What Is This About The Church?

Chances are tomorrow someone might ask how your weekend was and you might respond as you see fit and in describing what you did, say that you "went to church" yesterday. The question that we need to be able to answer for ourselves and others, however, is, what is the church and what's it about?

The church is described as Christ's creation in Matthew 16 when the Savior said, "I will build My church" (Matthew 16:18). In Paul's letter to the Ephesian Christians he stated that there was only one body which means there is only one church (Ephesians 4:3-6). When we say we have "gone to church," we recognize that we have engaged in the worship of God and His Son who built and established His one church.

The church is also described as an institution which requires its members to be involved. Christians (church members) assemble together on the first day of the week to remember Jesus and His sacrifice because that's what New Testament Christians did (Acts 20:7). The Bible also cautions us to not abandon each other on these occasions but instead to take advantage of the times that we have to assemble together (Hebrews 10:24-25). It's impossible to give together, pray together, sing together, commune together, and study together unless we are actually gathered together. The church's scheduled assemblies should be a priority, therefore, as we think about our weekly schedules and obligations.

The importance of the church is yet another reason that we need to know about it and talk about it to our friends and coworkers. The church is important most of all because it was built by Jesus (see Matthew 16:18 again). When we come together to worship as the "church of Christ" we are worshipping the Son as members of His church, not a man-made organization.

Our purpose in coming together is not to make each other feel better (though that happens) nor is our purpose to focus on the physical needs of each other (though that happens too). The Bible tells us that Jesus' church is focused on spiritual things which outweigh the physical things in life (Romans 14:17). Paul wrote that the church is the "pillar and ground" of truth. Consequently, our "going to church" is more than just an activity, it's an essential, valuable, and rewarding part of spreading the truth of God's salvation.

Perhaps you are reading this and aren't a member of Christ's church. Perhaps you're a member of some denomination or organization but you question some of its teachings or activities. As members of the Lord's church, we try hard to only seek and do God's will. We invite you to join us. And as we begin a new week, let us all rededicate ourselves to talking to others about our weekend and tell them that "we went to church" and why it was so important!