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As a brief point of clarification: Church is actually an English word that came into use many years after the NT (New Testament) was written. It finds no direct parallel in the original text of the Greek NT Scriptures and, therefore, is really a poor translation of the original Greek; However, it is not the desire of this author to "play semantics" with words - so I will simply define my comprehension of the word as it is presented in the Scripture according to its Greek definition and the context of the passages wherein it is used. The word "church" is "ekklesia" (pronounced: ek-klay-see'-ah - Strong's number 1577 - also alternately spelled "ecclesia") and simply refers to people assembled together. The word ekklesia is a compound of two words, which together mean "called out from". The spiritual element of this word's contextual use as it refers to the people of God implies a spiritual assembly represented by those who have been called out from the world into intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and are therefore included in the Fellowship known as His body, which is the Family of God. It is important to note that virtually everywhere the word "church" is referenced in the Bible, it is this word, ekklesia, which means "people assembled." Perhaps an even better description of the word would be the idea of a "community" of believers. Traditionally, even the term "assembly" bears in mind a religious institution or organization, which ekklesia in no way represents. The ekklesia of the first century was identified in terms of Christian communities (i.e. the entire populous of believers in a given town). In every Christian context (as we have already mentioned), it refers even more specifically to "the body of Christ" (whether locally or globally manifested). This is an important note because the Scripture teaches that the Church is, not a building or an organization, but Christ; That is not to say that you and I are Christ, but rather that Christ lives in us and is manifested corporately through us as one body. This is God's purpose for the ekklesia. The apostle Paul said, "I became a minister according to the purpose of God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:25-27) So the Church is Christ's body; a living organism (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24; etc.). This is why it can never be defined as a building or an organization because it is neither. The meeting place, the service, or building is NEVER the emphasis where use of this word is concerned. Only the "assembly" or "community". Therefore, the Lord's "Church" is simply the Lord's "Assembly" or His "Body." The term "local church" does not exist anywhere in Scripture; however, we do find the concept of local communities of saints. In other words, believers in Christs spread throughout an area who met uniquely and individually in different ways. If we must use the term "local church" then it is simply to identify those believers that assemble/gather together - wherever, whenever, and however few or many of them are assembled (even it be merely two or three - Matthew 18:20) but the Church local is not a denomination - it is the same, undivided Church being represented (within that community). This simply reveals that the Church is not something institutional, material or programmed, for that is not its meaning at all according to the Word; Rather it is something organic and alive, representative of God's people assembled who find their life and being in Christ Jesus. They are His body! It is important to note is that Scripture identifies that there was only one "ekklesia" in every city - NOT many. Every single reference of the word ekklesia in the New Testament with respect to various cities reveals a singular form of the word consistently - NEVER plural. In other words, there was no such thing as "denominations" or "churches" or "multiple ekklesias" in a given city. Each city had only one! This makes sense when you take into considering the biblical meaning of ekklesia as we have been discussing. This also reveals a sharp contrast to the way "church" is perceived in our day. In the early Church, "denominational" mindsets were shunned by the Apostles! Paul said (in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13), "...One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas '; still another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?" Obviously, Paul did not teach denominational gathering, but emphasized ONE unity in Christ; ONE body and ONE Church that we are all connected together through because we are members of CHRIST. This is why we only see one ekklesia ("church") in each city. However, there is a plural form of the word ekklesia as well. The plural form of ecclesia, without exception, when referring to location, speaks of a country, a province, region, or of a plurality of cities. For brief example here, let's look at "the churches in Asia". There are, mentioned, seven communities of believers represented singularly in seven cities in Asia (one community of believers in each city) - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodiciea. Again, these are communities of faith. In other words, we see a unity among Christians in each community - NOT denominations or separate organizations with differing doctrines, etc. While that may be common today, that is not the biblical idea of ekklesia. It may take some time to wrap this concept of ekklesia (the "church") around our brains. There are some great articles offered on this website to help you reason this understanding out. I encouraged you to take the time to study them. It is helpful to keep this deffinition in mind when reading the New Testament Scriptures, as it enables us to better understand that what we are reading about is far more relational and alive (not to mention united) as opposed to institutional. For example, when we read, "to the church of God which is at Corinth," and understand that church means the assembly of saints within that city, it changes our perspective from envisioning an institution to a body or rather a "community" of people - who themselves represent the very body of Christ. If it helps you, rather say, "the assembly" or "people" or "congregation" instead of "church" or just use the Greek word itself; Ekklesia. This may also help to bring more clarity to the ministries we see in operation in the New Testament Church. Suddenly we stop thinking of "elders or pastors in the church" as meaning the leadership of some institutional gathering across town in who meet in a specific building and preside over a group of believers. We begin to see that elders (who are biblically just older, spiritually mature brothers) in the assembly could be far broader throughout a city or region, rather than just a hierarchy of so called "leaders" in one small building. When we understand the true definition and nature of the Lord's Church, we also begin to understand with greater clarity passages like Ephesians 4:11, which are not titles of hierarchy in a religious organization, but they are descriptions of function and service to the body of Christ; "He gave to His body, the Church, some with a special commission as emmisaries according to His purpose, and gave others to speak by inspiration, and some to preach to the lost, and some to shepherd and teach. These He gave to equip His people to follow His will and build up the Church, the body of Christ..." (my paraphrase of Ephesians 4:11) As one might note, all of these functions could be performed by multiple individuals within the body of Christ (brothers and sisters), not just one man with some official title as is so common today. When our eyes begin to focus on the broader reality of the body of Christ, we will start to see that these gifts of ministry are not enclosed within the walls of some particular denomination... but they exist within the body of Christ. When we begin to look at the New Testament Scriptures in their proper context, we see that the Ekklesia of God begins to be recognized as connected to each other throughout the city and region (and ultimately the world) as the ONE body of Christ - not a religious organization housed in one location in an official building with a hierarchy of elite professional ministers. In other words, God does not require an official building and program to employ these gifts for the building up of His body. Wherever the body is, these gifts may be manifested! Whether in the streets, in the home or anyplace else He so chooses. |