read: The Hole in Our Holiness — A Work in Progress Why the Irish Baptist College is Vital to the Health of the Association A Good News Story: The Ministry Partnership Scheme Why Study the Biblical Languages? Profit in Toil: A Short Message on A Level Results Day Let's Read: Small Preaching Recognition Service Report 2021 Sin Forgiven: Nourishment for Life and Joy for Living Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Character of the Preacher Commencement Service Report Placement Friends of the College Update God Rejoices over His People: A Meditation on Zephaniah 3:17 Let’s Read: Small Preaching—Constructing the Sermon Evangelism Teams: Newcastle and Brannockstown Evangelism Teams: Stonepark and North Belfast Christian Fellowship First Year Reflections (Reuben and Andrew) Some New Books Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Craft of Preaching Let's Read: Small Preaching—What is God Saying? A Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘The coming of the light’ Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘Life, Light & Glory’
Time to read Genesis...again Friends of the College - January 2020 Friends of the College - January 2020 Finances Tribute to Marion Craig The Resilient Pastor: Surviving & Thriving in Ministry Just a Blow-in? What is new on the shelves at IBC? Friends of the College - February 2020 Four Reasons to Study Theology Academically From Spain to Moira Testimonial Financial Update Friends of the College – March 2020 Irish Baptist Historical Society: The Mayflower Thomas Patient: the Father of the Irish Baptist Church Testimonials The Pastors’ Conference: An Encouraging Privilege Testimonials (part-time studies) In the worst of times: COVID-19 and the Book of Ruth Friends of the College - April 2020 The Long Wait: Victory Delayed Testimonials - Preparation for Ministry and Evening Classes The Leadership Podcast Testimonials - Ladies Study Fellowship The Leadership Podcast (part 2) Friends of the College - May 2020 Reflections from the Student Chairman Why do we teach the Old Testament? Reflections on first year at IBC Friends of the College - June 2020 Why do we teach Romans? IBC Placement Is Church History a Thing of the Past? Friends of the College - July 2020 Friends of the College – August 2020 Friends of the College September 2020 Recognition and Graduation Service Introducing the Irish Baptist College’s New Logo Commencement Service Friends of the College - October 2020 Filled with the Spirit: Soundings in Luke’s Theology of the Holy Spirit The Famous Five: The Abiding Relevance of the Solas of the Reformation Friends of the College - November 2020 The Importance of Theological Training in Fulfilling the Great Commission First Year Reflections — Tim Houston Singing: The Place of Theology in Corporate Worship New Library Books Friends of the College – Unite to Pray – December Christmas Reflections
Agree and Close notice.

By continuing on our website you agree with our Privacy Policy and to the use of cookies by third party plugins. Find out more here