Getting Things Right About the Church
It is popular to say “We don’t go to church; we are the church.” I very much understand and agree with the last half of that statement. The church as defined in Scripture is, has always been, and always will be people. The church is not a building, a creed, or a denomination. We, as Christ followers, are the church — the "body of Christ." Having said this, I disagree with the first half of the statement as much as I agree with the last half. We do go to church, or at least we should.
Let me better define some terms and ideas before we go any further. The church building is not the church. At best it could be called the “church house.” After all, it is easily seen as a place that the people (the body of Christ, the church) gather and praise God. Also, to be more accurate, the church building is not the “house of God.” There are a number of Bible verses that speak about God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) indwelling each Christian. It would be better to say that we (Christians) are God’s house rather than calling a man-made structure the house of God. When we say we are “going to church” we are speaking of the gathering of Christians (as the church) for praise, worship and instruction time.
Having defined some terms, let’s go back to the issue at hand. So, we ask the question: Shall we “go” to church or shall we “be” the church? Simply said, the answer is yes! To make this an “either/or” issue is to misunderstand what God calls Christians to be and to do. Being the church is essential, but it is not enough. The church is not just what Christians are, it is what they do. It is a big part of what Christians have always done and what God calls them to do. A fundamental and essential thing that Christians have done through the ages is to gather together. Let it be said that it does not have to be in what might be called a traditional church building. But it should be something that, at minimum, affects our schedule on a weekly basis. It should include corporate worship, mutual prayer, taking the Lord’s Supper, Biblical instruction and genuine fellowship.
I sympathize with the sentiment behind “we do not go, we are.” It is a noble attempt to correct generations of overemphasis on going (to a meeting or building) without being what God has called Christians (the church) to be. The gathering (going to church) matters as much as the sending (being the church). It is misleading and unhelpful to pit these two important ideas against one another. For the body of Christ to be healthy, we must emphasize that we are the church (God’s called out community) without negating the importance of going to church (the most common term used to describe this action). I observe we live in a culture where Christians are being brainwashed by the enemy that meeting together as the church is not important anymore. We need to be more passionate about following the Scriptural exhortation to meet together.
By the way, this is not a new lie that has arisen in this generation. Satan, the deceiver, has always understood the threat that the church (the body of Christ) is to his plans for misleading mankind. Going to church without being the church is a hypocritical, empty activity. Being the church (asserting that you are a Christian) without going to church is a path that inevitably leads to spiritual weakness and death. To do one without the other is to take neither very seriously.
No matter how mature or immature your Christian faith may be, followers of Jesus need to meet so that their faith can be bolstered, so that their questions can be answered, so that there will be objective inspection and accountability into their Christian life. Simply put, immature believers need help and instruction so that they can grow and help others to grow. Mature believers need to be part of helping others grow and develop as Christians. When a mature believer grooms and strengthens young believers, that mentoring process intensifies and solidifies his or her faith as well. Where are you in this process? God has great plans for your life in Christ. At the center of God’s plans is the church. Are you staying true to what God has said about the role and function of the church, the bride of Christ? Keep looking up!