The Church With A Reputation...

"... When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.  Let all things be done for building up" (1 Cor. 14:26, ESV). 
"I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psa. 122:1, KJV). 
"[F]or there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized" (1 Cor. 11:19, ESV). 

NB:  ALL CHURCHES HAVE A REPUTATION;  THE JURY MAY STILL BE OUT AS TO WHAT KIND THOUGH!  SPURGEON WAS RIGHT:  THE CHURCH HAS SO LITTLE INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS SO MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE CHURCH! ALSO, THERE IS A SOCIAL COMMISSION ONLY IN LIGHT OF BEING THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD--WE MUST NOT TURN STONES INTO BREAD AND NOT MEET SPIRITUAL NEEDS AS GOD OPENS DOORS.  

Sardis, the church mentioned in the Book of Revelation, had a reputation that it was alive; but it was dead!  Even today many people mistake the church's vitality and life because of its "social gospel".  They are "turning stones into bread" and not preaching the Word in tandem.  We ought not to get a reputation of do-goodery!  Even Christ didn't want to get the reputation of being a miracle worker.  They are meant to go hand in hand!  The Spirit-filled (energized) and consecrated church bears fruit and has a witness to the outsider that it is against sin and for Christ--it will take a stand lest it loses its focus by default.  Christ through the church offers hope to a lost world!

The Bible says that we ought to preach the Word in season and out, and the gospel is always relevant, front and center.  They keep the main thing the main thing and encourage members to get with the program.  This can only be accomplished by the power of the Spirit:  "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (cf. Zech. 4:6, ESV).  But what we seem to see in the Evangelical Right is a loss of its bearings to forget about the moral compass of the rule of law it must set, and not keeping the main thing the main thing--we are salt and light, not the sanitizer of the world!  The church's calling and mission is to complete the Great Commission, not to get sidetracked with a political agenda.  Baptists traditionally and firmly adhere to the belief of separation of church and state, as one theologian said, when they are joined, "it's good for the state but bad for the church!"

A church can have quite the reputation and be dead spiritually, even a megachurch or media empire can become apostate or heretical!  But authentic fellowships are organisms, not organizations.  We can be edified in a crowd, for instance, but not be able to function in our capacity as believers using our spiritual gifts.   The church must become a living entity and that means spiritual growth:  life means growth and removal of what's dead!  This doesn't necessarily mean growth in members!  One must not compare ministries and size isn't the measuring stick.  There will always be those who "play" church and go through the motions as they "nod to God" once a week singing "Onward Christian Soldiers," then go AWOL on Monday. 

God clearly condemns lip service and halfhearted worship.  We must "worship the Father in spirit and in truth"--that means being filled with the Spirit and with integrity and correctness of doctrine--not heresy.  We must know the Author of the book we are reading and studying, and not for academic reasons.   Even though doctrine is important, it's not everything (necessary, but not sufficient), one's heart must be in the right place.  We must not give place to faction and contention over disputable points and gray areas, and reason from the Scriptures as the arbiter of truth and final word of authority. Sectarianism is a sin:  As Augustine's dictum says, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

The vibrant church isn't for socializing:  we attend for fellowship, worship, edification, discipline, getting our spiritual batteries charged and energized, taking spiritual inventory, getting a spiritual check-up, and the opportunity to serve with our gift.   The functional church displays the gifts of the Spirit as people enjoy each other and submit to one another in the Lord as unto Christ; i.e., no one lords it over the others, but in love preferring one another.

Love is manifest and people will say, "Behold, how they love one another."  They will know we are Christians by our love, not our bottom line or 401(k)!  Sinners attending a sound church will get convicted and not feel comfortable in their sin, but they will realize they don't have to live in it but can have a way through life without sin controlling them.  Different strokes for different folks; i.e., different denominations.  In sum, we never should judge one another for their experience with the Lord or church affiliation; for there's no one-size-fits-all for worship!   (No church can claim a monopoly on truth or doctrine.)    Soli Deo Gloria!