Paul’s introduction in 1 Corinthians may appear routine, but it is quite instructive. It reads, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2)
Note its specificity. The letter was written to a particular congregation in a specified location. In other words, he was writing to “the local church.” It is a church that consists of men and women that have been made saints by God and have been brought together. That unique local family, in turn, shares a bond with all other legitimate, localized God-families around the world. The Apostle Paul’s brief statement draws a circle around a specific group of people that meets at a defined location. The local church isn’t just a satellite campus waiting for direction from headquarters. Each local, gospel-centered, Christ-honoring church is the primary location for the family members of that church.
Local churches are not a kind of kiosk that is sitting idly by, waiting for interested parties to make use of it at their convenience. It isn’t a place to check a religious box, hear a motivational talk or catch up with friends. To use confessional language, the church is where God’s family meets to “willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel” (2LBCF 1689).
There’s a lot of sacrifice wrapped up in that statement—willingly walking together, giving up themselves and professed subjection. You may wonder what something like that looks like. An excellent example is found in the book of Nehemiah.
After the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile, God sent the prophet Nehemiah to return to the city to rebuild the wall. It was a huge undertaking! In fact, it was so overwhelming that onlookers openly mocked the effort. They said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day?” Their taunts didn’t stop. They scornfully said a fox could jump on the wall and knock it down.
In the end the insults were powerless and the task was accomplished for two reasons. First, God was behind the plan. Big or small, God’s plans never fail. Second, the execution of the plan involved the submissive service of His faithful people. Read the first five verses of Nehemiah 3. The names are tricky but notice the pattern between them.
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
This “And next to them” pattern continues through the whole chapter! What’s more, in verse 12 Shallum’s daughters get in on the action. “Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.”
An outwardly overwhelming task was accomplished because God was behind it and because a particular group of His people at a specific location submissively came together to serve. Let’s pray that God fills His churches with And-next-to-them Christians that are willing to build His church. Grab a shovel, trowel or brick. We all have a part to play. In this way we can fulfill the calling to be saints together.