It is time to rethink what 'church' really is. What are the essentials? And what are the non-essentials?
And of course, what exactly is 'church'?
What does the Bible say about 'church'?
Have we in the modern days gone astray from what God has originally intended His church to be?
Is church about "going to a church building" like people going to watch theater, concert, or 'live' performance during weekends?
Is church about "going to a church building" to be entertained and being served, and then we pay money for it?
And say, if the 'live' performance isn't good enough, then 'churchgoers' would go and look for another 'live' performance elsewhere in another place (church building)?
And of course, what exactly is 'church'?
What does the Bible say about 'church'?
Have we in the modern days gone astray from what God has originally intended His church to be?
Is church about "going to a church building" like people going to watch theater, concert, or 'live' performance during weekends?
Is church about "going to a church building" to be entertained and being served, and then we pay money for it?
And say, if the 'live' performance isn't good enough, then 'churchgoers' would go and look for another 'live' performance elsewhere in another place (church building)?
Let's go to the New Testament now.
For the record, the word 'church' (or 'churches') was mentioned about 115 times in the King James Version, and interestingly, all these 115 times point towards 'church' being a 'people', rather than a building, an area, a land, an exclusive clubhouse, or a man-made organization!
In Greek, the word 'church' is 'ekklesia'. The word 'ek' means 'of/from'. The word 'klesia' comes from the word 'kaleo', which means 'a call'. So, 'ekklesia' simply means 'a gathering of the called ones (i.e. God's people)'. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says as believers, we are 'a people', called out from the darkness into God's marvelous light!
In short, as believers, and as a 'people of God', you and I are 'church'!
I've also checked and read all 115 mentions of the words 'church' or 'churches' in the Bible, and I found out nowhere in these 115 times did anyone (whether Paul, Luke, John, and of course, Peter) spoke of 'church' as a building, an area, a land, an exclusive clubhouse, or a man-made organization! Everyone in the early church referred to 'church' as 'a people'!
These are some examples:
The book of Acts written by Luke (a physician who's very specific in his usage of words in all his writings):
(a) Acts 8:1 - great persecution arose against the church (i.e. people), and they (people) were scattered.
(b) Acts 11:26 - Barnabas and Paul assembled with the church (i.e. people), not in the church (building).
(c) Acts 16:5 - church (i.e. people) being strengthened in faith. A 'building' cannot be strengthened in faith!
(d) Acts 20:28 - church (i.e. people) purchased with Jesus' blood. A 'building' cannot be purchased this way!
So, what exactly is a 'church'?
So, what exactly is a 'church'?
'Church' is 'a people'!
Wherever we are, we are the 'church'! And because we are the 'church', wherever we are, we are also the 'church activities'!
In other words, being church wherever we are, and let the Lord shine through us wherever we are!
So, the conclusion is church isn't a building! Neither is church about a 'man-made event', or a 'man-made program'!
Think about it.
In these perilous and dangerous end-time, persecution can come in many ways, be it through terrorism by religious extremists, burning of church buildings, tearing down of church buildings, or even a pandemic!
But you see, the 'enemy' may be able to burn (or destroy) a 'building', or stop God's people from mass gathering, but they can never destroy the 'church'.
Why?
Because the 'church' is a 'people of God' gathered in His name! Anywhere, and everywhere! Not necessarily in a so-called "church building"!
You can see this when Saul persecuted the 'church' (Acts 8:1), they (the 'church') were scattered everywhere, and you know what? The 'church' grew all the more (Acts 8:4), wherever the people were scattered!
For the record, during the first three hundred over years of the early church, no one could own church buildings! So, how did the church meet? Church met in the house those days, and the equipping of the saints by the early apostles was done in rented halls/classrooms (Acts 19:9-10).
So let us rethink church today. Has the church in the modern days gone astray from God's original purposes for her?
Indeed, we have entered a time of shaking, and whatever can be shaken, will be shaken; both in the body of Christ, and in the world at large (Hebrews 12:25-29). Whatever that is 'man-made' will indeed be shaken, be it in the body of Christ or in the world at large.
Is the church ready for these last days? Is the church prepared for these last days? Or are we still very much like the church in Laodicea as written in Revelation 3:14-22?
I believe it isn't too late yet. This is a time for reflection and introspection. This is a time to let Him purify and sanctify us. This is a time to prepare and get ready for the One who is to come. This is a time to let go of the worldly ways (or worldly systems) that have infiltrated the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and return to the original plan that He has meant for His church to be.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
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