2 posts tagged “church”
The word "church" has an interesting history. Miriam Webster traces the roots of the modern English word to the Middle English chirche, which ultimately comes into the English language from kyrios ("lord, master") in the Greek term for "house of the Lord."
But words are tricky things because the word which is translated with the English word "church" in the Greek New Testament is the word ekklesia, which means "those who are called out." The word ekklesia is much more like the word synagogue, which means "gathered together."
Whether the English word "church" is the best term to describe what the New Testament calls the Ekklesia is a moot point. But in an age of deconstruction of meaning, its worth reexamining what these terms suggest. True enough: etymology isn't everything. But it can illustrate where we need to change our thinking.
- For example, a building, or an event, strictly speaking, are not "church." It is the people at the building, not the building itself, which is "the church." It is the people at the event, and not the "event itself" which is comprises the church.Taken all together, I like what one colleague has said: "We are called to be the church, not go to church."
- I wonder: how many non-church people get that idea? How would they say Christians are doing at 'being the church'? How many Christians get this idea? How would they rate themselves?
A friend the other day challenged me that if I really was interested in making disciples, I'd get out of the church-business. (That's what a pastor does, you know: he's in the church business.) Why? My friend was convinced that he had never seen a disciple made in all his years in the church. So he's stopped going and does "church" differently. "The Church (big "C") ," said he, is "hopelessly lost."
I like my friend. Few people have the passion and sharpened focus he seems to have. But I'm not that discouraged. I thought of a poem and song by an artist I appreciate, who sends this message to the Church. As the poem develops, the message is on the lips of a faithful pastor:
Cheer up church
You're worse off than you think
Cheer up church
You're standing at the brink
Don't despair, do not fear, grace is near.
I guess in a way my friend is right. There is no hope for the Church. None but Jesus.
After all, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Did He take a pristine virginal people, or a wandering whore to be His Bride? The healthy do not need a physician; the holy do not need a priest. The Church is His Body; He gave Himself up for Her. So will I.
