It’s a fair question to ask! In a culture that assumes multiple religions are equally valid, and in a city that has more churches per person than most cities its size, perhaps it is wise to ask, “Why does this church exist?”
Actually, we have already answered the question. As a congregation we have formally adopted a statement of our purpose. This statement reflects our understanding of who we are as a church, what we are to be doing as a church, and how we are to be doing it!
Elim Baptist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ, wherever God grants us influence, by teaching the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The statement of who we are has several facets to it. First, we can see that we are a “Baptist” church. This simply means that we hold to those beliefs which have traditionally been held to by those who call themselves Baptist. We hold the Bible to be the only authority for faith and living. The autonomy (or self-rule) of the local church is an important part of who we are as we do not answer to any authority other than our Lord Jesus Christ! We are grateful for the priesthood of every believer, which means that we can each go directly to God for prayer, confession and forgiveness.
It is our joy and our privilege to celebrate the two ordinances of the church: baptism and communion. We realize that neither brings or imparts saving grace, but that both picture for us the blessings that are ours in Jesus. As we obediently baptize, we do so by immersion (total submersion under water) and we practice the ordinance as for believers in Jesus Christ only.
The separation of church and state are historically important to Baptists. That principle is important to us as it is rightly understood and carried out.
We also realize that it is important to know that there are only two possible destinies for every man or woman: heaven or hell. We believe in both as literal and eternal.
Our reason for existing, however, goes beyond our position as Baptists. We also state that we are to make disciples of Jesus Christ. This is what we are to be doing as a church, and it says a lot about us! We are not trying to find more church members. We are not even trying to make more Baptists! Our goal is to see people become followers of the only One who is worth following — the Lord Jesus! This is the goal that we want every ministry and every program to aim for. We exist to make disciples of Jesus wherever God grants us influence. So, if God brings us an opportunity to serve Him among the people of the former Soviet Union we gladly get behind it. If God grants us the privilege of partnering with His servants to take the truth of the gospel to people in Berlin, or the Ivory Coast, or Ethiopia or wherever, we seek to enjoy that privilege to its fullest! That is why we partner with some great missionaries and mission agencies. That is why we send some of our people on mission trips. That is why we pray the way we do. We want to see more disciples of Jesus!
But how are those disciples made? Shouldn’t our church have a practical, “get your hands dirty” reason to exist? Indeed it should! And that is where the final part of our purpose statement applies. True disciples of Jesus are made when they know and live the truth that is the Word of God, the Bible. It was Jesus who taught His disciples the following:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21)
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23)
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)
It is impossible to keep His commandments, and thus demonstrate that we are His disciples, if we do not know what those commandments are. So, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of Elim Baptist church seeks to teach God’s Word. Our desire is that those who are a part of the ministry here will each one be able to say, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
This is why we exist. We exist because we believe the teachings of God’s Word. We exist to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We exist to make those disciples anywhere God sees fit to give us influence. And we exist to make those disciples by teaching the Word of God as we are enabled by the Holy Spirit.
Posted on September 1st, 2007 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: Pastor's Occasional Papers
