“What matters in the Church is not religion but the form of Christ, and its taking form amidst a band of men”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Christianity worldwide has about 2 billion people that consider themselves “Christians.” That 2 billion is then divided up between 45,000 denominations that span the globe entirely. The “church” makes over 50 billion dollars a year worldwide. These are just a few of the facts that the world knows about the “church.” However, the focus of this article is not on the church business, church organization, or any aspect of what we most commonly think of as “church” in the modern context. The Church I want to talk about is the Church that Jesus and the New Testament writers speak about.
“Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all people. And The Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life”
Acts 2:46-47
The Church is an interesting concept and group, scripturally. The New Testament was written in Greek, and the Greek word we translate to Church is the word “ekklesia,” which means “the called-out ones.” It’s interesting because the Church is based on people being called out and chosen by Christ to live and renewed and transformed life. Not by a building with a trendy name and fashionable mercy. The Church is the body of people who are devoted to Christ and becomes Christs’ indwelling and worldwide temple where believers are to operate from his love and authority to provide for the needs of those around them in a way that glorifies Christ and not ourselves.
Many have turned against Christianity because of the years and history of what the “Church“ has become that has made it almost unrecognizable in some cases to what Christ set up as he physically departed from Earth. But my encouragement to you is to be shown that the Church is not a building; the buildings we have are simply meeting places to encourage other believers and disciples to go out and make a positive difference in the world by the way WE live our lives. The church’s building should be to facilitate all of the personal transformations to edify the community and, most importantly, glorify Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” As the blog post is named “The Importance of the Church,” Christ made us all individually unique with different skill sets and talents as little personal churches to transform environments and lives around us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our lives are the living sermons; our lives are living worship songs; our generosity is our tithes and offerings to Christ. Christ made you a temple that he lives in to reach people that (insert church name here) won’t be able to reach. So embrace that and be thankful for that. That’s why the Church is important.
Dear Father, thank you for choosing me! You chose me! You chose us to move forward with your kingdom agenda. Through all of my faults and imperfections, you died and rose again so that I may be a reflection of you to those I come around and the environments I enter. This day I pray that your Holy Spirit molds me into the person you need to show what a true and effective Church is. The complete submission and gathering of your people to spread the Kingdom’s message. I pray this in Your Holy Name. Amen.
Many Nations 