The Language and Mechanics of Church

The following discussion may not be earth shattering but I believe that it deserves some attention as the followers of Jesus’ teachings continue to engage the oppressive, lifeless institutions of cultural and societal enslavement.

Think for a moment and ask yourself, is Church a noun or a verb? Let us engage the aforementioned question with some associated questions. Does the word Church mean a cultural or societal construct created to ensure a lock step belief system assuring validation of those societal and culture norms that reflect the capitalist aristocracy? Or is the better question, when do we do Church, if at all? When Church is done is it complicit with the anti-Christ policies of the government to ensure the status quo, a Roman Empire based faith that engenders a capitalist system that advocates a systematic embedded enslavement?

I advocate for Church as a verb and not a noun. I believe there may be a fundamental disconnect in some areas where the action of Church is concerned. A lot of people ask ‘what church do you attend?” or “What denomination are you a member of?” I think the more appropriate question is “Where do you do Church?” People with a common belief or a common purpose and mission must understand Church as an action of fellowship. The Greek term Koinoia is the closest description to the true meaning of Church because it denotes fellowship or gathering verses a non-action word of a noun. Koinoia was Apostle Paul’s favorite word to describe a believer’s relationship with the risen Lord and the benefits of salvation, which come through him. On the basis of faith believers have fellowship with the Son (1 Cor 1:9). We share fellowship in the gospel (1 Cor 9:23; Phil 1:5). Paul probably meant that all believers participate together in the saving power of the good news. Believers also share together with the fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14), which the apostle understood as a most important bond for unity in the life of the Church (Phil 2:1-4).

Another word for Church is the Greek word ekklesia means a public assembly summoned by a herald (Acts 19:32, 39, 40); in the Septuagint however, it means the assembly or congregation of the Israelites, especially when gathered before the Lord for religious purposes. Thus the Church is the spiritual family of God, the Christian fellowship created by the Holy Spirit through the testimony to the mighty acts of God in Christ Jesus. Wherever the Holy Spirit unites worshipper’s souls of Christ and to each other there is the mystery of the Church. Church is fellowshipping with one another in a common bond or belief and therefore it’s what we do. So then the question of whether Church is a verb or a noun as professed by Webster’s dictionary is brought into question. If those that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ are disciples and Church is what they do then what?

I would dare say that they are the Body of Christ and Church is what they do. In first Corinthians 12:12-29 the Apostle Paul describes the followers of the teaching of Jesus Christ as the Body of Christ and in vs 28, 29 discusses how God has appointed different gifts in the Church. If the Church is a gathering, a fellowship as discussed previously, then the Body of Christ functions through the Church and uses the gifts of God to engage culture and society. Church is the action, the dance of a Body that is sometimes dysfunctional, yet even in its dysfunctionality it is still a Body. Church is one form in which the Body of Christ advocates for the justice, righteousness, wholeness, and healing of humanity. The Body of Christ is called and purposed to engage the oppressive tendencies of a species that struggles against itself every moment to ensure life. Church should not be considered a denominational concept of division but a Christ centered concept of spiritual, social and political engagement by the Body of Christ.

I invite all who read this blog to begin to change their concept of church exclusively as a noun and begin to think of Church as a verb, a term for action and engagement.

Rev Monica Joy Cross copyright June 2013