Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 13:2 (Winter 2004)
Article: The Doctrine of the Church
Author: Larry Dixon

EmJ 13:2 (Winter 2004) p. 239

The Doctrine of the Church

Larry Dixona

Section One: The Relevance of the Church

Introduction

“God underwent three great humiliations in His efforts to rescue the human race. The first was the Incarnation, when He took on the confines of a physical body. The second was the Cross, when He suffered the ignominy of public execution. The third humiliation is the church.” (Dorothy Sayers)

“Alone I cannot serve the Lord effectively, and he will spare no pains to teach me this. He will bring things to an end, allowing doors to close and leaving me ineffectively knocking my head against a wall until I realize that I need the help of the Body as well as of the Lord.” (Watchman Nee)

“The problem with the church today is not corruption. It is not institutionalism. No, the problem is far more serious than something like the minister running away with the organist. The problem is pettiness. Blatant pettiness.” (Mike Yaconelli, The Wittenburg Door)

“I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

EmJ 13:2 (Winter 2004) p. 240

The story is told of an actual event which took place in an Ontario, Canada, Sunday morning service. It started at the end of the service. The choir began the recessional singing as the members marched in perfect step up the center aisle to the back of the church. The last young lady in the women’s section was wearing a new pair of shoes with needle heels. She stepped on the grating that covered the hot air register in the church and her heel stuck. Knowing that she couldn’t hold up the recessional, she simply slipped her foot out of the shoe and kept on marching. There wasn’t a break in the recessional, everything moved like clockwork. The first young man following the woman noticed the situation and reached down and picked up her shoe. The entire grate came up with it. Startled but still singing, the man continued up the aisle, bearing in his hand the one grate attached to the one shoe. Never a break in the recessional, everything moving like clockwork until the next man, still singing, stepped into the open register and disappeared.

Doesn’t that story illustrate much of the contemporary church’s absurdity? The rituals must continue—even if people are disappearing in the process.

A Promise…and Some Pessimistic Thoughts

Jesus proclaimed, “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18). Some would argue that the danger to the church is not from without, but fr...