Marks of a True Church

A little boy was sent on his way to a birthday party. As he was getting ready to go on his way he asked, “How will I know the right house where the party is?” He was told by his mother the very house in which the party was held was on a certain street. But how would he know the right house unless it was clearly marked for him? His mother told him it would be marked by three balloons that were hung from the limb of a maple tree in the front yard. His father had taught him to recognize certain hardwood trees both by their bark and by their leaves. Therefore he walked with confidence on this spring day in search of the birthday party. However, what he met along the way was quite unexpected. It seemed that at nearly every house on the particular street of which he walked there was a party. There was at one house balloons on a mailbox and children in the yard playing with a pony and clown. He thought to himself that this surely must be the birthday party to which he was sent, but yet the house did not bear the correct marks so he moved on. At another house there were balloons tied to chairs in the yard and young boys and girls were standing at the streets edge inviting him to come to the party. But he noticed no maple tree and balloons hanging from the limb so again he moved on. After passing several other houses where parties of different markings were being held he finally came to the birthday party he had been invited. There in the front yard was a distinguished maple tree with three balloons hanging from a low limb closest to the ground. He made his way to the front door and was greeted by the mother of the house whom he recognized and with assurance he entered the home being greeted by the other children who had come to the party.

If you are a member or attendee of a church you should be asking the question, “How do I know that this church is a true church?” Most people today choose a church based on its location, style of architecture, form of music, programs, types of people, or what it offers them personally. It is to be sent on a fool’s errand in search of a church with these kinds of criteria. The church must correspond to and be recognized by a standard of truth established for it in the Word of God.

The marks of the true church have arisen like much of the churches biblical and systematized theology because of errors and heresy that arise in the church. The doctrine of the marks of the church has come to be known because of the church going astray from a biblical standard. Therefore the church at different times in her history has had to ask the question, “What are the true marks of the church?” The doctrine of the marks of the church is most pronounced during the history of the reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries. During these years the reformers were asking, “How do we know the true church from the false church?” As they wrestled with this question from the Scriptures three primary marks of the church arose. There was not complete consensus among the reformers in answering this question. Some thought there to be only one, the preaching of God’s Word. Others claimed two, the preaching of the Word and the observance of the sacraments, Lord’s Supper and Baptism. And still others named three, preaching of the Word, observance of sacraments and discipline.

John Knox, the Scottish reformer and five other reformers from Scotland penned the Scots Confession in 1560. In chapter 18 of the confession, “The Notes by Which the True Kirk (Church) Is Discerned from The False and Who Shall Be Judge of Doctrine”, they outline the three marks of the church with these words, The notes of the true Kirk, therefore, we believe, confess, and avow to be: first, the true preaching of the word of God, in which God has revealed himself to us, as the writings of the prophets and apostles declare; secondly, the right administration of the sacraments of Christ Jesus, to which must be joined the word and promise of God to seal and confirm them in our hearts; and lastly, ecclesiastical discipline uprightly ministered, as God's word prescribes, whereby vice is repressed and virtue nourished. Then wherever these notes are seen and continue for any time, be the number complete or not, there, beyond any doubt, is the true kirk of Christ, who, according to his promise, is in the midst of them. This is not that universal kirk of which we have spoken before, but particular kirks, such as were in Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, and other places where the ministry was planted by Paul and which he himself called kirks of God. The Westminster Confession written in 1546 also spoke to this doctrine. In Chapter XXV section IV it states, “This catholic Church has been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.” It is from this confession and others like it penned during the 16th and 17th centuries that we derive the doctrine of the marks of the church today.

Among most reformed Protestants today the marks of the church are three but yet there is recognized from Scripture other important marks beyond these three that constitute a healthy church. Some would add fellowship, worship, mission and leadership. The ministry of 9 Marks, a ministry of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C., says there are nine marks of a healthy church: preaching, biblical theology, the gospel, conversion, evangelism, membership, discipleship, discipline, and leadership. We as a particular church here in Brunswick recognize 18 core values that this church was planted upon and grows in as a true and healthy church. Yet in the midst of the historical and modern reformed church there is a consensus that the true marks of the church consist in the true preaching of God’s Word, the right administration of the sacraments and the right attention to discipline of her members.