What is the church?

The Bible says: Whoever believes in Christ becomes part of the church or community.
What is it, the church, the congregation? How is it organized? What's the point?

Jesus builds his church

Jesus said: I will build my church (Mt 16,18)The church is important to him – he loved it so much that he gave his life for it. (Eph 5,25)If we are of the same mind as him, we too will love the Church and devote ourselves to it. Church or congregation is translated from the Greek ekklesia, which means assembly. In Apostelgeschichte19,39-40The word is used in the sense of a normal gathering of people. For Christians, however, ekklesia has taken on a special meaning: all those who believe in Jesus Christ.

At the point where he first uses the word, Luke writes: "And great fear came upon the whole congregation..." (Apg 5,11)He didn't need to explain what the word meant; his readers already knew. It referred to all Christians, not just those gathered in that place at that time. "Congregation" refers to the church, to all the disciples of Christ. A community of people, not a building.

Furthermore, the term "church" also refers to the local gatherings of Christians. Paul wrote "to the church of God in Corinth." (1Kor 1,2); he speaks of "all the churches of Christ" (Röm 4,16)But he also uses the word as a collective name for the community of all believers when he says that "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Eph 5,25).

The community exists on several levels. On the one level stands the universal church or church that embraces everyone in the world who professes to be Jesus Christ's Lord and Savior. On another level, the local communities, the municipalities in the strict sense, are regional groups of people who meet regularly. On an intermediate level lie the denominations or denominations, which are groups of communities working together on a common history and faith basis.

The local communities sometimes include non-believers - family members who do not profess Jesus as the Savior, but who still participate in church life. This can also include people who consider themselves Christians, but pretend something. Experience shows that some of them later admit that they were not real Christians.

Why we need the church

Many people describe themselves as Christian but do not want to join a church. This, too, must be considered a misconception. The New Testament shows that the norm is for believers to belong to a congregation. (Hebr 10,25).

Paul repeatedly calls on Christians to be for one another and together, to serve one another, to be united (Röm 12,10; 15,7; 1Kor 12,25; Gal 5,13; Eph 4,32; Phil 2,3; Kol 3,13;1Thess 5,13). To follow this appeal is as good as impossible for the loner who does not want to be close to other believers.

A church can give us a sense of belonging, a feeling of Christian community. It can give us a minimum of spiritual security so that we do not get lost through strange ideas. A church can give us friendship, fellowship, encouragement. It can teach us things that we would not learn on our own. It can help raise our children, it can help us "serve God" more effectively, it can give us opportunities for social service in which we grow, often in unexpected ways.

Generally speaking, the benefit a church offers us is proportionate to the commitment we invest. But perhaps the most important reason for individual believers to join a church is this: The church needs us. God has given each believer different gifts and wants us to work together "for the benefit of all." (1Kor 12,4-7)If only a portion of the staff shows up for work, it's no wonder the church doesn't accomplish as much as hoped, or that we aren't as healthy as hoped. Unfortunately, for some, criticizing is easier than helping.

The Church needs our time, our skills, our gifts. It needs people it can rely on – it needs our commitment. Jesus called for prayer for workers. (Mt 9,38)He wants each and every one of us to take action and not just be a passive spectator. Anyone who wants to be a Christian without the church isn't using their energy the way the Bible tells us to, namely, to help others. The church is a "community of mutual help," and we should help one another, knowing that the day may come (indeed, has already come) when we ourselves will need help.

Church / Community: pictures and symbols

The Church is addressed in various ways: People of God, the family of God, the bride of Christ. We are a building, a temple, a body. Jesus spoke to us as sheep, as field, as vineyard. Each of these symbols illustrates another side of the church.

Many parables about the kingdom, spoken by Jesus, also refer to the Church. Like a mustard seed, the Church began small and grew large. (Mt 13,31-32)The church is like a field where weeds grow alongside wheat (verses 24-30). It is like a net that catches good fish as well as bad ones (verses 47-50). It is like a vineyard where some work long hours, and some only a short time. (Mt 20,1-16)She is like servants who were entrusted with money by their master and invested it partly well, partly badly. (Mt 25,14-30)Jesus called himself a shepherd and his disciples a flock. (Mt 26,31)His job was to search for lost sheep. (Mt 18,11-14)He describes his followers as sheep that need to be grazed and cared for. (Joh 21,15-17)Paul and Peter also use this symbol, saying that church leaders must "shepherd the flock". (Apg 20,28; 1Petr 5,2).

We are "God's building", writes Paul in 1. Korinther 3,9The foundation is Christ (verse 11); on this rests the building made up of people. Peter calls us "living stones, built into a spiritual house." (1Petr 2,5)Together we are being built up "in the Spirit to be a dwelling place for God." (Eph 2,22)We are the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Kor 3,17;6,19). Although God can be worshipped in any place, the church has worship as its central purpose.

We are "God's people," tells us 1. Petrus 2,10We are what the people of Israel should have been: “the chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, the people for his own possession” (verse 9; see 2Mose 19,6We belong to God because Christ redeemed us with his blood. (Offb 5,9)We are God's children, he is our Father. (Eph 3,15)As children, we have been given a great inheritance, and in return we are expected to please it and bring honor to its name.

The Scriptures also call us the Bride of Christ - a name that resonates with how much Christ loves us and what deep change takes place in us so that we can have such a close relationship with the Son of God. In many of his parables, Jesus invites people to the wedding feast; Here we are invited to be the bride.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory, for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Offb 19,7)How do we “prepare” ourselves? Through a gift: “And it was given her to clothe herself with fine, clean linen” (verse 8). Christ cleanses us “by the washing with water through the word.” (Eph 5,26)He presents the church before him, having made it glorious and spotless, holy and blameless (verse 27). He works in us.

Working together

The symbol that best illustrates how church members should relate to one another is that of the body. “Now you are the body of Christ,” writes Paul, “and each of you is a member of it.” (1Kor 12,27)Jesus Christ “is the head of the body, namely the church.” (Kol 1,18)And we are all members of the body. When we are united with Christ, we are also united with one another, and we are truly indebted to one another. No one can say, "I don't need you." (1Kor 12,21)No one can say they have nothing to do with the church (verse 18). God distributes our gifts so that we may work together for the common good, helping and receiving help from one another. There should be "no division" in the body (verse 25). Paul frequently argues against the spirit of partisanship; those who sow discord should even be excluded from the church. (Röm 16,17; Tit 3,10-11)God causes the church to "grow in every way" by "each member supporting the other according to the measure of his strength." (Eph 4,16)Unfortunately, the Christian world is divided into denominations that are often at odds with one another. The Church is not yet perfect because none of its members is perfect. Nevertheless, Christ desires a united Church. (Joh 17,21)This does not necessarily mean organizational merger, but it does presuppose a common goal. True unity can only be found by striving ever closer to Christ, preaching Christ's gospel, and living according to his principles. The goal is to propagate him, not ourselves. However, the existence of different denominations also has an advantage: through different approaches, the message of Christ reaches more people in a way they can understand.

Organization

There are three basic forms of church organization and constitution in the Christian world: hierarchical, democratic and representative. They are called episcopal, congregational and presbyterial.

Each basic type has its varieties, but in principle, the episcopal model means that a senior shepherd has the power to determine church principles and ordain pastors. In the congregational model, the churches themselves determine these two factors. In the presbyterian system, power is divided between denomination and the church; Elders are chosen who are given competences.

The New Testament does not prescribe a specific congregation or church structure. It speaks of overseers (bishops), elders, and shepherds (pastors), though these titles appear rather interchangeable. Peter commands elders to exercise the functions of shepherds and overseers: "Shepherd the flock... keep watch over them." (1Petr 5,1-2)Paul gives the same instructions to the elders using similar words.Apg 20,17. u. 28).

The church in Jerusalem was led by a group of elders; the church in Philippi by bishops. (Apg 15,1-2; Phil 1,1)Paul left Titus in Crete so that he could appoint elders there; he writes one verse about elders and several about bishops, as if these were synonymous terms for church leaders. (Tit 1,5-9)In the Epistle to the Hebrews (13:7, Menge and Elberfeld Bible), the church leaders are simply called "leaders." Luther translates "leaders" here as "teacher," a term that also appears frequently. (1Kor 12,29; Jak 3,1)The grammar of Epheser 4,11This suggests that "shepherds" and "teachers" belonged to the same category. One of the main qualifications of officials in the community had to be that they were "...capable of teaching others." (2Tim2,2).

The common denominator is that community leaders were appointed. There was a certain degree of community organization, although the exact official titles were rather secondary. Members were expected to show respect and obedience to the officeholders. (1Thess 5,12; 1Tim 5,17; Hebr 13,17).

If an elder commands something wrong, the congregation should not obey; but normally, the congregation was expected to support the elder. What do elders do? They lead the congregation. (1Tim 5,17)They tend the flock, they lead by example and teaching. They watch over the flock. (Apg 20,28)They should not rule dictatorially, but serve. (1Petr 5,23)“so that the saints may be equipped for the work of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph 4,12)How are elders appointed? In a few cases, we get an answer: Paul appoints elders. (Apg 14,23), assumes that Timothy appoints bishops (1Tim 3,1-7), and authorized Titus to appoint elders (Tit 1,5)In these cases, at least, a hierarchy existed. We find no examples of a congregation electing its own elders.

deacons

However, we see in Apostelgeschichte 6,1-6, how so-called poor relief officers were elected by the congregation. These men were chosen to distribute food to the needy, and the apostles then appointed them to this office. In this way, the apostles could concentrate on the spiritual work, and the physical work was also done (verse 2). This distinction between spiritual and physical church work is also found in 1. Petrus 4,10-11.

Officials responsible for manual labor were often called deacons, from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve." While in principle all members and leaders were meant to "serve," there were specific representatives for the more direct, service-oriented tasks. Female deacons are also mentioned in at least one instance. (Röm 16,1).

Paul lists a number of qualities that a deacon must possess. (1Tim3,8-12)without specifying exactly what their service entailed. Consequently, different denominations assign deacons different tasks, ranging from hall manager to financial accounting. What is important in leadership positions is not the name, not their structure, and not even the manner in which they are filled. What is important is their meaning and purpose: to assist the people of God in their maturation "to the full measure of the fulness of Christ." (Eph 4,13).

Sense of the community

Christ built his church, he gave his people gifts and guidance, and he gave us work. A central purpose of the church community is worship, the ritual. God has called us "to proclaim the blessings of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1Petr 2,9)God seeks people who will worship him. (Joh 4,23), who love him more than anything else (Mt 4,10)Whatever we do, whether as individuals or as a community, should always be for his glory. (1Kor 10,31)We are to “always offer God a sacrifice of praise.” (Hebr 13,15).

We are commanded: “Encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” (Eph 5,19)When we gather as a congregation, we sing God's praises, pray to him, and hear his word. These are forms of worship. Likewise, the Lord's Supper, baptism, and obedience.

Another purpose of the church is teaching. It lies at the heart of the Great Commission: "Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Mt 28,20)Community leaders should teach, and every member should teach the others. (Kol 3,16)We should admonish one another. (1Kor 14,31; 1Thess 5,11; Hebr 10,25)Small groups provide the ideal setting for this mutual support and teaching.

Paul says that those who seek gifts of the Spirit should strive to build up the church. (1Kor 14,12)The goal is to build up, exhort, strengthen, and comfort (verse 3). Everything that happens in the assembly should be edifying for the church (verse 26). We are to be disciples, people who learn and apply the word of God. The early Christians were praised because they "continued" "in the apostles' teaching and in fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayer." (Apg 2,42).

A third main purpose of the church is "social service." "Therefore, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who belong to the family of believers," Paul urges. (Gal 6,10)Our primary obligation is to our family, then to the community, and then to the world around us. The second highest commandment is: Love thy neighbor. (Mt 22,39)Our world has many physical needs, and we shouldn't ignore them. But most of all, it needs the Gospel, and we shouldn't ignore that either. As part of our "social service," the Church is to preach the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. No other organization does this work—it is the Church's responsibility. Every worker is needed—some on the "front line," others in the "department." Some plant, others fertilize, others harvest; if we work together, Christ will make the Church grow. (Eph 4,16).

by Michael Morrison