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Who is the church?
If we were to ask passersby the question, what is church, the typical historical answer would be that it is the place where one goes on a certain day of the week to worship God, fellowship, and participate in church programs . If we conducted a street survey and asked where is the church, many would probably think of well-known church communities such as the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox or Baptist churches and associate them with a specific place or building.
If we want to understand the nature of the church, we cannot ask the question of what and where. We have to ask the question of who. Who is the church? We find the answer in Ephesians: "And he put all things under his [Jesus'] feet, and made him head of the church over all things, which is his body, even the fullness of him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1,22-23). We are the Church, the Body of Christ, whose Head is Jesus Christ himself. When we believe that we are the church instead of the church being a place we go, our perspective and our reality change.
members of a body
After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus invited the eleven disciples to a mountain in Galilee that he had previously designated. Jesus spoke to them and gave them the command: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and teach all nations: baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28,18-20).
Everything that the body does is a joint effort of all its members: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, although they are many, are one body, so also Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many" (1. Corinthians 12,12-14).
A healthy body functions as a unit. Whatever the head decides to do, the whole body responds in harmony to accomplish it: "But you are the body of Christ, and each one is a member" (1. Corinthians 12,27).
As individual members of the spiritual body of Christ, we are the church. It is very important that we see ourselves in this light. This is a personal invitation to participate in what Jesus is accomplishing. As we travel, we are called to make disciples. As part of a larger whole, we reflect Jesus in our everyday lives and participate in his redemptive work. We often feel inadequate and think we are not good enough. With such thoughts we underestimate who Jesus really is and that he is always at our side. It is essential to recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit. Shortly before his arrest, Jesus assured his disciples that he would not leave them orphaned: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, to be with you for ever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world does not have can receive, because she does not see him and does not know him. You know him, for he abides with you and will be in you" (John 14,16-17).
The presence of Jesus in our lives today is manifested through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit is present, there is also the church. Our personalities, life experiences and passions shape us and represent gifts of the Spirit. Paul highlights the joys and sufferings of his service to the church. He refers to the mysterious message of God that has now been revealed to the believers: "God wanted to make known to them what the glorious riches of this mystery are among the nations, namely Christ in you, the hope of glory. For this I also strive and struggle in his strength, which works mightily within me" (Colossians 1,27).
Each of us is equipped to complete the work of God, the work of Jesus in us, which he does in us through his life. Jesus did not call us into isolation as individuals; we need other people. The church, as the body of Christ, is made up of many different members. Jesus has called us to enter into relationships with other Christians. how does it look in action?
We are the church when we meet with other Christians. Jesus said: "If two of you agree on earth about what they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I among them" (Matthew 18,19-20).
When we join together with other like-minded Christians who believe like us and agree that Jesus is Lord and that he calls us to love one another, we work together for the good of good relationships within the body of Christ.
We are church when we reach out and serve in love: "You are called, dear friends, to live in freedom - not in the freedom to give in to your sinful inclinations, but in the freedom to serve one another in love" (Galatians 5,13 New Life Bible).
We are called by God to build relationships with people. Jesus wants us to establish stable relationships and make new friends. We get to know new people and they get to know us in the same way - it's about maintaining a good mutual relationship with each other. When we allow ourselves to be guided by God's love, everyone benefits. For the Spirit works in us and produces the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5,22-23).
In Hebrews we learn of an invisible spiritual assembly to which every Christian is called: "But you have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the many thousands of angels, and to the assembly, and to... church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to the mediator of the new covenant, Jesus, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaks better than the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12,22-24).
Much more happens in the church than meets the eye. When the church gathers, it is not just a collection of nice people. It consists of redeemed people who have been renewed through the death and resurrection of the Son of God. All creation celebrates the wonderful revelation of God's redemptive power and grace evident in this diverse group. It is a privilege for us to share in Jesus' ongoing work of redeeming His creation.
You are warmly invited to visit one of our churches. We are looking forward to meet you!
by Sam Butler
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