What is Church?

This is a question that can have several answers depending on perspective. For most Americans church is a building, an organization that resembles a business. Church means pews, choir robes, instruments/band, attire, and lots of people. I went to church for 7 years at home as a child and even I had the idea that church was a building with lots of people. When I was asked what church I went to I was embarrassed to say I went to church at home. Funny how even as a child I had an artificial and, quite honestly, a superficial definition of church.

I was too young to see through my mom's eyes, that church is not in equipment, number, building, or any measurement by man's standards. When we look at the original meaning for church we see the simplicity in which this term was implied in scripture. Church is said to derive from the Latin word circus, circulus, or the Greek kuklos (kuklos) because the congregations were gathered in circles. Ecclesia (ekklesia) which is the Greek word for church, originally meant an assembly called out by the magistrate, or by legitimate authority.

 This simple definition shows that there can be 2 or 3 (Matthew 18:20). Church is discipleship, fellowship, teaching, worship, and evangelism. Whether or not you have a piano, a drum, guitar, microphone or matching uniforms you can always come together to have church in Starbucks, Borders, in the basement, at the park, a nursing home, or anywhere. Christ did not restrict us to a location. How would anything get done if locations and things dictated the work of God? Let's be mindful of what we consider to be church, because those underlying definitions can keep us from realizing the true message and purpose. When you see Christ for who he is and understand your own identity the materialistic idea of church fades quickly. The world exalts music...but let's not forget Christ didn't have a band following him in ministry. Can you do without the church glamour and still present yourself to God?

 I encourage you to have church and enjoy it for it's simplicity. Any family or friends that can come together to study the Word of God is having church regardless of music or location. Making God complex only makes it more difficult for us to serve Him according to His word.

NOTE: The purpose of church can be found in Ephesians 4.