There’s no denying the image that comes to mind when hearing the word ‘church’.
Definition of church.
noun;
:a building for public and especially Christian worship Merriam-webster.com.
:a building where Christians go to attend services, pray, etc. oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com.
:a building for public Christian worship. public worship of God or a religious service in such a building: to attend church regularly. dictionary.com.
For many there’s no real distinction between the terms ‘Church’ and ‘Kingdom’. When we begin to understand the significant differences through biblical interpretation, we see the lack of understanding concerning this subject. We also realize that this has taken us historically, on a course from which we need to recover. That being said, this is simply not a matter of deciding that we want to change. We firstly need to understand what has happened, and what the change needs to be.
Many (clearly not “everyone”) are aware that there is an obvious need for change in the church. However, it could be said that most Christians (leaders included), do not have the slightest suggestion as to ‘what that change would look like or even why it is necessary’.
For the sake of achieving a clear understanding, it’s essential that we possess a firm grasp regarding the true meanings, intentions and interpretations of terminologies often and generally used.
If you were to ask any group of Christians “what does church mean?”, you’ll positively hear an indistinguishable thread of descriptive answers. If you asked that same group ‘what the Kingdom of God is’, it’s likely you’ll end up with a vast array of responses. Over the ages and generations, the Kingdom which Jesus and His disciples preached has drastically changed. I can confidently say that the ‘average’ Christian has no real knowledge of church history. Why it is the way it is, gathers in the manner it gathers, or why it functions the way it functions?!
It would take a clear understanding of the multiple transformations the church endured through its’ various transitioning stages in history. But for the sake of this not becoming a history lesson, let’s stick to the basics. Through each phase of transition, with each era of transformation, the church lost part of its identity. Currently, Christianity is identified as the most widely practiced religion in the world.
What is Religion?
Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple. This is possibly the most widely accepted description of what religion is.
The word religion has no one generally accepted definition. Sometimes it is used in reference to worship, whether public or private, and sometimes to distinguish between things sacred and those that are profane or worldly. Belief in the immortality of the soul is a concept that is looked upon by some as religious, and one of the most common uses of the term is the belief in deity or deities—a worship of God. The word religion is often associated with the pursuit of what is commonly called salvation.
On many subjects we are often able to find definitions in the scriptures, but it is interesting to note that even though we think of the Bible as a religious treatise, the word religion does not appear in the Old Testament, and in the writings of the New Testament it is used on three occasions only. I would like to make reference to these three.
The first use of the word religion is by Paul as he presented his defense before King Agrippa. He said to Agrippa: “After the most strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee” (Acts 26:5). Paul was referring to the three sects of the Jews: the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. He said he lived as a Pharisee—the sect of the three that was the strictest in religious practices. Paul was not talking about a religious creed or a belief, but rather the form of worship. Because the Jews placed great stress on practice rather than doctrine—on ritualistic worship rather than a creed of belief.
The second use of the word religion was also by Paul, in writing to the Galatians. He made this statement: “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church” (Gal. 1:13). We well know of the persecutions inflicted by Paul upon those who followed Christ and professed to be Christians. What caused him to take such a ruthless course?
Paul answers these questions by stating that he had practiced the religion of his fathers—a religion of iron rules, laws, and traditions inherited from his Hebrew lineage. These iron rules of practice are what caused him to relentlessly persecute the followers of Christ. Thus, in writing to the Galatians he referred to religion in the same manner as he did before King Agrippa, as rules of practice rather than doctrine or a creed of belief.
Now we come to the third instance in the New Testament of the use of the word religion. It is in the Epistle of James, in which he said: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). James seems to be using the term religion in the manner used by Paul, as being ritualistic or ceremonial. That if a man is ritualistic in this manner, yet fails to be guarded in what he says, his rituals (religion) are in vain.
Jesus says to the religious leaders and Pharisees in Mark 7:8/13 (NIV); “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to traditions of men.” ”Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that”.
Religion could be described then as nothing more than specific forms of ritualistic worship and iron rules of practice. But is Christianity not a “religion”? And does the church not consist of ritualistic worship and iron rules?
What is ‘Church’?
Matthew 16:15-18 (NIV).
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”.
The word ‘church‘ was not a concept originating with the new testament writers. In fact, when referring to themselves, they used the term ‘ekklesia’. The word translated “church” in the English Bible is ekklesia. This word is the Greek words kaleo (to call), with the prefix ek (out). Thus, the word means “the called out ones; or simply a group of people called out to assemble.”
However, things did not remain as intended. And over time that which God’s people were intended to be known as, found itself at the mercy of men who sought to interpret matters by their own understanding. The word ekklesia experienced multiple interpretations, or rather MIS-interpretations. The English language word “church” is from the Old English word cirice. Derived from West Germanic *kirikā, and Middle Low German: kirke, kerke, karke – translated as church :- referring to building or institute.
*kirikā, from Byzantine Greek κυριακόν (δόμα) (kuriakón (dóma), “Lord’s (house).
kuriakón, – “Lord’s” (dóma meaning house), commonly used to refer to a holy place or temple. Also translated to middle English chirche, meaning lords building (including the people in the building). King James complicated things by following the Puritans request to translate ekklesia as church, though it had no original connection with kuriakón. This translation has been commonly accepted in modern language, although some translations accurately translate ekklesia as congregation. By the time of Jerome’s translation of the New Testament from Greek to Latin, it was customary to use a derivative of kuriakon to translate ekklesia.
Therefore, the word church is a poor translation of the word ekklesia since it implies a sacred building, or temple. A more accurate translation would be “assembly“, because the term ekklesia was used to refer to a group of people who had been called out to a meeting. It was also used as a synonym for the word synagogue, which also means to “come together,” i.e. a gathering. “Body of Christ” Since believers have been united with Christ through spiritual baptism, they are sometimes corporately referred to as the body of Christ. (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:11,13,18,27; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:30)
Note: Neither description of ‘religion’ nor ‘church’ has any reference to the Kingdom of God.
Christianity is not a system of religious belief. The agent of Christianity is the church, the community of people who make up the body of believers.
The fact that many Christians hold nominal beliefs and do not act like followers of Christ has been noted since the 4th century, when the church ceased to be persecuted. To account for this, St. Augustine proposed that the real church is an invisible entity known only to God. Martin Luther used this theory to excuse the divisions of the church at the Reformation, holding that the true church has its members scattered among the various Christian bodies but that it is independent of any organization known on earth.
When Jesus is using the term ‘church’ in Matthew 16, He’s using the term translated ‘Ekklesia’. It was never in Jesus’ mind to consider the church as a building or institute. Jesus always meant the ‘called out’ – those whom He would call out of the world and establish according to the foundations of authority He received from the Father. This fashion of erecting buildings and structures, and establishing institutions, all in the name of “honoring God” is unbiblical. It’s nothing more than an attempt to form consensus and government, based upon the will of the people and favor of worldly governments, rather than on what God truly desires and what the Kingdom actually is.
It’s clear that which was, and still is, in the mind of the Father was completely different compared to what man ended up creating and maintaining. We got it wrong from the start, and continue to do so. Men love what they have “built for God”. Unfortunately, they will refuse to acknowledge the error of their ways, repent and align themselves accurately to the workings of the Father. These men hold to what they’ve always known, what they’ve been taught and teach, and foster a balance between that and the truth. But God’s Word is true, and His purpose will prevail. Evident throughout His Word, we see that there is always a remnant of true and faithful ones. Those who walk righteously, uncompromising and steadfast in His ways. His Ekklesia, those called out, those who have forsaken their own agendas, whose cry remains “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done“.
*Extracts on ‘religion’ – True Religion
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