Questions
What Is the Biblical Nature and Role of the Church?
Summary: The church is not a voluntary society but a community called by God, united to Christ, existing to glorify the Triune God, proclaim the gospel, and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)—an embassy of another kingdom present within the nations but ordered by a different authority.
The church is not a voluntary society, but a community of people called by God and united to Jesus Christ and one another by faith. The church exists to point to and glorify the Triune God, proclaim the gospel, and make disciples among all nations. The church is not intended to rule governmentally or politically, but to call others under the authority of Christ through discipleship (Matt 28:18-20). The church bears witness to God’s kingdom by imitating Christ and demonstrates the logic of obedience and the fruits of a life that flows from allegiance to Christ.
Because of this calling, the church’s role is distinct from the state though not necessarily opposed to the state (Jer 29:7; Rom 13:1-4). Rather than seeking political control, the church fulfills its mission by living faithfully within the world and calling people to repentance and faith while embodying the life of Christ in the midst of the nations. The church is not a political lobby but an embassy of another kingdom. It is present within the nations, but ultimately ordered by a different authority and oriented toward a different end.
Key Takeaways: Church as Embassy
- Not Voluntary, But Called: The church is a community God calls and unites to Christ by faith—not a consumer association.
- Core Mission: Glorify the Triune God, proclaim the gospel, make disciples (Matt 28:18-20).
- Distinct But Not Opposed to the State: The church is called to seek the welfare of the city (Jer 29:7) while living under Christ’s authority, not the state’s (Rom 13:1-4).
- The “So What”: The church is an embassy of another kingdom—present within nations, ordered by a different authority, oriented toward a different end.
About the Author — James Spencer, PhD, is a theologian, author, and host of the Thinking Christian podcast, where he writes and speaks on Christian formation, political theology, and technology. He holds a PhD in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and completed the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He serves as President of the D.L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts, as adjunct faculty in Wheaton College’s MA in Leadership program, and as an Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Christianity.com, and Sojourners; he has been quoted in The Telegraph; and he is a regular guest on Stand in the Gap Today with the American Pastors Network. His forthcoming book is Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press, Fall 2026). Learn more at jamesgspencer.com.