It seems like an easy question doesn't it.
Most people would probably say something like "It's the big building on the hill! The one with the Cross and the Christians", a critic might even say that "it's the closed off place with all the hypocrites" They both probably adequately describe what a church is for a lot of people, without describing what a church ought to be.
In fact, I think if you tallied together most peoples answers it would involve some kind of religious building in one form or another. Building, Check. Cross, Check. People, Check. You got yourself a church.
Then you have the Christian response, which usually involves them breaking down the previous perception and stating that a church is not a building, church is where believers gather to worship. It's not the building, it's the gathering of people that matter.
Scripturally, this is the closet to the truth with what Christ has stated in Acts, Colossions and 1st Corinthians. I don't think it adequately describes what the church actually needs to be though, nor what its purpose is. So what does the bible actually say?
According to the Gospel, a church is the body of Christ.
Colossions 1:18
He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Colossions 1:24
Furthermore, it goes on to state that the church is composed of its members - that is, those who are united with the Spirit in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
What can you take from this? A church is not a building, it is not a place, it is not a location and it's not the denomination. It is not something that takes place on a Sunday, It's not even a physical assembly of people. It's not a community, at least as you know it. It's true purpose is universal, even if the universal church is made up of the local sections.
It's in this that an important distinction arises: local church vs. universal church.
The local church is shown, in Hebrews 25 as individuals who meet to 'stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near'.
Therefore, it is when believers gather to worship, praise, teach and build relationships with one another that local church is had. I love that wording though, stirring one another to love and do good works. Having a beautiful building filled with religious icons doesn't mean squat if you're not encouraging, meeting together and stirring one another to love and do good works.
On the other hand, we are also members of the universal church. This is made up of every single person who has exercised faith in Jesus for salvation, including members of all local church bodies throughout the earth.
The only conclusion, is that biblical church is a body of believers who have been saved by Jesus Christ. You cannot go to church, You are the church.
Ernest Southcott said it best when he stated that:
Knowing that Church is not a place, why is it suddenly that "Church" has become one of the most uncomfortable experiences for any non-christian? It can't be the building .. The bible shows that church isn't a building so it can't be that new-fangled renovation that you got, nor the big digital tv ..
Hmm.
People are sick of the hypocrisy, judgemental and dishonest Christians (myself included) that they are confronted with outside of 'church', most christians not even realising that the person they present on monday-saturday is the church.
Do you get it? You are the church.
Yesterday, when you encouraged your friend to do something they were afraid of or nervous about, you were the church. Last week when you were honest about something that needed to come out in the open for the good of someone else, you were the church. Last month, when you looked after your girlfriend or boyfriend when she was sick, you were the church. Six months ago, when you ran that fundraiser for that charity you involve yourself in, you were the church.
On the other hand, last week when you lied to your friend, you were the church. Last month when you swore in front of your sibling, you were the church. A couple of months ago when you got drunk at that party, you were the church. Six months ago, when you didn't give to someone who needed it grealy when you should've .. You were the church.
The problem is that people have a lot greater ease representing the church in the second isle of achievements, rather than the first. That's why people hate organized church on a sunday, because of the unorganized, sinful, proud and unrepentent mess they see every other day of the week.
We need to realise that church doesn't stop once you leave on a sunday.
It starts...
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
Furthermore, it goes on to state that the church is composed of its members - that is, those who are united with the Spirit in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jew and Gentile, slave and free - and all were made to drink of one spirit.
What can you take from this? A church is not a building, it is not a place, it is not a location and it's not the denomination. It is not something that takes place on a Sunday, It's not even a physical assembly of people. It's not a community, at least as you know it. It's true purpose is universal, even if the universal church is made up of the local sections.
It's in this that an important distinction arises: local church vs. universal church.
The local church is shown, in Hebrews 25 as individuals who meet to 'stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near'.
Therefore, it is when believers gather to worship, praise, teach and build relationships with one another that local church is had. I love that wording though, stirring one another to love and do good works. Having a beautiful building filled with religious icons doesn't mean squat if you're not encouraging, meeting together and stirring one another to love and do good works.
On the other hand, we are also members of the universal church. This is made up of every single person who has exercised faith in Jesus for salvation, including members of all local church bodies throughout the earth.
The only conclusion, is that biblical church is a body of believers who have been saved by Jesus Christ. You cannot go to church, You are the church.
Ernest Southcott said it best when he stated that:
"The holiest moment of the church service is when God's people - strengthened by preaching and sacrement - go out of church and into the world to be the church. We don't go to church; we are the church.Here's the kicker though.
Knowing that Church is not a place, why is it suddenly that "Church" has become one of the most uncomfortable experiences for any non-christian? It can't be the building .. The bible shows that church isn't a building so it can't be that new-fangled renovation that you got, nor the big digital tv ..
Hmm.
People are sick of the hypocrisy, judgemental and dishonest Christians (myself included) that they are confronted with outside of 'church', most christians not even realising that the person they present on monday-saturday is the church.
Do you get it? You are the church.
Yesterday, when you encouraged your friend to do something they were afraid of or nervous about, you were the church. Last week when you were honest about something that needed to come out in the open for the good of someone else, you were the church. Last month, when you looked after your girlfriend or boyfriend when she was sick, you were the church. Six months ago, when you ran that fundraiser for that charity you involve yourself in, you were the church.
On the other hand, last week when you lied to your friend, you were the church. Last month when you swore in front of your sibling, you were the church. A couple of months ago when you got drunk at that party, you were the church. Six months ago, when you didn't give to someone who needed it grealy when you should've .. You were the church.
The problem is that people have a lot greater ease representing the church in the second isle of achievements, rather than the first. That's why people hate organized church on a sunday, because of the unorganized, sinful, proud and unrepentent mess they see every other day of the week.
We need to realise that church doesn't stop once you leave on a sunday.
It starts...
I am a sinner,
If it's not one thing, it's another.
Caught up in words,
Tangled in lies.
You are the Saviour,
and You take brokenness aside
and make it beautiful
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