Our 73rd Word is Church

The simple definition of church is believers in Christ locally and globally who share a common life in Christ.

“They gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27)

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Here’s an important Bible word that makes more people groan than grin:

Church.

Bet you have some stories you could tell. Don’t we all?

What are we to make of this entity with a long history of helping and hurting? How can a congregation of Christians be such a mess one day and such a masterpiece the next?

Ekklesia is the Greek word translated “church” more than one hundred times in the New Testament. Literally referring to those who have been “called out,” this word usually conveys a local assembly of believers in Christ (think church, lowercase c). In other passages, ekklesia refers to all believers everywhere (think Church, capital c). Either way, church always means people, an assembly or gathering of souls. It’s not a building where religious services are held.

Most people agree that the church began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first-century Jewish followers of Jesus in Jerusalem (see Acts 2). From that point on, as the apostles set out to follow Jesus’s command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28: 18-19), more and more people, Jews and Gentiles, put their faith in Christ. As they began following Him together in various locales, local congregations began to spring up.

If the church is people and not a building, and it is, then voila! There’s our answer for why church is such a “mixed bag”, encouraging in some ways and discouraging in others. Those who make up the church, including those in leadership, are flawed and flaky. This is because salvation doesn’t immediately perfect believers, it merely starts a lifelong construction project within us! Therefore, church people have good moments and bad ones. Sometimes we see the needs of others and rush in to help. Other times we’re so wrapped up in our own problems or pain, we’re oblivious to those around us.

A beautiful description of the early church is found in Acts 2: 42-47. There we see believers who “devoted themselves to…fellowship.” Fellowship refers to what we share, what we have in common.”

The fact is, we have much in common (even when we seem very different). A common problem: sin. A common need: salvation. A common Savior: Jesus. A common mission: to help others follow Jesus.

When churches do goofy things or Christians act in hypocritical ways, it’s tempting to want to distance yourself from the body of Christ. Don’t! Find a group of believers to do life with and plug in. Bring your authentic self, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

You need a group like that. and believe it or not, they need you. Not gonna lie: you’ll occasionally drive each other nuts. You’ll also help each other make it home.