What is the church? The word Ekklesia or “church” was first mentioned in scripture by Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:18. This word church means people who were “called out” or an assembly of people. In this very first use of the word Jesus identified this ekklesia as “my church.” He indicated there that his church would be built upon the divine revelation that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living, Supreme Deity. So this one passage of scripture provides my working definition for the church. It is an assembly of people who believe that Jesus Christ is who the bible claims that he is. While our contemporary culture often refers to our places of worship as churches, the bible never does. It only applies the word “church” to God’s people.
There are three metaphors that are used in scripture for the church:
The Church is the Building of God. 1 Peter 2:4-5 teaches us that as we come to receive Jesus, the Living Stone, we too become “living stones” that are used in God’s construction project and connected together to form a “spiritual house.” Ephesians 2:19-22 and 1 Corinthians 6:19 pick up on this theme and inform us that the building we become is the temple of the Lord, and our inhabitant is the Holy Spirit.
The Church is the Body of Christ. This is found in Romans 7:4, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 4:12 as well as a number of other places. It paints clearly that all believers are connected to one another through Christ. We are interdependent members of a singular entity under the leadership or headship of Jesus Christ. As the body of Christ we are to be obedient to him and follow him just as the body follows the leading of the brain and mind. As one body we should be in relationship with one another, understanding and embracing our interdependence. We are not all the same because a body cannot function if every part is a spleen. We are all different and necessary parts, each able to be used to fulfill the purposes of God.
The Church is the Bride of Christ. In Ephesians 5:22-32 Apostle Paul juxtaposes the relationship between a husband and wife with the relationship between Christ and the church. In this passage he clearly expresses the bridal personality of the church and how we should relate to Christ. It also describes the responsibility that Christ assumes in purifying and adorning the church so that we are spotless when he receives us to himself. This demonstrates the great love relationship that we have with Jesus. In Romans 8:35-39 Paul expounds on this love that Jesus has for the church and declares that nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.
How does one join the church? When I was growing up in my parents church we sang a song that spoke of the church. It included the lyrics, “you can’t join it; you’ve got to be born in it.” This describes entry into the church. Once a person receives by faith God’s gift of salvation they are added to or “born into” the universal church by God. (Acts 2:47)
Upon receiving salvation it is advisable that the believer connects with a local assembly of believers or local church so that they can participate in the four things that Paul E. Little calls the “prime activities” of the church. I believe these things, found in Acts 4:42, are invaluable for every believer. We should all 1) be taught the apostles’ doctrine; 2) fellowship with other believers and build relationships; 3) observe the Lord’s Supper together regularly; and 4) pray together.
The church has a very important role and purpose in the world. I believe that it can be ultimately described as a 3-fold assignment. First, the church is assigned to be the Light of the World. In John 9:5 Jesus indicated that as long as he was in the world he would be the light of the world. But in Matthew 5:14 Jesus placed that mantle upon his followers. Apostle Paul reinforced this doctrine in Ephesians 5:8-14. He teaches that before we were believers we walked in darkness. However, once we are born again we become light and should live as “children of the light”. Furthermore, Apostle Paul explains the responsibility that comes with being light in a dark world. We are to expose the “fruitless deeds of darkness.” In verse 13 Paul states, “everything exposed by the light becomes visible.” I believe that this includes the responsibility of the church to expose injustice, depravity, and ungodliness and declare righteousness, healing, and liberty. This responsibility should be fulfilled in the pulpit, boardrooms, schools, jobs, homes, voting booths or wherever members of the church find themselves. The church is charged by Jesus to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Secondly, the church is assigned to be the Salt of the Earth. Jesus laid this assignment on his followers in Matthew 5:13. He immediately warned them to not lose their saltiness. As the salt of the earth the church has the responsibility, as Eugene Peterson puts it, to bring out the “God-flavors of the earth.” The church should bring out a godly flavoring amidst a stale and, in many ways, souring world. If the church loses its potency or “saltiness” then it will have no difference-making power. There is another salt attribute that I believe is applicable. In ancient Palestine salt was often used as a preservative for food items. I believe the church has that purpose in the world today. The church should preserve the world and not allow the total decay of society. The church should be the moral compass of the world.
Finally, the church is assigned to be a Fruit Bearing Vine. John 14 paints the vivid picture of Christ being the True Vine and his followers (the church) being his branches. He proclaims in no uncertain detail that the responsibility of his followers is to reproduce the kingdom or “bring forth fruit.” The church should birth other souls into the kingdom. It should multiply. This doesn’t happen through inactivity. It requires us fulfilling the Great Commission as stated in Matthew 28:19. Jesus expressed in Acts 1:8 that the church should be intentional about spreading the Gospel in their neighborhoods, local regions, throughout their nations and around the world.