What really is “church”?
Is church a building, a religion, a social gathering or a personal experience?
In the traditional mainstream Christian religion, a church is a building where people who believe in God come together at a given time. Depending on the type of church, there will be music, singing, ministry (a message from the Bible) and a communion service in recognition of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The people who attend are generally at their best being friendly, cordial, smiling and sharing.
However, in the true sense of the word, the English word for church comes from the Greek word, ‘ekklesia’. In English, it is also translated as assembly or congregation. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, the word ekklesia is a combination of ‘out of’ and ‘a calling’ (or to call). Further, collectively, the word ekklesia is used to describe the company of the redeemed throughout the present era and as the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22)
Therefore, in this context, “a” church may be a building, but “the” church is reference to individual people who all believe in the existence of the one true God and in His son Jesus Christ. Who all share the self-same experience of being baptised by full immersion in water and have received the Holy Spirt with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:37-39, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-7) If you would like to become part of “the” church of God, then complete the form below and we’ll be in touch.