The Church

The church, what is it?  Is it a building?  Is it a denomination?  Is a set of traditions?  Is it a religion?  What exactly is a church?

In the Bible the word “church” is ekklesia which means, “called out ones” or an assembly of people.  Therefore, the church is an assembly of people who are called out for a certain purpose.  Buildings, denominations, traditions of men, or religion have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the Biblical definition of “church”.  An authentic, Biblically sound modern day church is a living breathing Holy Spirit powered organism of PEOPLE who gather together to worship the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.  A church building then becomes a place for people to gather together for fellowship, teaching, communion, and prayer (Acts 2.42).

A church can be in a person’s home, at a gym, in a building, or at the beach, or on a mountain, or in a swamp, or in a cave, or in a high rise, or on a playground, or in a war zone or…fill in the blank.  The point is that “church” can occur anywhere at anytime.  The key ingredient is the presence of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.  Where He is there is “church”.

There is absolutely no place for denominations, traditions of men, or religion.  All of those ideas come from fallen men who desire to control others and put God in a box.

Consider, Jesus spent 3.5 years in almost constant fellowship with His disciples.  They developed a deep and personal relationship with one another.  The glue and the glitter that made those relationships so worthy was and still is Jesus Christ.

If this is true, and I believe it is, then church should become the best part of the week.  Church should become a vital part of our existence on earth.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another can become something beyond what we imagine.  But it will only happen when we truly come to understand what “church” is.

Ask yourself: If you go to church, why do you?  If you don’t go to church, why do you not?  Is church boring?  Is it monotonous?  Is it stifling?  When the word “church” comes up in your mind, what do you think?  OH NOOOO!!!, or I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN

Think about it.

Rants and raves.

Since when do you decide who takes care of me?  Since when do you decide what kind of food I eat?  Since when do you decide what kind of car I drive?  Since when do you decide how I earn my living? Since when do you decide what is best for me?  Please tell me who made you my boss?  Why do you tell me it’s raining while you piss on my leg?  What exactly are you scared of?  What, about my independence, scares you?  Why must you meddle in my business?  Why do you think the best end for me is to be enslaved to your best interests?  What makes you better than me? 

In case you have forgotten, your blood and my blood is red.  You breathe the same air I do.  You brush your teeth like I do.  You get tired like I do.  You have a brain like mine.  Why do you think you must bend my will to that of some “greater good”?  Why do you attack me when I point out your faults? 

Why do you fear the things that you fear?  Why do you get scared of whatever it is that scares you?  Honestly, do you really believe that you have all the answers?  What do you do when your ideas fail?  When you are alone and no one is around, how do you handle your failure?  How do you justify your grand ideas of success against the bitter pill of failure?  What will you do when all is exhausted?  What will you do when every door has closed? 

You may think you know what time it is but you have no idea of who runs the clock.  WAKE UP and see the trap that you are helping to set.  Time is a precious thing and it is running out.  There will come a day when even you will bow to the knee of a terrible slave master. 

May you see the light of the glory of Jesus Christ.  May you see the FREEDOM that only He can provide.  May you see the big picture and get in the game.  It is bigger than you sir, far bigger than you could ever imagine.