What is a church?
What is a true church?
Simple question but it is a question that each of us have to really think through.
Then I came across a simple video of what a church really is. Take a look!
I am in agreement.
"The church is the hands of feet of Jesus Christ. Feet shouldn't sit still. Hands shouldn't be idle. Feet go. Hands do. This is the church."
Great video!
ReplyDeleteThe Church is us. We as individuals are the "Church". We are walking ambassadors of the cause we believe in-and as "Christians" that is our cause! The moment we accept Jesus as our lord and savior we are called to be this example to communities we belong to.
In effect, we should be conscious of how we carry ourselves to reflect this message in our daily lifestyles*. Especially in an age where digital mediums allow us to express ourselves to the global world; allowing us greater abilities to either raise disciples of all nations...or a simple "tweet" or "like" can break the fundmental belief of yet another individual.
*Lifestyles being what you are passionate about the most and actively sharing it all the time!
On a practical aspect, this is why small group models of the (organization factor of) Church: e.g. "connect groups" or "cell groups" or "bible studies" are great avenues for Christians today to really follow after the fundamental beliefs of "church". As collective individuals that follow after Christ, we form the societies around us-i.e. "lifestyles". This allows us to branch out to the lost and share with them effectively our passions that are (hopefully) Christ-principle-centered and allow them to share with us their hopes and dreams too.
Thus, if the two greatest commandments are to love God and love his people, then should we not be developing platforms in which this can happen in a neutral-environment manner?
Therefore, no matter the model, if the church is a collection of "true believers" who know that being a part of a "church" means you are acknowledging that you can make a difference while living in a world with a 360 view. With this in mind we should not be worried about what people may think or feel. In fact if those two are criterias related to making a difference then my final point is valid:
So long as the "Church" is causing people to acknowledge by thought or expressed feelings of the relevant difference the church is making by contributing to society, then yes, the mission of Chirst is fulfilled.
Good words brother. I wish that the young, postmodern-inclined generations would come to terms with what you've written. The fellowship of "true believers" is the key phrase. We really should not be worried about what the worldly society think or feel. We are witness for Christ, not salesman. We preach/live out the gospel, not "attracting" followers per se. In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not very attractive/appealing in the 1st century. Who would like to follow a crucified Messiah? For the Jews, Messiah wins/reigns but Jesus was executed. For the Greeks, crucifixion is for reserved for nasty criminals, much less a Saviour of the world. To echo John McArthur, "its hard to truly believe in Jesus in the 1st century." Yet today, it's so easy to call ourselves Christian.
DeleteGood words indeed!
DeletePerhaps that's it. THe commandment was to love God and love people. And as a church that is what we should be doing above all else. If we give all concentration to doing that, we would have done church. We talk of the form and the type and so many other things, but right at the core, what is it we should be doing? What defines us? I think we have hit the nail on its head. A church must live the great commandment and do the great commission. Right?
Nice find! The video is very easy to watch -it is short, simple, and straightforward. Definitely very easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to the statement that is made -feet go, hands do, two similar scriptures came to mind. In Matt 28:19 it says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (NIV) and in Matt 28:19-20 it says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV). Jesus, in the Bible gave these commands to us, and it is our responsibility to go out and be ambassadors of Christ. We are the church, and it is up to us to bring the church to the masses. Therefore, referring to two statements made in the video -"feet go, hands do" and "we are the church", I am in agreement with the both of them.
Fully agree that the church is essentially the body of Christ. The true church of God is a complete body made up of believers who are united in the Spirit of God and Christ (who is the head of that body). If I'm not mistaken, the original Greek definition of Church (or Ekklesia) means a gathering/assembly which further highlights the need for believers to meet together for fellowship.
ReplyDeleteSome verses that I found helpful in relation to this-
Rom. 12:5, "So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."
Eph. 4:12, "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ."
1 Cor 12:27, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
if all of us move with our hands and feet from the church, then our church building will be empty every Sunday don't you think so? lol but then again if we are the church,then why are we still serving in a church and not move out? it does raise again the question what is the church for?
ReplyDeleteThe church is both BEING and DOING. The reason of her being and doing is the GOSPEL.
ReplyDeleteBeing has to do with the existence and identity, meaning the Church is the believers of Christ, body of Christ, representing Christ here on earth. In the BEING, the body of Christ assembles or gathers, worships, edifies, fellowships. As the Word of God says, "Let us not give up meeting together..(Heb. 10:25a). Inevitably, there are meeting places for the assembly of believers, either in houses, buildings or etc. which commonly people would refer to the church as the institutions or even buildings. But, truly the church consists of all believers around the world, not confined to denominations or buildings. The whole body of Christ is the church.
The DOING part is linked to the call and purpose of the very existence of the church. The call is to carry on the Lord's ministry in the world. Jesus said that anyone who has faith in Him (believers) will do what He has been doing. He will do even greater things than these, beause He is going to the Father. (John 14:12) Therefore, the DOING is the action part...carrying out the Great Commission, i.e. evangelism, social concern, welfare. And the very essence of the church's BEING and DOING is the GOSPEL.
The answer is the church must have a good balance between BEING and DOING, then the church building will not be empty every Sunday or having everyone serving in church and not moving out to touch the world. What is the church for? The church is to BE the community of faith in worship and edification; BE the salt and light to the world, and to DO the works of Christ.
I know that Ps Lim would not like to see any "facebook-like" comments but I just want to say, "Good words sister." :-)
DeleteAs contemporary believers we really need to return to what is central in Christian faith and living - the GOSPEL. Too many people think of the gospel as "what tipped people into salvation" and full stop. However in the NT the articulation of the gospel appeared in ALL of the NT books (in fact it is alluded to in OT as well, is it not?)including Revelation. The Gospel according to the NT is the all embracing category for the kingdom of God.
I agree with Eve that we are called to both DO and BE. Both on an individual level and as a collective mass of believers. But a in many churches the emphasis is on the DO, rather than the BE. Of course the BEing is very much a personal experience. How does one know the motive that one does what they do? Even the being can be a pretentious one, all in the name of conformity and herd mentality. At the end of the day, it is only Jesus that will judge. We just have to be as honest and disciples of the Living God in an institution and body that He Himself has orchestrated.
ReplyDelete