Have you ever wondered about the blurred definition of “the church”, as it is referred to in the religious realm?  What is “the church”? Is it a physical location or structure?  Is it a place to go or leave?  How many times have you heard the following statements? “I am going to church”, or “I went to church”, or as someone drives by a building they say, “There is my church.”   Have you ever heard this, “We are building a new church”?  It seems harmless, but I believe the lines of what we call “the church” are becoming blurred. 

            Col. 1:18 says, “And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”  Christ here is referred to by the Apostle Paul as the “head of the body, the church”, and “the church” is referred to as the “body.”  If Christ is the head of the body, which is the church, then who makes up the body?  1 Cor. 12:12-14 says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  For in fact the body is not one member but many.”  In verse 27 of this same chapter Paul writes, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” When someone chooses to obey and follow the plan of salvation then that person becomes a member of the body of Christ which is the church. Acts 2:47 says, “… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  Those who were being saved weren’t added to a building or a physical location; they were added to the church which, as we said, is the body of Christ.

            We need to realize that those who are new converts to the church or those who haven’t yet obeyed may be confused when they hear “church” referred to as a building or location and then hear it referred to as a body of believers.  As in all things pertaining to the teaching of God’s word, the term “church” needs to be referred to by its proper meaning, especially by those who call themselves Christians.  It may seem like a small matter, but it’s the little things that get overlooked that can lead to bigger problems down the road.  Acts 20:28 says, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  Jesus purchased the church, not a building, with His precious blood and we should refer to the term “church” for exactly what it is.

                                                                                       Garrett Alsip