When we hear the word “church”, several things may come to mind. What do you think that the religious world thinks about that word? What do you think that those who do not follow any type of religious group think about it? It is evident in conversations with people that for the most part people think of a building and not what the church actually is. Often times you will hear people say they are “going to church.” What do they mean by this simple statement? They mean that they are going to worship, but they use the word church interchangeably with the thought of going to a building. Is the church a building? Or is it something more? Can we go to church? Is the church really the building of Christ? Do we need the church?
First, let’s consider the word that we get our word “church.” In the original text (Greek), the word is ekklesia. It means “called out.” The church is the called out, but called out of what? And why? Well, the church are those that are called out of the world. John 15:19 says, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” We are called out of the world when we are a part of the church, but why? The answer to that question is that we have been called out of the world (1 Cor. 6:9-11). We have given up the unfruitful works of darkness in order to expose them (Eph. 5:11). You are called out of the world to live for the Lord.
All things considered the church is not a physical building made up of brick and mortar, but the church is made up of people. When someone says they are “going to church” the more accurate phrase would be “We are going to worship,” since we will be going to a place to worship God. It is important to “Call Bible things, by Bible names.”
Second, while we have discussed the idea of the church not being a physical building, it is still a building. Not a physical building, but a spiritual one. Remember how Jesus responded to Peter when he had proclaimed who Jesus was in Matt. 16:15. In verses 18-19 of that same chapter Jesus says,
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Jesus said, “I will build my church.” He did build it, but it was a spiritual building. He even gave “the keys” to Peter and he uses those keys in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. Peter also referenced this same spiritual building in the first letter bearing his name. 1 Peter 2:5 says, “5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” He is speaking of the church, therefore, do you think Peter thought of the church as a physical building or a group of people making up a spiritual building? Indeed Jesus built a spiritual building upon the foundation of Himself (1 Pet. 2:6).
Third, this author knows of no other way to finish a discussion of the building of Christ than to speak of it’s importance. What is so important? If you want to go to heaven, you have to be a part of His church. So many in the religious world say that they want Jesus, but they don’t want His church. That is so bizarre. It is more than likely a statement of pure ignorance. Why would you not want to be a part of the very thing for which Jesus gave His life (Acts 20:28)?
In Ephesians 1:22 we find that Christ is the “head over all things to the church, which is His body.” So, we know that the church and the body are the same. If the church and the body are the same and we keep the context of the “body” reference from Ephesians 1:22, when we read Ephesians 4:4 it says there is “one body”. Remember that the body and the church are one in the same. That being the case how many churches are there? There is only one. Therefore, we need to make sure we are a part of that one body (church).
When people say, “I want Jesus, but not the church,” they are saying I want His head, but not His body. They are spiritually decapitating the Lord. God forbid we think similarly. Give me Jesus and give me His church!
How do we know that we are a part of the right church? We have to make sure that the teachings are according to the Word of God. If it’s not backed up by scripture then we cannot engage in those practices. That being the case it is imperative for everyone to search the scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15). The Lord’s church (church of Christ) are one’s who follow the New Testament pattern and remain faithful.
How do we get into the one church? Through obeying God’s word (Plan of Salvation: Hearing - Romans 10:17; Believing - John 3:16; Repenting - Luke 13:3; Confession - Matt. 10:32-33; Baptism - 1 Pet. 3:21; Living Faithfully - Rev. 2:10). When we have done these first 5 steps of the Plan of Salvation we are added to the church (Acts 2:38, 42, 47). There is only one church and we need to be a part of it. It is that spiritual building that Christ built. He is the cornerstone and it is His sacrifice that makes the institution of the church possible.
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