The Church

THE CHURCH

For most of us, when we hear the word "church" what comes into our mind is a building. Many secular books including dictionaries erroneously refer to the church as a place where Christians worship. This definition is however not Biblical. So then, what is the Biblical definition of the church?

The word "Church" as translated from the Greek word "EKKLESIA" means " an assembly" or "called out ones". Before we look at what the church truly is, let's look at what the church is not.

1. The church is NOT a building. At least not Biblically. No where in the New Testament was the Church referred to as a physical building.

2. The church is NOT a social organization.

3. The Church is not a business meeting.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH

As stated earlier, the Greek word for church means an asembly not a building. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself was the first to use the term "Church".

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18.

Jesus was not in any way referring to building a physical place called a church on Peter. When the 120 disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, this Church Jesus referred to was built with Peter as the Leader. From that time onwards, anyone who professes Jesus Christ and got baptized was added to the Church.

In fact the early disciples themselves didn't have any place called church where they worshipped. They were under constant persecution so they had secret meetings in houses. The Church therefore is the assembly of the people of God or the assembly of "the called out".

THE CHURCH AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

"And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23.

According to the Bible, the church is the Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, the church has different parts just as our natural bodies have different parts. All these parts must function well for the church to progress.

THE CHURCH AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

In Ephesians 5:25-27, Apostle Paul draws a comparison between the church as the Bride of Christ and the relationship between a husband and his wife. In Revelation 19:7-9, Apostle John talks about the marriage supper of the Lamb and the wife which is the Church.

In the latter parts of Revelation, John referred to God's chosen people as the wife of Christ. If the church is the Bride of Christ then the church has to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The church as the Body of Christ has a lot of roles to play in our societies . What are these roles and are we succeeding or failing in our roles? To be continued...