We often do things without asking ourselves an important question: Why?
Of course, we do ask it of others, as in Why did you run into my car? or Johnny, why did you hit your brother? And although he used a different W word, Moses asked Aaron a Why? question in Exodus 32:21 regarding the golden calf incident: “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”
Mr. Herbert Armstrong often began sermons by asking, “Why are we here?” It is easy to dismiss this question, but we do so at our peril. Consider the tens of thousands in God’s Church who by their actions demonstrated that they did not know the answer—even though they had heard it multiple times.
Why? is an important question that ought to be asked across all endeavors of our lives. “Why do I want to marry you?” Or “Why did I marry you?” If we had a good answer to the first question, we can remember it later in life when going through stressful times. We must never forget to ask such questions as Why keep the Sabbath?, Why keep the Feasts?, or Why did God create us?
In this article I am going to address another why question: Why the Church? What is its purpose? More personally, why are you in the Church? And what was Jesus’ purpose for building His Church (Matthew 16:18)?
“Christianity”—falsely so-called—does not know. People go to whatever they call their church—a building with a steeple, cross, or some other identifier—because they think it is the right thing to do, because Heaven is a better alternative than the other place, because they like the singing, because it makes them feel good, or because the preacher is entertaining. They most often attend the denomination into which they were born, but they may attend another if it is near to where they live or if they have a good program for children. Most people put very little thought into why they do what they do. But are any of these the reasons why Jesus said He would build His Church? Few, if any, can answer!
I grew up in a military family where we “went to church” on base, and there were basically three choices: Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish. When we lived in South Dakota, we went to a Protestant denomination in town—I do not know exactly why, but they had activities for children, and perhaps that is the reason my parents chose that church. Sadly, some who attend the Living Church of God, or other Church of God groups founded after the breakup of the Worldwide Church of God, show by their actions that they do not understand the answer to this important question: Why the Church?
I have often asked, “If God is not calling everyone, why is He calling anyone?” For many, the question still stands to be answered. It is, of course, to do the Work, but there is more to it than that, so it is important to go back to the beginning and understand God’s overall plan for mankind.
Why Is Earth Special?
Surprising to many, the beginning of the story is found in the New Testament book of John. There we learn that there were two divine Beings—One referred to as God and the other referred to as the Word (in Greek, Logos, meaning Spokesman). We also learn that the one called the Word is also God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1–2). A simple analogy helps us make sense of this: My name is Weston, and I am the head of my family, but there is another Weston—my wife. We are both Weston, but we are two separate persons. We learn from John 1 that God is composed of two separate Beings, and verse 14 tells us that the Word is the One who became Jesus Christ.
Neither God nor the Word were created. They always existed. The first allusion to Their creative work is found in Job 38:4–7, as God asks, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth… when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” This shows us that the angels were created prior to the physical universe.
But which of the two God beings was it who created the angelic realm and later the universe? The Bible answers this question unequivocally. In reference to the Word, the Logos or Spokesman, we read, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). But what is included in “all things?” “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). The One spoken of here is clearly the one who became Jesus Christ, as the context proves (vv. 15, 17–19). This is also corroborated elsewhere (Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:1–2).
The Bible is as no other book. We are told that those who come to understand it are not just recently “weaned from milk” (Isaiah 28:9). The Bible must be studied as a whole. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (v. 10). And we must rightly divide this word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
So, in order, we find two spirit beings who have always been—God and the Word. Next came the creation of the invisible angelic realm, followed by the creation of the Earth in an immense universe. But what is so special about the Earth? Why is the focus here instead of somewhere else? What is God’s plan that He is carrying out here below? We have no real evidence that there is physical life anywhere else, aside from unfounded speculation.
How Did We Get Here?
Nobel Prize-winning chemist Harold C. Urey boldly stated in Time magazine that “life is not a miracle…. It is a natural phenomenon, and can be expected to appear whenever there is a planet whose conditions duplicate those of the earth” (“Science: Life Begins,” November 24, 1952). Much of Urey’s outlook was based on the famous experiments he and fellow chemist Stanley Miller conducted in an attempt to simulate how life could have begun on Earth. As is usually the case, such optimism was short-lived.
I remember a later statement from Urey, which I quoted to my evolutionary biology professor at Ventura College: “All of us who study the origin of life find that the more we look into it, the more we feel it is too complex to have evolved anywhere. We all believe as an article of faith that life evolved from dead matter on this planet. It is just that life’s complexity is so great, it is hard for us to imagine that it did” (Christian Science Monitor, January 4, 1962, p. 4).
When our planet was created, the angels shouted for joy. Why? The archangel Lucifer (meaning “light-bringer”) had been at the very throne of God. As one of the cherubs whose wings overspread the throne, he was called “the anointed cherub who covers” and the “covering cherub.” But now he was given a throne on this earth, along with a multitude of angels, to administer God’s government. Earth was their abode, but Lucifer “got the big head” and became vain in his thinking.
You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor (Ezekiel 28:14–17).
Lucifer was not satisfied with his throne on Earth, so he tried to knock God off His throne in Heaven. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer…. For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High’” (Isaiah 14:12–14). Lucifer, now Satan the devil, was cast back down to Earth and with him a third of the angels (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:4). However, God allowed Satan to retain his throne on this planet.
Why Is Man Different?
We next come to Genesis 1, and we read of what amounts to a recreation. We see here a darkened landscape in chaos and confusion when the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, over the destruction resulting from Satan’s rebellion. After bringing light, after separating the waters from the land, and after creating flora and fauna, we read of a new creation. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion’” (Genesis 1:26).
Why in His image and likeness? Why is man so different from any other life-form? Why was he given rulership over all living creatures? Why was he placed in a beautiful garden and commanded to tend and keep it? Even King David was in awe of this, as we read in Psalm 8. The Apostle Paul quotes David’s question and answers it.
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:8–11).
How few believe these simple words! “Christianity”—falsely so-called—has no understanding of this, and even many in the Church of God fail to capture the vision of what God is currently doing and what He has in mind for His chosen ones. The first man, Adam, was placed on Earth to administer government, to restore the government of God that Lucifer had been given and rebelled against. But Adam failed to overcome Satan—instead, Satan overcame him.
The Battle for Control
Almost every student of the Bible is aware of the temptation of our Savior. Matthew 4, Mark 1, and Luke 4 all agree that the struggle between Christ and the devil took place after Jesus’ baptism, before He began His work proclaiming the good news of the coming Kingdom of God. We might again ask the why question. Why did the baptism come first, the temptation come second, and the proclamation of the coming Kingdom follow?
Jesus did not need His sins forgiven, as He had not sinned. His baptism was done as an example for us, after which He was immediately led into the wilderness to be tempted. Why? Clearly, this was a contest between Christ and the devil. Satan threw every trick he had at Jesus but failed to cause Him to sin. Instead, it was Jesus who prevailed and ordered Satan away. It was only after this battle that Jesus proclaimed the coming Kingdom of God.
Here is another why question: Why did Paul call Jesus the second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45–49)? When Lucifer rebelled against his Creator, he no longer ruled on earth as an obedient servant. Jesus never disputed that the devil was the ruler of Earth (Matthew 4:8–9), but it is evident that he does not rule as God wills. That is why we pray to our heavenly Father, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (6:10).
Adam could have restored godly rule on earth, but he failed the test when the devil tempted him. The second Adam did not fail. Jesus commanded Satan to depart, and the devil obeyed Him (Matthew 4:10–11). At that point, He qualified to replace Satan as the ruler of Earth. The temptations of the first and second Adams were not insignificant events meant only to fill the pages of the Bible with nice stories. On the contrary—they were momentous!
Once He qualified to replace Satan as ruler over the earth (Zechariah 14:9), Jesus began putting together His “team.” He called twelve men not only to be witnesses of Him, but to prepare for an amazing future. When they asked what was in it for them, He said that they each would be given a throne and would rule over the twelve tribes of Israel.
Of course, over the previous 4,000 years, the Word had already been working on His team of rulers. Abraham and the patriarchs will no doubt have very high positions in the Kingdom of God (Luke 13:28; Romans 4:13, 16). The prophets and Apostles will be part of the very foundation of Christ’s government (Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14). It is explicitly stated that King David will rule over the whole of Israel (Jeremiah 30:9), while the Apostles will each rule over one of the twelve tribes.
Just as today, most people in Jesus’ day did not understand the big picture. Most thought of the Kingdom of God in terms of a Messiah leading the Jewish nation to overthrow the Roman government. That was why Jesus gave the parable of the ten minas, saying, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come’” (Luke 19:12–13).
Note that the nobleman—the Messiah—had to go to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. After the crucifixion, Jesus returned to Heaven, where He would be coronated to receive that Kingdom (Daniel 7:13–14). When Christ returns to rule that Kingdom, He will give out rewards—rulership over cities—to His faithful servants. Note, however, that the man who did nothing with what he was given was called a “wicked servant” (Luke 19:22). In the parable of the talents, he is called “wicked and lazy” (Matthew 25:26).
The Answer
God is not calling everyone today. He is not trying to save the world at this time. He has not “saved” us so we can live as pleasant a life as possible, only to die and go to Heaven for eternal retirement. This world’s counterfeit Christianity does not understand why God created man, nor why the Church exists. And Mr. Herbert Armstrong used to thunder, “I don’t think half of you get it!” Is it any different today?
Again, I must ask: If God is not calling everyone, why is He calling anyone? No, those of us called in this age are not called for personal salvation. That is a byproduct of us doing His will.
So, why the Church? Christ is putting together a team to restore the government of God on Earth. Who will be part of that team? The parable of the talents gives the answer: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods” (Matthew 24:45–47). In other words, those who do the Work of God in this age will be given rulership in the Kingdom.
Failing to do the Work at this vital juncture in human history is a grave error. It is denying the reason for our calling. Claiming that the Work is “getting the bride ready” is an excuse that will lead to disaster. The majority of the bride of Christ is no longer alive. The bride has long been in the process of being prepared, and that preparation is by doing the will of God. We must practice the biblical form of government as it is clearly shown throughout Scripture, wholeheartedly preach the good news of God’s soon-coming Kingdom, and strive to “hold back those stumbling to the slaughter” (Proverbs 24:11).
Acts 3:19–21 is sometimes considered the most important passage in the New Testament, and for good reason. “Repent therefore and be converted,” it says, “that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
Let us understand why the Church exists, and let us be about our Father’s business!