In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul tells Timothy that the church of the living God is the pillar and buttress of truth. That is one of the boldest statements about the church in the bible. It tells us that the transcendent God of the bible is the immanent God of his church. It tells us that the church of God upholds and ministers the truth of God. The church, as a pillar and buttress of truth, has a ministry of the word.
When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he had something similar to say. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
Paul was about to tell Corinth some pointed truth. His ministry was the ministry of the word, and he was passionate for them to resist following the ideas of men. He wanted this church to uphold, defend and preach God’s word, primarily, the crucified Christ. It is in the power of the word of Christ, that God draws, illuminates, regenerates, justifies, and sanctifies his church. This is then what Paul says in his second chapter to the church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 “But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
Through the impartation of words, God’s word and the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Spirit is present and working according to his good and sovereign will. The word being imparted comes through the church standing on the truth of the Scriptures and proclaiming it to each other and the world. The transcendent power of God directs his church with his word as his means of grace.
Whenever you hear this statement that the church is the pillar and buttress of truth, it should give you confidence. No matter what opposing philosophy stands before us from the world, when the church relentlessly stands on the word of God, we uphold and minister a truth of transcendent power. We have a responsibility to handle it correctly and preach it boldly.
In the church, word ministry is confident ministry.