Men can build churches. They can construct buildings, manage programs, collect money, engage in missions, and have a staff and a vision statement, and they can create and run many programs, and much more. The experience of many of us who have a passion for the Word of God and a desire to glorify God, is the conviction that the loves and commitments we had for God are rarely fulfilled in the local churches we have served. These churches have many faithful souls who serve God diligently and with great wisdom. They have illustrious histories of outward vision and a grasp of many of the essentials of the faith (even of the Reformed faith), but something essential is missing.

Jesus said that he does not receive glory from men (See John 5:41), but the overwhelming testimony of modern day churches is that Christ didn’t mean it and that the praises of people are not only acceptable but that they are necessary. So addicted they are to the praises of people that the churches become marketing centers with dozens of offerings, programs, performances, websites, ad campaigns, and an adoption of new technologies that may be defining the local church more than any other factor. The church is now essentially a marketing machine to meet human need.

The glorious church is fundamentally, essentially, and profoundly different. The glorious church does not market itself. It is the church. It doesn’t seek to serve the needs of people, but it directs people to the glorious God who alone can satisfy, provide, heal, and teach. The glorious church stands against any lifting up of men for praise, any display of the glory of men, any desire of a person to be honored or praised especially in the worship experience. The glorious church fights for the glory of God. It doesn’t need programs. It doesn’t condescend to marketing. The inglorious church could not exist without salesmanship and advertising. One imagines how the early church could have been so effective (especially in the Acts account) without the internet or ads blaring). Churches today are like TV lounges or rave parties more than they are content-full, articulate, authentic gatherings of people who know God and who have been captured by the glory and splendor of God. Church has become like Disney, when it should be more like a Sunrise.

The growth of the church, in particular is different for the glorious church than for the inglorious one. Christ promises that he will build his church. He did not say that advertising is necessary or required. He promised to be sufficient for all we do and are, not to require our marketing plan, our courses in incorporation and small group ministries, our youth programs and classes about anything and everything. He promised a direct involvement in the building of the church both in the salvation of those who are part of the church — salvation is God’s work, not man’s — and in the spiritual growth unto maturity that should be normal for every true believer.

The modern church must be filled with people who are not actually redeemed and therefore they do not truly know God. This can be stated with certainty because so many in the local church have no interest in the person of God, in the Word of God or in the salvation of Christ. Some of these almost Christians may come to the church, give a testimony, get baptized, but then they do little else. Yet they are wrongly assured of their salvation when there is no evidence of a true and saving faith working within them to  transform their lives. Saying you believe is not the same as believing.

The glorious church is made up of people who know the Savior and love him. They not only think themselves to be forgiven, they forgive others. They grow in the knowledge of God. They are filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. They move toward a complete and robust faith in God. They are not shaken by controversies, persecutions, or setbacks. They know the Lord.

When Jesus builds his church, his people worship him in the Spirit of Holiness. He is present. The glory of God is described, known, and celebrated. The church that Jesus builds will last forever.