If you ask people, “What is the church?” they will most likely tell you about a building somewhere nearby. They might even know the name or the denominational (or non-denominational) affiliation of the building.
Some people might be familiar with the service times or some of the better-known programs the church offers.
If there is more than one, they will likely know something about the differences and have a preference. They might have questions about why there are two or three churches within several blocks of one another. It’s a valid question.
There is a sense in which those answers are correct because we often talk about going to church, i.e., the place we gather for corporate worship.
So,, what is the church?
Someone once wrote (I can’t find a source), “Church people and God’s people are not the same thing. Church people go to church. God’s people are the church.” We are the hands and feet of Jesus.
That’s a huge difference. The church visible, are all those who attend a church or claim an affiliation with a church, and all the buildings, programs, and baggage that entails. They may or may not be Christians.
The church invisible is the true body of Christ, all believers in every culture through all of time. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which means “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not a building, but people.
Paul makes it clear that the church and the meeting place are not the same thing. “Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.” Romans 16:5
As believers, we are the church.
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
When we start to think things like “the church ought to do something about that” or “someone from the church ought to,” it’s time to look inside ourselves. Are we being prompted by the Spirit to do something?
If that something is too large for one person to tackle, we could join with others to get it done.
The church isn’t a building. The church certainly isn’t perfect, after all, it is comprised of redeemed sinners in the process of being more Christ-like.
Still, it’s the avenue Jesus chose to bring His message of help and hope to the world.
There is a very real purpose to the church. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, guided by the Word and the indwelling Spirit to do His work.
What an incredible responsibility! What an incredible privilege! We do what we can do, and the Lord does the rest.
My friends, let us boldly BE the church.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed,
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Some thoughts on finding a good church
Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.
