As I was driving to church last week, I started getting “thoughts and ideas” about the Church and what it is. It ended up being an idea of “the church” being four levels or stages. Let’s consider these.
In the Bible, the word “church” has been used in many ways but is not understood to be referring to a building but a “body of believers”. The Greek word kuriakon, meaning “people that belong to the Lord”, is where our English word “church” is derived. And the apostle Paul speaks of the “Church” as being the, “body of believers”, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27). So, we are the Church.
The first level I thought of was one person, who is “the Church”, going into the church building and joining other people. My thought was, “What difference does that one person make by themselves in this environment?” If they’re the only one to be the Church in the church, what good is it? If they’re the only one doing their part in “the Church”, what difference will it make?
Level two is when this one person who is “the Church” joins with others who are “the Church” and they contribute their part in the assembly or the church, what can happen then? “When two or three are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20). And when God is in the middle of His people, “the Church”, miracles can happen among them. Inside the church building, when God’s people join together as “the Church”, needs of all kinds can be met.
So, what can happen if “the Church” then goes outside “the church” with the power of God flowing from them? Do they just leave the power of “the Church” in the church? Level three is when, “the Church”, does what Jesus commanded the disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). “The Church” goes outside “the church” and interacts with the people spreading the love and power of God to all.
The last level is when “the Church” joins with other “Churches” who have exited “their church” buildings and go into all the world together, in one accord, (Acts 2:1) with the Spirit of God spreading the Good News to the world as Peter and the 120 at Pentecost. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14).
We ARE the Church, individually and corporately!
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