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The Word 'Church'
5/20/06
A study published by The Barna Group in April of 2006 rocked many Christian leaders’ worlds. "More than seven out of ten Americans (72%) claim they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today." However…"Only 17% of adults said that ‘a person’s faith is meant to be developed mainly by involvement in a local church.’" "The subgroup that showed the greatest devotion to spiritual growth through belonging to a faith community – Revolutionaries – is, ironically, the group often accused of seeking to grow independent of community ties."
Scripturally, what does the word "church" mean? "And He (Jesus Christ) is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:17-18). In this Scripture we see that the "church" is not a place—it is the body of Christ. The "church" or "body of Christ" is made up of all who have been saved by confessing with their mouths the Lord Jesus, and believing in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).
The word "church," as in Colossians 1:17, appears seventy-seven times in the King James Version, all in the New Testament. The Hebrew word translated "church," Strong’s Number 1577, is ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah); from a compound of NT:1537 and a derivative of NT:2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both). A pastor we know says the ekklesia are "the called out ones."
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God is teaching us to change the way we think and speak, and our desire is to be scripturally accurate without being critical or legalistic. Since the church is not a place, can we change our thinking and also the phrase "involvement in a local church" and say instead "involvement with others in the body of Christ" or "fellowship with a congregation, assembly, or gathering of 'believers' or 'called out ones' or 'those who have been saved?'" Can we stop using the word "unchurched?"
God continues to "sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." "It" is the Church, the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 5:26) What about Hebrews 10:25, then, which says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching?" The Word of God says we are to assemble or gather together with others in the Body of Christ in the name of Jesus, and there He is! "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). If we are not "going to church," have we forsaken assembling together? No, not if we are in relationship with even one other believer in Jesus Christ.
God has given us more on this topic; click here to read the essay called Are You Going To Church?
“Master your hold on Me and what you hold to is more than you realize.” Holy Spirit
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