The Church

Definition

“The Church” is the world-wide gathering of individuals who acknowledge that Jesus is “LORD”, God in human flesh, repent of their sins as they accept by faith God’s forgiving grace through the sacrifice of Jesus upon a Cross, and who commit themselves to live in a personal relationship of obedience and service with their risen Savior, Jesus, in an effort to glorify God, the one almighty creator of the universe.

“The Church” is not to be completely identified with any particular denomination, historic religious movement, or living group of people. “The Church” is Jesus’ “body” in the world (see Colossians 1:18, 24), and Jesus is the “head” of this organism (see Colossians 1:18, 2:19).

No gathering of individual believers anywhere in the world, even if they are identified as “Christians”, can be identified as the “true Church”, because no such gathering would be completely pure and free from demonic heresies and accepted personal sins that negate the Lordship of Jesus and his authority as “head” of “the Church”.

Relationship of “the Church” to church buildings

Since “the Church” is a gathering of individuals, it should not be identified with any particular building or buildings anywhere in the world. “The Church” is not a facility for worship, learning the Christian faith, fellowship among believers, social services to a neighborhood or community, or even ministries of evangelism to non-believers.

It should be obvious from decades of viewing the evangelistic ministries of Billy Graham and his son, Franklin Graham, that real ministries of worship and evangelistic preaching of God’s word can be conducted in all kinds of stadiums, athletic fields, halls, and coliseums. Many groups of Christian believers start their congregations by meeting in schools or other public halls. The Willow Creek Community Church of Barrington, Illinois was started by Bill Hybels in a movie theater. I personally began my preaching ministry in a neighborhood Christian center that conducted its ministries out of a house. No temple, cathedral, or religious facility as big as or as beautiful as it might be can contain “the Church” of Jesus Christ!

Value of going to a church building

Nothing of eternal value can be gained just by going to a building that has been labeled a “church”, even if most of the people there call themselves “Christians”. If Jesus is not the “head” of that congregation or gathering of people, if they are not seeking to serve him and bring glory to God, the Father, then it is not a place where one could easily expect to receive a blessing from God. God can deliver his blessings anywhere, in any circumstances, but they will only be received in a personal relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, which is most dynamically present in “the Church”.

Sharing in the fellowship and work of a congregation by attending its services and programs in a church building can be beneficial if they bring you into a relationship with God. Worshiping with other individuals who are singing praises to God and giving their attention to the preaching of His Word week after week can generate and strengthen one’s relationship with God. Such worship can even enable a person to hear God’s call to accept his grace in his Son, Jesus, in order to receive God’s forgiveness and transforming power.

Participating in small groups, Sunday School classes, and other gatherings for the study of the Bible can help a person grow in his/her understanding of God’s word and its application in one’s life. Serving with others in various ministries through a congregation’s boards, committees, and teams can bring glory to God and strengthen one’s personal faith by enabling him/her to effectively use his/her personal gifts.

Sharing in genuine loving fellowship and friendships week-by-week with others can be very helpful and encouraging as one seeks to the cope with the trials and tribulations of life. It is not easy to be a part of “the Church”, the “body of Christ”, by one’s self. Even when Paul was in prison for his faith in Jesus, he was in contact with various believing friends, assistants, and congregations from whom he received gifts to help meet his personal needs and words of encouragement in his days of stress and discomfort. (see Philippians 1:3, 7; 2:17, 22, 25–27; 4:10, 14–16)

Joining a church

As you attend various churches and get acquainted with different congregations of believers, you may be invited to “join” a church. This usually involves making a personal and public decision to identify yourself as a committed believer in Jesus and a dedicated member of the particular congregation. Different congregations and denominations have different procedures and rules for doing this, but they all result in getting your name on the membership list of a church.

If you choose to do this, it is best to follow the congregation’s established rules and procedures. It some cases it may be very easy and quick, and it other cases it may be more difficult and time consuming. In any case it is well to understand that having your name on the membership list of a church does not entitle you to get into heaven. It is not the same as living in a vital personal relationship with Jesus who is the “head” of “the Church”, which is his “body” in the world.

Participating in the life of “the Church”

God’s blessing of eternal life and his forgiveness of your sins only come if you are a part of Jesus’ “body”, “the Church”. As you participate in the life of this “body”, experience direct connections with other “members” of this “body”, receive the transforming and energizing power of God’s Spirit flowing through you, and do your work to enable the “body” to serve and to glorify God you will receive many of God’s good blessings. In such a dangerous, chaotic, and confused world as ours, there is no better place, relationship to be, than in “the Church”!