What Is Church?

Over the next few posts, we’re taking a look at what has gone wrong with the church in the US.  Why is church attendance shrinking while the population is growing?  Why are younger generations shying away from church?  Why aren’t churches the avenue for so many who seek spiritual answers?

We can tell something is horribly wrong just by listening to how we refer to church.  We call people “church-goers.”  We have events “at the church.”  Christians “go to church” on Sundays.  Sometimes we are “late for church.”  We can remark about how beautiful a church is.

Our language shows that our whole concept of church is wrong.  A church is not a building.  A church is not a place (nope, not even a “hallowed place”).  Church is not something we do.  It isn’t something we give money to, renovate, attend, or skip.

The Greek word we translate as “church” in the New Testament is ekklesia.  Ekklesia means a group of people who have been called out for some purpose.  In one sense, the church is universal, consisting of all the people of God.  But in a practical sense, the church is the local community of believers.  And for what purpose have they been called out?  To worship the Lord and make disciples.

It seems that far too many of our churches in America today have missed the whole idea of being a community of believers.  Take a gander at all the different groups that call themselves churches today.  Some are trapped in traditions.  Others act like a sanctified social club.  Some are modern-day Pharisees, condemning everyone outside the walls they erected.  Others are hives of programs, neglecting discipleship. 

We have churches that are known for their children’s program, or their youth group, or their senior citizen meals, or their soup kitchen.  Of course, these are all good things, but they aren’t what a church is called to be. 

What if a church took seriously its obligation to be a true community of believers.  A community that took care of its members.  A community that loved and worshipped Christ, and whose members loved each other.  A community whose members were effectively discipled, and everyone was expected to do what most churches hire professional clergy to do.  A community where outsiders are not only warmly welcomed, but actively sought after and loved on.  A community whose business/council meetings focused on reaching and helping people, instead of wrangling over money for buildings and programs.  A community where disciples made new disciples.

In short, what if the church looked like the church of Acts, instead of the churches lining our streets today? 

More to follow….