I grew up thinking the Church to be the building. I use to marvel at the beauty of the Church building until I got to realise that I am the Church. The Body of Christ is the church. “A church building is a building or structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of THE CHURCH”. Over the years many like myself have seen the building as “The church” and missed the fact that the building is just one of the tools that enables the Church to function effectively.
We have invited non Christians to a structure and called it Church, when we are the Church.
Seeing the Church as a building is not scripturally correct. Unfortunately we have lived by this belief for years and deprived ourselves of the blessings we deserve. The word “Church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” One Bible author makes reference to Tyndale's Bible, which was the first English Bible. In it William Tyndale translated ekklesia as "assembly." In Strong's Greek Concordance the word "ek” means "out of"; and the word "klesis" means "a calling." Ekklesia therefore means to be called out, called out of what?
1Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light". You and I have been “called out”. The followers of Christ have been called out from darkness into His redemptive light. We are “The Church”. Someone rightly said we don’t go to Church we are the Church. A good example of this is found in the book of Corinthians stating greetings from the “Church in their house”. 1Corinthians 16:19 "The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the Church that is in their house." Paul was not referring to the building he was referring to the saints, the Body of Christ, the “called out ones” “assembled” in the house of Aquila and Priscilla.
The Church has been described in the Bible as the family of God, the bride of Christ, the book of Corinthians refer to us as the temple of the living God; we are also referred to as the body.
So what is the purpose of the Church on this earth? The Church has been called to:
1. Declare the praises of him" who called us "out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
2. Make disciples (Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost)
3. The Church has been endued with power to influence the world (Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.)
4. We have been called to equip one another. (Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;)
5. To love one another (Galatians 6:10 "As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers").
6. Bring Glory to God (1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.)
This month our theme will be “The Church” as we try to bring an understanding of who we are.
