What Is A Church?

What Is A Church?


Sandra D In today's world, we need to be very clear about just what the Church is. It has been a misused word for all my lifetime. The misuse of this word causes people to turn away from the church. It causes denominations and divisions. It takes away from the purpose for which Jesus established His Church.



The meaning of a true church is simple. A church is NOT a building. Where 2 or 3, or 2,000 or 3,000 are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them. We say, "We are going to church." But this is an inaccurate statement. The "church" goes to meet together. After spending the 6 days of the week in the world, believers need to meet together for worship of Jesus and to uplift each other. It is a healing time for believers. When believers who have the Holy Spirit living within them meet together, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are there also.



No man or group of people own the church. It is not a property. It was established by Jesus and belongs solely to Him. One day He will come for His church. A church is a live body. It lives to adore Jesus, to serve God. A church is added to b the Holy Spirit, just as on the day of Pentecost. As many as hear the truth will come where the body is gathered - if Jesus is there, they will come. The Bible says no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him. The Holy Spirit of God who lives in believers can draw people to Jesus by the teaching/preaching of the Word.



In the body, which is the church, God works to help His people grow and mature in His ways. If God is not working in the body, the body is dead. When God is working, there is life, vitality, it is warm and welcoming, the body reaches out to the lost and needy. Worship is an active thing. Too often the people in a "meeting place" are expected to sit and listen to the music, maybe sing along with the choir. But people are not allowed to participate in active worship.

I don't advocate a lot of what goes on in some churches, for I have seen it get into the realm of the flesh. But I feel that a worshipper must be allowed to worship his/her God as that individual feels the Holy Spirit moving within.



God doesn't work to please people. He works to accomplish His purposes. And the main work of the Father is to draw people to Jesus. When God starts to work in a so-called church, some people get frightened. The established order is challenged. The "way we have always done it" is no longer in control. God won't abide by the by-laws drawn up by people. True believers will have eyes to see when God is starting a work in their midst. If the working by God is not accepted by the people, God will take His Holy Spirit away from that place. What will be left is only a meeting of people who like to be together. If the Holy Spirit is not allowed freedom to work, it is no longer a church.



If the true meaning of the word, "church", was used today, God would have a lot more people meeting together and more lost people coming to Jesus. Let us who are belivers correct this misuse of the word "church" whenever we get the chance.



Sandra