June 5, 2014 Member Letter

Dear Brethren,

As we prepare for the Feast of Pentecost this coming Sunday, it is important that we answer some basic questions about who we are and what we are doing. How would you define the Church and its purpose? Christ said, “I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18). Since God does nothing without a purpose, what is the point? Why is there a Church?

I suggest that you try an experiment this coming weekend. Ask your teens and young adults to define the purpose of the Church and the work it is to accomplish. I believe some would struggle to come up with an answer. This leads me to the next obvious question—have we done a good job of teaching the next generation about the importance of God’s Church and the work that it does?

One of the presentations that I am giving during the current series of ministerial conferences is titled “Preaching the Gospel and Caring for the Brethren.” It is an overview of the history of the modern era of the Church and some of the lessons we can glean from Herbert Armstrong’s ministry. When he began the Radio Church of God in the fall of 1933, the work of the Church was almost entirely evangelistic—preaching the gospel via radio and the printed word (The Plain Truth magazine, which began in 1934). The focus was not on Church congregations but on preaching to the world about the coming Kingdom of God and the good news of the world tomorrow. At that time, there was only one congregation in Eugene, Oregon; and by 1953, after 20 years of preaching, there were still only a few congregations on the West Coast and none outside the U.S.

In 1946 the Radio Church of God kept the Feast of Tabernacles in Oregon with 50 people in attendance. In 1947 the number had only grown to 65. Congregations of the Radio Church of God were virtually nonexistent, but The Plain Truth had a circulation of more than 100,000 in November of 1946. The World Tomorrow radio broadcast was being aired across the nation on a number of stations. But it was impossible to find a Church congregation anywhere outside the state of Oregon.

My family came into contact with the Radio Church of God in 1952, but there was no congregation for us to attend until 1961. By 1953, with hundreds of thousands of people hearing and reading the gospel message, there was a growing need for congregations and pastors.

In the book of Hebrews we read that “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10) is the ultimate goal of God’s work on this earth. We also understand that God gave His Church two responsibilities related to that goal—to preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19) and to “feed My sheep” (John 21:17). Here is a quote from the March 1954 Good News magazine about these two “commissions”: “The first commission to the Church is just that … preaching and publishing the true gospel to the world. After that comes the second commission Christ gave His Church—‘feed the flock’” (Herbert W. Armstrong, “Why Local Assemblies?”). 

In the Old Testament, Pentecost is referred to as the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22) and the day of firstfruits (Numbers 28:26). These unusual-sounding terms give us insight into the meaning of this important holy day, and that meaning relates directly to the purpose of the Church. As with all the festivals, Pentecost teaches us about God’s plan of salvation through the use of symbols.

From the seven annual festivals we learn that there will be both an early harvest and a latter harvest, pictured by the spring and fall agricultural seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. The New Testament Church was founded on the Day of Pentecost in A.D. 31 (Acts 2), and it clearly has a purpose—unchanged in the past 1,983 years—that relates to those harvests.

The Church is responsible under the direction of Jesus Christ (the Head of the Church) to teach, train and develop sons and daughters for the Kingdom. The Church must also preach the gospel to the world as a warning message (Matthew 24:14). When Christ came into Galilee preaching the Kingdom of God, He began with an appeal for repentance (Mark 1:15). It would seem odd if Christ were to ask people to repent but expect no one to repent. Whenever and wherever the true gospel has been preached, God has called individuals to repentance—not always in large numbers, but some have always been called. Upon conversion, they become part of His Church and join the ranks of the firstfruits, awaiting the return of Jesus Christ.

So, what is the work of the Church? It is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all the world and to make disciples of those whom God may call (Matthew 28:19). It is also to “feed” those who are being called, baptize them, teach them obedience to God and help them spiritually to be among those given eternal life at the first resurrection. Upon repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit, they become members of the Church of God. 

As we observe another Pentecost in a few days, I believe it is important that we review the lessons from history and follow the admonition of Scripture by preaching the gospel to the world and caring for the children of God. These are not competing jobs, but one job given to the Church by Jesus Christ. It is like the human body with two legs. Both legs must be strong and healthy for a person to walk properly. So it is with the Church. We need to do both, and we need to do them well. There is no greater work on the face of the earth. We need to teach our children and grandchildren why the Church exists and the importance of the work it is doing.

God has blessed us greatly by calling us out of this world! What a privilege it is to be counted among the firstfruits! There is indeed a lot to think about on the Day of Pentecost. I want to wish you a wonderful holy day and ask that you not forget to pray for your brethren around the world as we gather to worship on this special day.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Jim Franks