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.
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.
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