church

Let's go to church.

Where's your church?

A building by itself with four walls, with a childcare room, a stage, a pulpit, a music & technology room, even with a kitchen and a grassy yard would not make a church.  

Yesterday during our Sunday gathering, Nick pointed out to our small team that gather together with us on Sunday afternoons for church what exactly church is all about and what does this word church truly means.  I myself have thought of the word church as a mere building, a place of gathering.  When I practiced the religious beliefs and traditions of Catholicism I have always thought that church is a place where people gather to sing songs to God, to recite prayers together, a place to kneel, a place to experience the presence of God.  Then, I repented of those things (many of the Catholic beliefs and doctrines and traditions) that I thought were good and noble and pleasing to God. I became and called myself a Christian - a Christ believer and follower, what the Bible says.  Still, the word church had the same meaning to me: a place of gathering.  And for a long time even in my Christian walk of faith, church simply meant a place to me.  

If you are like that right now, I especially encourage you to read on and have your Bible ready with you to investigate if what you are about to read aligns with God's Word.

So, yesterday at our Sunday afternoon church the following scriptures were visited:

When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. (Acts 18:22)

Point of the above scripture: Paul greeted a group of people - the church! Do you greet a building by waving to it or kissing its cheeks or shake its doors when you arrive to it or see it? That would be ridiculously funny.  So, here, apostle Paul greeted people, not a place nor a building nor a house.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31)

Point of the above scripture: The "it" in this scripture refers to the church - a group of people - whose numbers were added to, increased upon, multiplied in numbers.  In other words, the number of people in that group (the church) grew.  From 5 people, it increased to 8, then to 12, then to 25! As an example.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Point of the above scripture: The body of Christ refers to that group of people whose faith is in Christ, whose loyalty belongs to Christ.  So, the time we spend together in church is for equipping each believer for the works of service the Lord has for us to do.  It is a time of preparation, edification, rebuke and correction, and instruction.  It's like gym time, workout time - in a very spiritual sense.

Another scripture must be visited as well, and it is found in the book of Ephesians chapter 5: 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. (Ephesians 5:21-30)

 Point of the above scripture: I think it is clear.  Re-read the scripture above, and ask the Lord God to open your eyes.

In fact, if you read through the book of Acts you will most likely get a revelation of what and who is the church.  Also, the letters to the churches found in the book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 will most likely guide you into the truth about what and who is the church.

I hope this reflection post encouraged you in your faith, and I hope that it also challenged you to dig deeper into the Bible and ask the Lord to reveal His Word to you - have your eyes be opened to godly wisdom that only God can give.  Here's a song from Casting Crowns called If We Are The Body that I had first heard when I was in my 3rd year of college back in California.  I remember the feeling and thoughts of doubts and questions that sprang up in me when I first heard this song, although I could not point my finger to them at that early point of my walk as a young Christian.  Now, I do, and God still continually opens my eyes to what I should be seeing and breaking my heart to the things that break His. Praise God!