“I’m going to church.” A clear statement, understandable by most; yet at its truest theological level, this phrase is kind of confusing. For lots of folks, “church” in that statement means a worship service, where you are going Sunday morning. Though for some, it might mean a building, the location of your worship. As clear as the comment is, what exactly is meant by “church” is not all that self-evident in today’s society.
It is important, though cliché, to point out that “the Church” is not a building, but is made up of the people of God. Again, while often stressed, this needs to be stated again and again, since in common language, “church” implies a place, a building where worship and ministry takes place. While the association with a place makes sense, there is little biblical evidence for it.
Biblically, the word, church or ekklesia, means, “the called-out-ones,” and was originally used for the militia—those called out from the population to take up arms. So, the ekklesia were those assembled for military service. Many centuries later, the biblical authors used this word to describe the gathering of God’s people—gathering for a difficult, often costly, service to the King.
But in God’s Word, the idea of “Church” goes far beyond this simple word. As with so many other theological concepts, the idea of “church” is deep, rich and multifaceted. It carries so much meaning, that one simple idea or even word cannot really capture its depth. Scripture is rich with imagery, metaphor and picture-descriptions all seeking to capture the richness of what it means to be part of God’s Church. Just a few of the more poignant images:
- The body of Christ [Colossians 1:18; Romans 12]
- Bride of Christ [Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9]
- Temple [Ephesians 2:20-21; 1 Pet 2:4-5]
- Royal priesthood [1 Peter 2:9]
- Living Stone [1 Peter 2:4-10]
- Flock [Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-4]
- Family [Ephesians 3]
- People of God [Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12]
- Building of God [Matthew 7; Hebrews 3:6]
- Lord’s Vineyard [Matthew 21; Isaiah 5:1-5]
- Abraham’s seed [Galatians 3:29]
- Pillar/Foundation of Truth [1 Timothy 3]
- Salt & Light [Matthew 5:13-16]
- Israel of God [Galatians 6:18]
It will be well worth your effort to take some time and reflect upon these images. What is meant by the authors when they describe the church as “the pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 3)? How is “family” (Ephesians 3) an apt description of what a functioning church is like? Do we at Hebron realize and act as though we are in fact “Abraham’s seed” (Galatians 3: 29), and what does that mean?
The “Church” is the creation of the Gospel. What God has done in redemption, what Christ has accomplished at the cross, what the Spirit has affected in the lives of His followers is nothing short of the Church. As His people today (His flock, His family, His vineyard), we have a lot to aspire to.
As you prepare for worship this week, read 1 Peter 2:9-10.
- Verse 9 begins with “but”; what is being contrasted here? Read through the first 8 verses of the chapter. What is Peter talking about? What is his concern?
- In the opening verses, Peter uses a building as a metaphor for the Church. In what ways is that appropriate? In what ways is the Church like a building in all the best ways? Where might this imagery be unhelpful?
- Peter uses a number of illustrations/images to describe the Church in verse 9. List them out. Now, read Exodus 19:1-8. What is the connection between these images and verses?
- There is a major “purpose statement” built into these verses. Why does Peter think God built the Church in this way? What is the goal of the Church?
- In verse 10, Peter states that the Church is “God’s own people.” How should Christians believe this, and yet not become arrogant? Verse 10 itself seems to answer this… how?
By Henry Knapp