It is our belief that the Church of Jesus Christ would be built by Jesus Himself based on one criterion. In Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus asked His disciples who they believed Him to be. Peter responded by saying that he, Jesus, was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then said that it would be upon that confession that He would build His Church; not an institution but a living, dynamic, body of believers. Before His ascension Jesus gave His disciples what is referred to as the 'Great Commission', the mandate for the Church of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:19-20 He said they were to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He [Jesus] commanded. The Church was to be made up of and make committed followers of Jesus Christ; not devotees to a particular “religion”, a particular “group” or “denomination”, or a particular “creed”, but committed followers of Jesus Christ. For Open Bible Ministries specifically, this means reaching out to the military community and helping them come to know Jesus Christ personally, baptizing them in water, teaching them to obey everything Jesus taught: including worship, witnessing about Him, loving one another, and living lives pleasing to Him.

There are several metaphors in the Bible which are used to describe and define the Church; I will briefly discuss four of these and how they apply to us; these four are: the body of Christ, the house of God, the family of God, and the flock of God.

The Body of Christ

A key passage where the concept of the ‘body of Christ’ is developed is 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 where every individual believer in Jesus Christ is considered part of this body and as such are “members in particular” and necessary for the functioning of the whole (1 Cor 12:27 KJV). Membership in the body of Christ is determined by the individual and God, and based on the individual’s faith in Jesus Christ, not ecclesiastical fiat. Therefore, all servicemen and women who acknowledge that they are followers of Jesus Christ, and thus members of the body of Christ, are welcome to fellowship with us. We also extend the invitation to fellowship with us to military men and women who do not belong to the body of Christ as well. How much they choose to identify with Open Bible Ministries and how often they participate in our activities is their choice. We do encourage regular participation in our activities as the best way to receive the most spiritual benefit from their association with us. But, as with any church, this is ultimately the individual’s choice.

The House of God

The concept of the ‘house of God’ is developed in the books of Hebrews and 1 Peter where it says, “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast (Hebrews 3:5-6, NIV).” And, “As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-6, NIV).”  Here again, the idea is presented that every individual believer in Jesus Christ is considered a living stone making up this ‘spiritual house’ with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. It is our view that it is this spiritual nature of the Church that constitutes the 'members' of our house.

The Family of God

The third metaphor is the ‘family of God’ mentioned in Galatians, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10, NIV).” This expression is repeated in Hebrews where it says, “Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family (Hebrews 2:11, NIV).” Then again in 1 Peter, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God (1 Peter 4:16-17, NIV)?” The description of the Church in the New Testament is of an organic entity made up of individual people who are believers in Jesus Christ – a family. For Open Bible Ministries this is the reason we endeavor to be a surrogate family for young men and women serving their country in the military and away from their biological families. We also refer to our fellowship as a ‘home away from home’ for these individuals. Our focus is more than the development of an ‘institutional’ setting, but the development of a close, personal, family environment.

The Flock of God

Finally, the fourth metaphor used in the Bible to describe the Church is that of the ‘Flock of God”. This metaphor is developed in two key passages in Acts and 1 Peter. In addition to describing individuals in ‘God’s flock’ as sheep and the overseers of this flock as shepherds under the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the attitude of these under shepherds is also addressed. Writing in the Acts of the Apostles Luke quotes the Apostle Paul: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28, NIV).” The military men and women who come to our home and fellowship and worship with us are considered to have been brought into our care and oversight by the Holy Spirit for as long as they choose to be associated with us. Neither does our concern, care, and oversight for these young men and women end when they leave us geographically, but continues as long as the individual chooses to remain in association with us. Peter goes on to say, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:2-4, NIV). For many young military men and women we are often the only pastors they know. When they have a spiritual need, want prayer, or seek council, they call Yvonne and me; we are their spiritual shepherds. We consider all those who the Holy Spirit brings to us as part of the ‘flock’ under our care and we are responsible for their spiritual well being as long as they want us to be.