5 Smooth Stones

Chapter Nine

WHAT MAKES CHURCH?

C urrently the church is undergoing a worldwide reformation. There are so many manifestations of what church is, there are mega-churches, cell churches, house churches, mall churches, hall churches and many other descriptions of church type. But each is an expression of church. Jesus said that He would build His church and the very gates of hell could not prevail against that church (Ma tt hew 16:18). When it appears sometimes that the church is not prevailing against the gates of hell, could it be that the Lord is not the main builder of that church? There are so many ideas of what church is and how it should be structured that it is very important that we understand what the scripture says constitutes a biblical church. First of all, the church is not a physical building, but a building together of the people of God (1 Corinthians 3:9). The only reason that a building would properly be called a church building is if a church met in that building. Over time we have shortened the proper name of the building where the church meets to church, when it properly is church building, or church meeting place. A physical building is never properly or biblically called a church. What of the people who meet together in any place or building? Does any gathering of people constitute a biblical church? The English word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which literally means the called out, or an assembly. The moment a person receives Jesus as their Lord and savior they become part of the Church. This will not mean they are automatically a member in every church which is more properly called a congregation. In the broadest sense of the word the Church includes all believers, and begins meeting when there is a gathering of any two or more of the members of the Church. However, the bible does give certain standards which should be met before those people of any number can properly can be called a biblical church.

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