Bible Basics: What Is the Church?
As we address Bible basics, an important conversation is to be had about the church. While the church is widely disparaged in today’s culture, the same is not true when we listen to Jesus and the Scriptures. The word “church” has a rich history. The word “church” has its roots in old English and old German lexicology. The word that Jesus used to describe His people was an ancient Greek word “ecclesia.” The word originally designated a citizen in the ancient Greek city state. This citizen was “called out” to be involved in the affairs of his city. Hence the word meant, “the called-out ones.” As Jesus used the word, the idea is that the church is composed of those who have been called out of sin into righteousness. Peter expresses this thought in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” The Christian has been called through the Gospel to come out from the world (2 Corinthians 2:17) and into Christ for the purpose of transacting business for God.
In the New Testament, the term "church" had both a local and a general significance. It referred both to the individual congregation and to the worldwide community of God’s people. For example, in Acts 5:11 the term is used to detail the church in Jerusalem. Later in Acts 9:31, the term "church" refers to many congregations when Luke says, “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace.” To sum up, the word “church” was a designation for the body of Christians. In God’s mind, the church is precious and special. God calls Christians, individually and collectively, to serve Him and do His bidding. God is in the redemption business and He calls His people, the church, to that task as well.
The first mention of the word church in the Bible is Matthew 16:18. In this passage, Peter had confessed Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of God. Jesus commended Peter and said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” By the use of the future tense, Jesus clearly indicates that the church had not yet been established. Jesus continues His thought regarding the church when He says to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19 NIV). It is evident from the use of the term "church" in verse 18 and the term “Kingdom of Heaven” in verse 19 that these terms are interchangeable. The terms “church” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are used in a similar way in Colossians 1:13-14; "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
From this brief discussion, it is easy to see that the church has great value in the eyes of God. Tragically, in today’s world, the church has been minimized and scandalized. There are many people who mistakenly think that they can be Christians yet disregard and dismiss the church. The reason many people think poorly of the church is that Christians have misbehaved and misrepresented the church. It is true that there are church groups who have forgotten their calling. There are many church groups that have served themselves rather than serving Jesus. The dishonor that has come on the name of Jesus because of hypocritical Christians is tragic, but let us remember that God is not deterred by the mistakes of His people. God is greater than our missteps. God still calls sinners to come to Him.
The message of the Gospel is that Jesus has come to save lost mankind. Even though we can act and live in unlovely ways, God still loves us. We are invited to join the family of God — the church. The price for admission is not our good deeds, rather the price has been paid by the blood of Jesus. The church, the Kingdom of God, the body of Christ — these are all terms for God’s people. Let us rejoice that God has invited us and that God provides our way of entrance into His love and fellowship. Keep looking up!