Being the Church

I been asking myself the question, "What does it mean to walk out Being the Church"? I know the word Church means different things to different people.

To some, the word church refers to a building with stained glass windows and a steeple. To others it means a denomination. Then to still others it can mean something that you watch on television. The reality is though, none of those pictures actually touch the true significance or true meaning of the word Church.

I Will Build My Church

“ekklesia” (ek - out of + kaleo - to call = The ones who have been called out)

Over 100 times in the Second Testament the word Church is used and each time, it is the translation of the Greek word “ekklesia” (ek - out of + kaleo - to call = The ones who have been called out). This word, given by God through the Holy Spirit, describes God’s people under the New Covenant; its where we get the word “ecclesiology” which is the study of the church, the theology that is concerned with the nature, constitution (how we are governed), and functions of a church.

In other words, you and I as a part of the Body of Christ the “Church” should be operating in Jesus’ nature; we should be governed by His Word and we should practically function as Jesus functioned; that is what is means to be a part of His Body and Being the Church.

Here we see Jesus making a declaration to Peter and the rest of the disciples, “I will build My Church - the ones who have been called out; who operated by My nature, who are governed and function as I function and we will be a force that not even the gates of Hell will prevail against!”

“I will build my church” - First, who is the I? Jesus. What does He say that He will do? He will build. What is He going to build? His Church. So how do you build a church? First, you lay a foundation and Jesus chooses to lay His foundation on the apostles and the prophets, according to Ephesians 2:19-22. Jesus Himself is the Chief Cornerstone and the building He is building is you and I.

We “BE” the church! We are the temple of God - the new man, and all of us together make up His Body. When Jesus builds His Church - He is building you and I and empowering us by His Holy Spirit, so that we become His witnesses in all that we do. Then, as we come together as a community of believers “the ones who have been called out” we share our lives, encourage one another, admonish one another, and give praise and to worship the Builder.

We "BE" the Church!

With that same thought process, listen to these passages: Ephesians 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church (The ones who have been called out) and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church (The ones who have been called out) to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

Get Inspired

Jesus is building you and I, we have been called out to walk it out, being the church. Let's get to it!