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EKKLESIA - Come or Go? Part 2

Ekklesia, as I stated in the last post, is the Greek word translated in English as 'church'.

Often, here in America, church is defined as a place we go (usually on Sunday mornings). At times it is even in buildings dedicated for that purpose with names on them like 'City Bible CHURCH' or 'Tri-Community CHURCH'. So when we read in Scripture about the Church at Cenchreae (Romans 16:1), it is natural to think of a building or meeting place in that city. At times one may refer to a person connected with a church group ... for example, "do you know Jane, who goes to the Cenchreae Church?" As a pastor, I was often asked, "how many people go to your church?"

Ekklesia is not used in this way. Since I used Romans 16 to illustrate above, let me quote it further here beginning in verse 3, (ESV) "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
(v4) who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. (v5) Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia."
(bold emphasis mine). If the term was to mean a building, you'd have difficulty fitting one in a home, don't you think?

Ekklesia is a combination of two Greek words; ek and kaleo. Ek means "out" and Kaleo means "call". Therefore, the definition of EKKLESIA is a called out people. The followers of Christ make up the church. To understand this further, see Acts 18:18-28 (ESV) (v18) "After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. (v19) And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. (v20) When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. (v21) But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. (v22) When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. (v23) After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (v24) Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. (v25) He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. (v26) He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (v27) And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, (v28) for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." These words show that the synagogue was a place to attend and the church is clearly people being spoken of.

Undeniably, the Bible teaches that Christ followers are to gather, fellowship and worship together. The "called out" have a specific calling, a mandate if you will. Jesus spoke to His disciples (which includes His followers today) to "go"; to "be witnesses"! (NOTE: Matthew 29:19-20 NLT (v19) "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (v20) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." and Acts 1:8 NLT "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.")

Some would want to make "church attendance" as primary. The Bible makes "a going and testifying (both verbal and living) church" as primary! Shouldn't we? In 2008, the Church of Jesus Christ is necessary ... but not as a record-keeping attendance rap sheet but as a living, verbal witness to the many yet-to-be Christ followers, who are waiting with anticipation to see Jesus alive and in action in their midst!

Allow me to illustrate how misunderstood "church" has become in America. A few years back, I had friends who were believers that were about to have visitors for the weekend. They asked for prayer, as these visitors didn't follow Jesus and they wanted to see them come to know Christ. When Sunday morning rolled around, the visitors were invited to attend church with my friends, but they declined. The reason, if I recall correctly, was that they were interested but felt uncomfortable around strangers. The tug of that record-keeping rap sheet was too strong for my friends to resist, so instead of using the opportunity to stay and use the open-door given to discuss Jesus with the visitors ... they left them behind and headed 'to church'.

Jesus engaged the masses and set aside the religious. His love for those without hope stirred His activity to offer that hope.

Likewise, ekklesia means that we are to be the church (that called out assembly with hope) not that we go to a place we've come to call 'church' to hear about stuff we 'as the church' should be doing. If we would read and re-read the first six chapters of Acts with an open heart, the exciting working of the Almighty, then would visit us today, too. You see, the ekklesia of Acts were attractive to the non-Christ followers. The thing the ekklesia possessed in Christ was something they wanted (and needed)! So in essence, the words of Jesus im Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 were a call to be the ekklesia. Go - BE THE CHURCH! You are His Called Out Assembly!

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