We Cannot Save the Church by Glen Elliott

There is but one Savior of the church. I am not the savior But neither are you. The church is not saved by ideas and inventions which arise out of human ingenuity. Neither is the church saved by carefully-planned classes or programs designed to meet the felt-needs of its members. Jesus is the Savior of His church (Eph. 5:23). While He is.potentially, the Savior of the world; He is, at this moment, the Savior of His body, the church (Jn. 4:42; Eph. 1:22.23)

Well-intentioned people will, at times, step in to “save” the church. To save it from itself. To save it from its lethargy. To save it from its leadership. Often these self-appointed saviors take on the form of preachers. But not always. We have seen it many times. Those who think they have the answers-that they can save the church, if only the church will follow their counsel. What often begins with good and honest motives can develop into a savior complex where attention is drawn to the one who has become, at least in their own mind, the indispensable rescuer of the church Instead, our constant focus must be on becoming a Christ-centered church. For He is Savior of the church and to Him belong all praise and glory (Eph. 3:21).

There is much to be done to advance the cause of Christ. But, we do not save the church. Christ is our Savior. God adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47). We work together with God in our own salvation as well as in the salvation of others (Acts 2:40; 2 Cor. 6:1-2). We ‘encourage one another” (1 Th. 5:11). We “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hb. 10:24). There are many things we must do for the sake of the body. But, regardless of how much we do, we cannot save the church. We are no more important than anyone else in the body of Christ. Jesus alone holds His place of “honor and glory and dominion forever and ever” and we are but unworthy slaves who have been granted the blessing of serving in His kingdom (Rev. 5:13; Lk.17:10).