Our post modern world increasingly questions the relevance of the church to human life.  In fact, in many quarters questioning its relevance has given way to outright denial of any place for the church in the world.  Many opine that the church has long outlived its usefulness; if it ever had any in the first place.   Needless to say this is a strong critiqueof the church.  Some even point top teaching, practices, traditions and history of the church to show how, in their minds, these may have retarded human development.  Unfortunately, contemporary events such as abuse of persons, power and privilege are seen as adding credence to the case made out against the church and its relevance to peoples’ lives.

Many of the criticisms levelled against the church may be well founded.  However, as an institution with over two thousand years of history of immeasurable significant and positive contributions to human life and development, the church can hardly be dismissed as irrelevant.  Nevertheless, the church can harvest a rich crop of benefits if the critique of irrelevance is used as a tool for self-examination and reformation.  In spite of all criticism the church was, is and will always remain relevant to the world and human life.

The church’s relevance is not determined simply by human expectations and evaluation of its role in the world.  The church’s relevance is determined by God.  God called the church into being through the Holy Spirit to be God’s Mission to and in the world.  The church’s role and place in God’s response to the world and humans’ greatest needs—redemption, reconciliation and re-creation(made into a new creation) is what makes the church relevant.  The church’s reason for being is mission.  The agenda for mission is God’s.  The object of mission is human beings and the world.  The purpose of mission is the redemption of these.  God has done this in Christ Jesus.  The relevance of the church is therefore measured by its faithfulness to God’s call to mission and God’s purpose for mission to the world.