What is the difference between the visible and invisible church?

Answer

The Bible does not mention the terms “visible church” or “invisible church.” However, the distinction between the visible church and the invisible church is a logical outcome of a biblical comprehension of the doctrine of salvation. The visible church represents the observable aspect of Christianity: the gatherings and rituals of individuals in different church edifices on Sundays. In contrast, the invisible church is the genuine church, visible only to God: regenerated believers from the past, present, and future. Since not all church attendees or practitioners of religious acts are saved, the visible church includes non-believers, while the invisible church consists of those redeemed and sealed by God.

In some respects, the idea of the visible/invisible church aligns with the notion of the local/universal church. The distinction lies in the fact that the local church pertains to a single congregation meeting in one location, whereas the visible church encompasses all local churches worldwide.

The visible church is recognizable by its religious symbols: church structures, clergy or ministers, liturgical calendars, sacraments, rituals, denominations, and so forth. When someone mentions, “I attend Such-and-such Church,” they are referring to the visible church. Similarly, observing individuals being baptized in a lake while passing by indicates a segment of the visible church.

Associating with the visible church entails adopting the Christian label, yet without a spiritual rebirth initiated by the Holy Spirit, this label remains superficial. The visible church often includes nominal Christians. For instance, Demas abandoned Paul “because he loved this world” «for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. », (2 Timothy 4:10); Demas was part of the visible church temporarily, but he was never truly part of the community.The invisible church, and he eventually showed his true colors «They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. », (see 1 John 2:19).

The invisible church, comprised of all the redeemed, is spiritual and heavenly and not of this world «Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. », (John 18:36). As Jesus explained, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20-21).

The invisible church does not need the physical accoutrements that make the visible church visible. Take away the liturgy from the visible church, and the invisible church will remain. Religious ceremony makes no difference to the invisible church: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation” «For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. », (Galatians 6:15). Burn the church building down, and the believers still comprise the church.

The visible things of this world, including church denominations, church buildings, hymnals, prayer books, and pews, will all pass away because they are temporary «and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. », (1 Corinthians 7:31).

In (1 Corinthians 7:31), it is stated that the invisible things of God will never pass away because they are as eternal as heaven. The verse advises, “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” This message is also echoed in (Luke 12:33).

In John 4:20, the Samaritan woman at the well told Jesus, “You Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” She was referring to the visible church. Jesus responded by defining the invisible church: “Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . . A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24).

It is essential for all of us to make God “visible” to the world in which we live, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” as mentioned in (Philippians 2:13). To achieve this, we must be part of the invisible church, “made . . . alive with Christ . . . and seated . . . with him in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2:5-6).