A general conception
Many non-Christians and sadly some Christians, don’t understand what is meant when the word ‘church’ is referred to. We have all heard statements like the following: ‘I used to go to church as a child’ or ‘My parents go to the Parish Church’, or ‘We had a lovely church wedding’ or ‘My grandparents were church-goers’ etc. This reflects a misunderstanding of the meaning of ‘Church’. This short booklet will address the true meaning of Church, and correct common misunderstandings. Let’s begin with what the church is NOT.
The Church is not:
A material building.
A denomination, organisation or sect.
A nationalistic enterprise – such as ‘The Church of England.’
Something you can enter through your own good works as the Roman Catholic Church believes.
Then what is the Church?
As Christians we need a benchmark for all truth and so we must use the Bible as our reference. Basically, as you will see below, the word ‘church’ refers to people who are believers in God and His Son Jesus Christ. The word ‘church’ (singular) occurs seventy times in the New Testament, and in all cases a special word is used—‘Ekklesia’, (This word has a fascinating background and further notes including the historic background are given at the back of the booklet)
There are three ways in which the word ekklesia is used in the New Testament:
1. It means universal church (1 Cor 10:32; 12:28; Phil 3:6).
2. It means ‘a particular local Church’ (Rom 16:1; 1 Cor 1:2 
.
3. It means ‘the actual assembly’ of the believers in any place, meeting together for worship (1 Cor 11:18; 14:19; 14:23).
In the New Testament ekklesia is set before us in three relationships: -
1. It is sometimes – though not often – described in human terms. For example,
Paul speaks of the Church of the Thessalonians (1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:2). In
a sense the church is composed of people and belongs to people – they are
the ‘bricks’ out of which the edifice of the Church is built. In the NT the word
Church is never used to describe a ‘building’. It always describes a body of
men and women who have given their hearts to God.
2. More frequently, Church is described in divine terms. It is the ‘Church of God’
(1 Cor 1:2; 2Cor 1:1; Gal 1:13; 1 Thess 2:14; 1 Tim 3:5, 15). The Church
belongs to God and comes from God. Had there been no such thing as the love
of God there would have been no such thing as the Church; and unless God
was a self-communicating God, there would be no message and no
help in the Church.
3. Sometimes the Church is described as the Church of Christ: -
a. In this connection Christ is the head of the Church (Eph 5:23, 24). t ought to
be according to the mind and thought and will of Christ that the Church lives
and moves. (Please see note at the end of the booklet referring to
Christ as the Head)
b, The Church is the body of Christ (CO 1:24). It is through the Church that
Jesus Christ acts by His Spirit.
Joining the Church; it’s not a religious organisation but a Bride and a Body
People become part of the Church as they commit themselves to the person of Jesus Christ, proclaiming Him as their Lord. No one enters into the fellowship of the church apart from Jesus. If you are a believer in God, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation and living in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible states clearly that you are a member of the one true church. Also in being a member you belong to what the Bible calls–‘The body of Christ’. The Church therefore belongs to God and comes from God. This is what the apostle Paul writes to the Church at Corinth….
“For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Cor 12:13
Jesus began the Church. He built it on His own great work and on the response of faith to that work. The Church is described by many images. The image of the church as the bride of Christ emphasises the devotion, fidelity and purity of the church. As the bridegroom, Christ showed His joy and love for the church, even to the point of dying for the church.
Another image reveals the Church as the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the church, indicating authority and control. The church is the body of Christ, obeying His commands. The image of the Church as a body is initially used to stress the dependence of members on one another. This is important when there are such things as differing gifts or different cultural and social backgrounds, which might cause division. The key issue is the quality of relationships and mutual responsibility that believers have to each other (from 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:12-31). Commitment to one another was essential because as we read in the above scripture, they “were all baptised by one Spirit into one body” The concept of body is also developed in other ways. It indicates that the church is a living organism, not a religious organisation.
Central to the Old Testament religion was the temple. The church of Jesus Christ does not worship at a temple but has become the temple. God now lives both among and within his people, not in buildings but in a living community (1 Cor 3:16-17; 2 Cor 6:16-18; Eph 2:20-21). This metaphor is implicit in the frequent references to building (e.g., Mt 16:18; 1 Cor 3:9; 2 Cor 10:18; 13:10; Jude 20). Given that the Church is the place where God dwells by his Spirit, people must live in unity with each other and in holiness of life. Integral to the temple was the priesthood. Under the new covenant, all believers have become priests (1 Peter 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6), once more bringing into actuality the unfulfilled design of the old covenant (Exodus 19:6).
What the Church does, and how its members behave.
Church is not about coming to a place where we experience good feelings all the time. Church speaks of ordinary honest people who are aware of their faults, but know the love of Christ sustaining them. Church speaks of ordinary honest people who know that others around them make mistakes, yet who continually seek to help, uplift and support others, as they themselves are uplifted and supported. Church speaks of ordinary people in the extraordinary work of Christ who seek to reach out to their community by the power of His Spirit. This is done through friendship, care and concern for others: lending a helping hand where needed and speaking a word in season.
The church of which Jesus Christ is the Head is a vital, dynamic organism. Although it is comprised of millions of individual members, it operates as one body to accomplish what God has called it to do. When we see ourselves as one in Jesus, we move beyond our differences to focus our energy on the common vision and mission we share as Christians.
Before there was Jew or Gentile, God had the church in mind. He desired to have a
peculiar people for His own )1 Peter 2:9), a Bride for His Son. Christ is the builder of His Church (Mat 16:18), and the Head of the Body (Col 2:9). Jew and Gentile are baptised into one body (1 Cor 12:13), and are ‘one in Christ (Eph 2:15, 16).
In a world where individualism, self-performance, and competitiveness are high on the agenda, the Church is a gathering of those who have no trust in their own works or efforts as being meritorious for salvation. The Church is comprised of those who rest in the finished work of Christ, and do not have to prove anything to God or vie for attention from God. Neither do the members of the Church consider themselves better than anyone else. In their own works or efforts as being meritorious for salvation. The Church is comprised of those who rest in the finished work of Christ, and do not have to prove anything to God or vie for attention from God. Neither do the members of the Church consider themselves better than anyone else.
Those who make up the Church know that they are loved and accepted through the work of another, this being Jesus Christ. These people are, in one sense, like a plant in good soil – in the environment of God’s care and living out of His grace and mercy as they grow to maturity in Him. This maturity of faith is evidenced in Christ-likeness in both word and deed. The Church speaks of those who are indwelt with and who live by the power of His Spirit in accordance with His written word. This newness of life cannot come about if we refuse to fellowship with others and simply try to make Christ someone who simply props up our version of life. Many brothers and sisters in Christ are deeply frustrated and grimly hold on to this, their own version of Christianity, little realising that this is not Christianity at all.
God has come into our lives to take us out of what we have become in the world and into newness of life in Him. Only He fully knows what this means for each of us, and we discover what it means for us as we submit to God. Submission to God is submitting to perfect love and speaks of coming home to Him. In submitting to God we cannot lose ourselves, but only what we have become. This submission, at times, can be painful, but should be viewed positively, as is the pain in having a rotten tooth removed.
Let us remember that it is the love of Christ in and through us that holds the body together in a unity – a unity of love. It is not, love as a human quality that creates and brings about the unity of the Church. It is the love of God manifested in the sacrifice of Christ (Romans 5:8), which the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5). This is the divine love that binds together the body of Christ.
A Challenge for the Church of God
Please read the two extracts below. The first is from the book ‘New Testament Christianity’ by JB Philips written in 1956.
‘Many people who profess to be Christians are very irregular worshippers. I do not think they can possibly realise how they weaken the cause of the Church, and in addition starve themselves of Christian fellowship. Many people appear to be convinced that they can lead good lives without committing themselves to Church attendance or the fellowship of the Church.
Of course if the object of Christianity were to produce good, respectable people, quite a fair proportion could go on being good and respectable, and even bringing up good and respectable children, without much aid from the Church. But suppose that is not the point at all; it certainly is not the point in the New Testament.
The Church is never regarded as a rallying-ground for the good and respectable. On the contrary, it is a fellowship of those whose lives have been transformed by Christ, a fellowship of those who have become aware of the vast spiritual struggle, which is taking place on the stage of this planet, a fellowship of those who are the actual living instruments of God’s purpose today. If our aim is merely morality, we may very well be able to do without the Church, but if we are being called as sons and daughters of God to co-operate with His high Purpose in the redemption of mankind, we cannot absent ourselves from the fellowship of other Christians without greatly impoverishing both that fellowship and our own souls.
Again, if the Church is to make any worthwhile impact on the surrounding community, if it is even to speak with a voice worth hearing, it must have the active committed support of all true Christians.’
The next extract is adapted from ‘The Church’ by DS Jones.
“Joining the church and confirmation of this is good, but when this becomes something in lieu of conversion, it is spiritually disastrous: spiritually anaemic types of person end up filling our churches. They are non-contiguous, bowled over by suffering and sorrow, and with just enough religion to set up an irritation. They try to make the church a half-way house or home. They represent a flattened-out type of Christianity, expecting and seeing no miracle of change in themselves or others, no Christian expression except attending church and working on committees and keeping the creaking oil-less machinery of church activities going. It is all duty-ridden and joyless and inadequate for this business of living.”
A further word of caution….in 21st century society there are many who believe that being a Christian simply means going to a building (erroneously called ‘church’) once or twice a year, or even on a weekly basis. There are also many within this 21st century brand of ‘church’ who do not hold to the authority or inerrancy of scripture. Many do not accept the deity of Christ, or accept that the only way into church is through repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ. The result of this is a church that is devoid of the Holy Spirit’s presence, and crippled under the headship of self. Along with this, there is often a so-called elite few who make all the decisions, and, as history clearly reveals, this sort of ‘church’ often has a leadership that is not saved by grace, and that works purely on the basis of earthly values, often seeking to ‘lord it over others’ come what may. This is contrary to the teaching of scripture that speaks of leadership as servitude. On the basis of earthly values, often seeking to ‘lord it over others’ come what may. This is contrary to the teaching of scripture that speaks of leadership as servitude.
What Our Local Church Believes
Statement of faith and act of commitment
As one simple part of the organisation of a local church (we often refer to it as a ‘Fellowship’) it is sometimes helpful to affirm the practical side of membership through adherence to a doctrinal statement of faith. This is not to say that we are not all, as believers, members of the body of Christ. What it is saying is that on a local and practical level, membership also refers to the fellowship of believers who are willing to take part in and be responsible for all the local needs of the fellowship whether practical or spiritual.
As an act of commitment this membership (which refers to local fellowship), helps ensure that those who seek to prayerfully make decisions concerning finance, direction etc are those who accept such things as the authority and inerrancy of scripture, the deity of Christ, salvation through grace and not works and the priesthood of all believers. The following also needs to be understood: -
A. This act of commitment is not a means of placing people under the authority of a
select few since we are all already under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. It
is Christ who we submit to, and out of this, each one of us (including the
leadership) seeks to serve one another.
B. This act of commitment is not about joining others so that we can begin to work
towards getting things done the way we want them to be done. We are here to
serve the Lord and not our personal preferences.
C. This act of commitment does not make a two-tier system within the church and
those wanting to sign up to the statement of faith are not to be regarded, or
regard themselves as more spiritual than others.
D This act of commitment is not an agreement to tithe since we should already be
giving to the work of the Lord (this being from the heart and between the believer
and God). Tithing is not a condition of membership.
E. This act of commitment does not put us under any added pressure to reach out to
our brothers and sisters and the community in which we live since we should
already be doing this in the love of God and by the power of His Spirit.
We must always be a people who are open to God’s speaking through the Word and the Spirit, and one of the characteristics of this is seen by our willingness to submit to God and let God be in control in every situation.
Leadership
Read what Dr F Schaeffer writes in his book ‘A Christian View of Spirituality’ page 367.
“In a fallen world there is a need for organisation and there is also need for Christian leadership. But the leaders, as office-bearers, stand in relationship to the church of Jesus Christ, to the people of God, being brothers and sisters in Christ as well as leaders. The church as a whole, and the officers, Are to function consciously on the basis of each one being equal as created in the image of God, and equal in the sense of being equally sinners redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. In this way, believing in the priesthood of all true beliers, believing in the supernaturally restored relationship among those who are brothers in Christ, believing in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each individual Christian, organisation and Christian leadership do not stand in antithesis to true spirituality.” As we briefly look at the role of elders and deacons in a church let us remember that both terms say more about character and commitment than they do about specific functions. Let us also remember that Pastoral roles, along with the role of elders and deacons does not set apart a leadership who are then seen as the channel through which Christ’s life flows to the congregation. Nor do these roles make these people the only authoritative teachers of God’s word! All believers are equal before God, and all authority is of the Lord. The attitude that Christ trusts in any church leadership is that of serving others (Matt 23:9-11; Phil 2:5-8; John 13:14-17; 2 Cor 4:5; Gal 5:13.
Elders. (Read 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9).
The character traits and patterns of godly living mentioned in the above verses are what must be looked for in elders. Unfortunately in many western churches there seems to be a tendency to think that success in the world of business (or law, medicine, etc) is an indication of suitability. This is not so.
The consistent NT pattern is a plurality of elders “in every church” (Acts 14:23) and in “every town” (Titus 1:5)
Elders are to act as Shepherds. The prime role of a shepherd is to feed the sheep, leading them into good pasture all this is done so far as these shepherds submit to the One True Shepherd Jesus Christ.
This is what Dr S Jones writes in his book ‘The reconstruction of the Church’ page 82
“If the church blindly joins the status seekers by jostling for status with costly buildings or expensive equipment, it will end in disillusionment. There is one and only one way to gain status and that is to be the servant of all. But if you serve all just to gain status, that, too, will end in disillusionment, for in the end you are not serving “all,” – you are serving yourself through the outward serving of all. Down deep it is the ego seeking greatness by pretending to serve all.”
Deacons. (Read Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8-13)
Concerning 1 Tim 3:8-13: Dr W Grudem in his book ‘Systematic Theology’ page 919 writes “The functions of deacons is not spelled out here, but the qualifications for deacons suggest some functions. For instance, they seem to have had some responsibly in caring for the finances of the church, since they had to be people who were “not greedy for gain” (v 8). They perhaps had some administrative responsibilities in other activities of the church as well, because they were to mange their children and their households well (v 12). They may also have ministered to the physical needs of those in the church or community who needed help. The noun deacon is not itself used in Acts 6:1-6, but a related verb (Gk. Diakoneo, “to serve”) is found in verse 2.”
The Doctrinal Statement Of Faith Of Our Local Church or Fellowship
GOD
There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator, Saviour, and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.
THE BIBLE
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
THE HUMAN RACE
All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, redeeming them by His blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.
SALVATION
Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gifts, and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, bringing assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship and service and mission.
THE CHURCH
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong, It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the church by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration, a bringing to mind of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.
THE FUTURE
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. Those outside of Christ will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous (referring to those standing in His righteousness, and nothing of themselves) will live forever in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.
Further notes on the Etymology (origin and meaning) of ‘Church.’ (Some of this has been adapted from Dr. W. Barclay).
The Greek New Testament word which translates ‘church’ is ‘Ekklesia’, and, like so many N.T. words, it derives from two backgrounds:-
1. Ekklesia has a Greek background.
In the classical days in Athens the ekklesia was the convened assembly of people. It consisted of all the citizens of the city who had civic rights. Apart from the fact that its decisions had to conform to the laws of the State, its powers were to all intents and purposes unlimited. It elected and dismissed magistrates and directed the policy of the city. It could even declare war! Ekklesia also made peace, contracted treaties and arranged alliances. It elected generals and other military officers, assigned troops to different campaigns and dispatched them from the city.
Two interesting points concerning ekklesia are: -
a. Its meetings began with prayer and sacrifice.
b. Its two great watchwords were ‘equality’ (isonomia) and ‘freedom’ (eleutheria). It
was an assembly where everyone had an equal right and an equal duty to take
part. In the wider Greek world ekklesia came to mean any duly convened
assembly of citizens.
There is an interesting bilingual inscription found in Athens (dated A.D. 103-4). It can be read against the background of Acts 18. A certain Caius Vibius Salutaris had presented to the city an image of Diana and other images. The inscription lays it down that they are to be set up on their pedestals at every ekklesia of the city in the theatre. To the Greek and Roman alike the word was familiar in the sense of a convened assembly.
2. Ekklesia has a Hebrew background.
In the Septuagint it translates the Hebrew word qahal, which again comes from a root which means ‘to summon’. It is regularly used for the ‘assembly’ or the ‘congregation’ of the people of Israel. In Deuteronomy 18:16; and Judges 20:2, it is translated ‘assembly’; and in I Kings 8:14; Lev. 10:17; and Num 1:16, it is translated ‘congregation.’ It is very common in the Septuagint, occurring over 70 times. In the Hebrew sense, it therefore means God’s people called together by God, in order to listen to or to act for God. In its biblical context ‘congregation’ is not just a company of people who have come together. A qahal or ekklesia is a body of people ‘who have been called together’. The two original words (in Hebrew and Greek), put all the emphasis on the action of God. Christians are the spiritual seed of Abraham:
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29
Originally the word ‘church’ did not mean a body of people who have been ‘picked out’ from the world. It has not got that exclusive sense in it. It means a body of people who have been ‘summoned out’ of their homes to come and meet with God; and both in its original Greek and Hebrew usages, that sense was not exclusive but inclusive. The summons was not to any selected few; it was a summons from the State to every man to come and to shoulder his responsibilities; it was a summons from God to every man to come and listen to and to act on the word of God.
While the idea of the Church builds on the work of God in former times, the concept took on a greater significance when God appeared in the flesh to seek and to save those who are lost. In essence, the Church, the ekklesia is a body of people, not so much assembling because they have chosen to come together but assembling because God has called them to himself. They do not assemble just to share their own thoughts and opinions, but to listen to the voice of God. Christians who take fellowship with other Christians as optional are forgetting the whole thrust of scripture concerning Church. We need to come together.
All who trust Christ make up the Church. Jesus accepts all who accept Him. Jesus’ ministry was a ministry of inclusion. Those whom others rejected, Jesus accepted. With these people Jesus built His church. While accepting everyone – the rich and the powerful as well as the poor and weak – Jesus made everyone servants of the great King. Those who make up the church are servants of Christ and others. Those who live for power and glory are frustrated in the church. Jesus made servant hood His criterion for greatness.
“Since the church is the body of Christ, participant in the suffering of Christ as well as in the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10), its life always manifests a twofold character. This is partly a dying to the old aeon: “Do not be conformed to this world” (Rom 12:2); and partly a resurrection to the life of the new aeon: “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom 12:2)…To live in the Church is to live in participation in the resurrection of Christ. It is to live the life of the new age in the midst of this age and to live in expectation of its heavenly fulfilment (Phil 3:20).”
Prof A. Nygren, Christ and His Church, page 104. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery p146.
Notes on Christ as the indisputable ‘Head’ of the Church:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Col 1:15-18
Note also Colossians 2:18-19.
Having entered Church through the work of Christ, we are to be interdependent: “each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5). Isolation and segregation are not part of God’s plan, but rather unity in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:4). One evidence that we, as a church, are walking in intimate fellowship with Jesus is that we are also enjoying fellowship with each other (1 John 1:5-7; 3:11-15). As Peter says, we are to “love one another deeply” (1Peter 4:8ff)
Three images for the church in the New Testament: are as follows: -
The people of God. 1 Peter 2:10: “ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
The body of Christ. This refers both to the local church as in 1 Cor 12:27, and the church in general, as in Eph 1:22-23,5:25. The church as the body of Christ is an organism, not merely an organisation. Under Christ, the head of the body, every member and every gift is important.
The fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. “ The church as a fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a reminder that the church’s life and power are not in herself but in the Spirit of God.