The Church as the Pillar and Foundation of Truth

By Pastor Chad

Over the last two months, we have taken a look at the various Scriptural analogies given for the church. We have seen that the church is a transdimensional portal connecting heaven and earth. We discussed that the church is mysteriously connected to Christ as His body, bride, and temple. We also saw that the Church is to bear the light of God’s glory and be an instrument of righteous preservation. Thus, the Church is a visible manifestation of Christ’s kingdom on earth. It is a reflection of Christ’s goodness and glory to the world.  

On Sunday, we concluded our fall series by looking at the Church as the pillar and foundation of truth. A question that helps us understand our focus on this passage is: What did Jesus establish with His earthly ministry? He most certainly did not start a social club, a political activist group, a seminary, or a community organization. He started a Church. In 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul gives a description of the church that not only reveals the nature of Jesus’ institution, but it gives us a purposed function of His Church. 

In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul calls the church “a pillar and buttress of the truth.” Paul is claiming that the church is an institution designed and ordered to advocate for a standard within the world. The church has been given the sacred responsibility of upholding the Word of God. In fact, Scripture was given to the church as a powerful weapon against the tyrannical forces of evil. I like to say: The Church is the servant of the Word. By that I mean, the Spirit of God works through His church to give clarity and understanding regarding the truth of Scripture.

The Church is also the guardian of the gospel truth. When Paul calls the Church the “buttress of truth” he is declaring that the Church has the responsibility to protect and guard the truth of God’s Word.   

If the church is called to uphold and protect the gospel message given in the Word of God, that clearly emphasizes the importance of the church’s mission. If we compromise in this regard, we are compromising our mission.The church is a gospel organization. That is, it is an organization designed and developed to be about the gospel work.     

Of course, I’m all for using whatever creative means we can to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ, but if the means start to water down the message, we have a problem. If our gimmicks take away from the truth that is being preached, then our gimmicks have become a detriment to what we are called to do.

So, Cedar Heights Baptist Church, let us continue to be a God-appointed entity that is primarily focused on proclaiming, upholding, and defending the Word of God in a world that—at least at times—seems so averse to it.