What is the church?
When I was a child, I learned a little saying that went along with some fun hand movements. You start by interlocking your fingers together, palms facing you. You then bring the heels of your palms together and say “here is the church.” You the thrust your index fingers upwards and press them together saying “here is the steeple.” You then place your thumbs side-by-side and flat against your index fingers saying “here are the doors.” You then rotate your hands while keeping your fingers interlocked saying “open the doors” until your palms are facing opposite directions. Wiggling your freed fingers you say the final phrase, “and here are all the people!” Cute, but not accurate. Easton’s Bible Dictionary says this about the church:
“In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew Kahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning.”[1]
So if the church is not the building, as my childhood game suggests, then what is it? Easton’s provides part of that answer in its discussion of the church. It finds the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament:[2]
* It is translated "assembly" in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41).
* It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Ephesians 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Hebrews 12:23).
* A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15).
* All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (Acts 13:1); so also we read of the "church of God at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2), "the church at Jerusalem" (Acts 8:1), "the church of Ephesus" (Revelation 2:1), etc.
* The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Matthew 16:18) are the church of Christ.
What is the function of the church?
Holman’s Bible Dictionary describes the church:[3]
First, the church is seen as the body of Christ; and a cluster of images exists in this context as emphasis falls on the head (Ephesians 4:15-16), the members (1 Corinthians 6:12-20), and the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Second, the church is also seen as God's new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), the new persons (Ephesians 2:14-15), or bearers of light (Ephesians 5:7-9).
Thirdly, the church is quite often described as a fellowship of faith with its members described as the saints (1 Corinthians 1:2), the faithful (Colossians 1:2), and the witnesses (John 15:26-27).
Let’s look closer at these three characteristics. As the body of Christ, I believe it is important that we do the things that he did while on earth. He taught his disciples and the people who would listen (Matthew 12:35, John 6:59). In addition to the spiritual feeding (teaching), he met their physical needs by providing food when needed (Matthew 14:16-21). Jesus great commission to his disciples, I believe, is a commission to the church:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" (Matthew 28:19, 20).
On the day of Pentecost, the birth of the church, we see that the truth of Jesus was taught (Acts 2:14-36), those who believed were baptized (Acts 2:38, 41), and they discipled them in the teaching of the apostles (Acts 2:42).
As a new creation, the church broke many social and religious rules and taboos. We see that Jew and Gentile ate together (Acts 10:28, 29), which was forbidden by Jewish tradition. Peter was later even criticized for doing this (Acts 11:2, 3). Paul taught that there is no difference between Jew and Greek, circumcised or uncircumcised (Romans 10:12, Colossians 3:11). No longer was the message of salvation for the Jewish nation only. It now was a message that everyone carried with them as treasure from heaven (2 Corinthians 4:7).
As a fellowship, the church is universal. It transcends political borders, cultural differences, and languages. I have experienced this first hand during mission trips in foreign countries. The Bible testifies to this happening with the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:6-11). And eventually we will all be perfect before the LORD in unity from all tribes and nations praising Him and giving Him glory (Revelation 7:9-12)!
[1] Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for 'Church'". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".
[2] Ibid.
[3] Butler, Trent C. Editor.. "Entry for 'CHURCH'". "Holman Bible Dictionary".
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