CHBC Connect for September 20, 2024
Three Pillars of CHBC:
3 Pillars of Conviction by Which the Church Chooses to Function:
Pillars in architecture can be used for support as well as aesthetics. Pillars in the Bible were often monuments to commemorate an event or a location as special or holy to the Lord. In Galatians 2:9, Paul wrote, “and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”
He says that James, Cephas (Peter), and John had the reputation as pillars of the faith. We understand the significance of a pillar. Well at CHBC we have three pillars of conviction by which the church has chosen to operate. They are significant in that they stand atop the foundation of Christ’s Lordship, the Bible’s authority, and the Glory of God. They are also important because they undergird the mission of the church to equip believers, to exalt Christ, and to extend the gospel.
The pillars provide structural support to the ministries of the church, as well as show the beauty of God’s grace and wisdom. The three pillars are: Biblically-Modeled; Mission-Minded; Multi-Cultural. The beautiful plan of God in the design of the local church is on full display in these three broad convictions.
Humanly speaking a church could be many things. But God has given the church a form, a structure, a polity, and a purpose all written in the pages of the Scriptures. When a church follows the model of God it helps to put His wisdom on display for the world to see and be in awe of Him.
There are churches who emphasized all kinds of activities, ministries, and community agencies. But often the busy nature of running social programs prevents the church from being serious about the mission God has given the church. The prime directive for the church is to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Any activity of the church that does not support or enhance that mission is undermining the support structure of the church and making it weak.
The early church was birthed miraculously in the book of Acts when Peter preached at Pentecost, and everyone heard the gospel in their own language. The persecution of those early believers by Rome and by the religious establishment of Judaism caused those believers to begin spreading out to the surrounding cities and countries. Even in the local gatherings of churches there were people born with a Jewish nationality, Greek nationality, Roman nationality, and others. There were men and women, young and old, enslaved and free, wealthy and poor, educated and uneducated, culturally elite and working class. The church was multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-socio economic. The early church was diverse, yet unified in Christ, by the gospel, and for God. The beauty of God’s design and the strength of the church is on great display when the local body reflects the range of cultures found in the community they are trying to reach.
This is why we hold these three convictions, and why we call them pillars of our church’s vision. They show the beauty of God’s grace and wisdom, and they support the mission of what CHBC is to be doing.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
