I’m in the midst of writing an essay on the nature of the Church, specifically hoping to address what exactly the church is and I thought it’d be fun to get the opinions of everyone here. I guess I need a break from my research and writing. So the question is:
What is the Church?
Feel free to write a paragraph or two in answer to this question. Explain your beliefs using Scriptures, opinions, references, etc. Everything and everyone is welcome. I’ve “ranted” about this subject before. I’m excited to read your thoughts… and read your comments and responses to each other!
the church is the people who follow Jesus. it isn’t the buidling.
The Church is simply the people of God who are one in Jesus. The Church is the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Bride of Christ, and the children of God.
I agree that it is not the building and the best book on the subject is Edmund Clowney’s.
The church is the called out from the world people of God, who are in Jesus Christ.
I agree with all that has been written thus far. However, I would add a brief thought about what the church is supposed to be. I believe that the Church we read about in the book of Acts would have understood the word “Church” to mean more than the collective body of believers; they would have viewed the concept as a community. The early church lived together, ate together, prayed together, shared finances and shared lives. While we must be careful about establishing the Early Church as the intended biblical normative, I think there was an aspect of the critical nature of community that the Early Church understood, and we seem to have lost some of it. The Church is a wonderful, glorious thing, but how much more effective could it be if members apprehended the value of community living and close relationships?
While many Christians today would openly admit that we are to operate according to the New Testament church model, it appears that in their mind they still think as if the Old Testament church model were still in effect. In the Old Testament model, a physical building known as the tabernacle/temple was a fundamental part of worship. I know many people who seem to be very concerned about whether or not a pastor has been ordained; if they find out that a pastor has not been officially ordained then they view that pastor as having no real authority and won’t even consider what they have to say. This too has connections with the Old Testament church model. In the Old Testament model, ordination involving a complex ceremony is what gave Aaron and his sons their authority. Interestingly, when I make the comment that officiating wedding ceremonies was not one of the responsibilities assigned to the priesthood in Leviticus (God, who was both Adam’s father and the father of Eve conducted the first wedding), people that I talk to become very concerned. Why? –Because they think as if the Old Testament model were still in effect and they get concerned that this model isn’t being followed. One difference between the role Old Testament priest and the role of a New Testament pastor is that while both are church leaders, one of the jobs of the OT priest was serving as a mediator between the people and God. Since Jesus fulfilled this job in the New Testament, it is not a job of NT pastors.
The fact that most churches today typically do meet in the same building all the time helps perpetuate this idea. Perhaps, rather than using the phrase “I’m going to church,” a more accurate way of telling people would be to say “I’m going to get together with the church.” While there are definite weaknesses associated with meeting in the same building for church all the time, meeting in different places all the time isn’t necessarily problem free either.
MMMMmmmmm….
“The Church” is a Catholic organization.
“My church” is a building filled with mostly people I know and like to fellowship with.
“Christ’s Church” is the bride.
But just “church?” Mmmmm… I dunno. 🙂
It should be made up of God-Led, Spirit-Filled, Stomp-on-Satan’s-Neck, Fired-Up, Prayed-Up, Conquering, Not-Defeated, Sold-Out-to-God, Inspired, Dedicated, and Holy People. Wow, how effective could the “church” be if all of us were just that?
However, most of us fall short of that (including me.) I’m just saying….
I like what Northwoods had to say. I have been to a lot of churches and have not seen a lot of real “community” happening in most of them. It is pretty easy for people to keep relationships at a superficial level. (Hi. How are you. Fine.) Even in small groups or Bible studies that are designed to get below the surface, it is still much easier to keep it at “skim” level. (Any prayer requests? Yeah, please pray for my neighbor. I don’t have any needs.)
And yet, the relationship that Jesus modeled for us with his disciples is more the relationship we should be looking for: Getting below the surface, touching on REAL issues, praying for each other to have victory or healing or whatever. “They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love…Oh they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” How is love defined? By actual, in depth relationships, where we dare to be transparent with each other..dare to admit our weaknesses…dare to share our sorrows as well as our joys…and dare to care when someone does that!
When a local church gets a glimpse of this and begins to really develop some in depth relationships…not just among the handful of leadership, but also among the “congregation”…then the “church” really becomes the Church.