One question I reflect on often is, “What is the church?” It probably doesn’t come as a big surprise that I spend a lot of time in church. I don’t necessarily mean the building—although I do spend a lot of time at the physical location of 933 Thayer in Richland, WA. I often joke that my office is my home away from home. Some weeks have more time here than others, but I’m sure most people feel this way about where they spend the bulk of their time.
However, when I say I spend a lot of time at church, I’m referring to the people who choose to gather at the corner of Swift and Thayer in Richland, gathering around Christ. In our post-modern society, which often seeks to deconstruct words and institutions, many assert that the church can be anywhere and is not restricted to a building. On one hand, I wholeheartedly agree—who am I to limit God’s people to a physical location? On the other hand, I believe there is more to it than that, and I will explain why.
Both New Testament terms for the church—Ekklesia and Synagogue—refer to the act of gathering together: an assembly of people with a purpose. Certainly, there is language for the universal church. Christ died for this body; it is his bride. The church spans time and space, connecting continents and millennia. “Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” (Ephesians 5:23).
There is also something far more intimate about the church. Paul speaks to this when he addresses the church in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:2-3 “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The church is not only global and universal but also rooted in specific local communities. We are united in Christ and yet intimately connected to one another. In his letter, Paul goes on to say that even in these smaller groupings, there can be disconnection—truly sobering words when you consider them.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19 “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.”
The word translated “genuine” (δόκιμος dókimos) means approved or legitimate. There are some who show up at the building on 933 Thayer but are not truly part of the church because they are divided, caring only for themselves and not for the body. This leads to the question, “How can one be acceptable?” Paul provides the answer in Romans:
Romans 14:18-19 “Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
If your goal on Sunday morning is simply to leave as soon as possible, or you don’t care about the people around you, you may fall into the category of an illegitimate member. But if you are interested in serving, pursuing peace, and building others up, you are living as an acceptable member of Christ’s body. Remember, this is not about meeting some external obligation, but about a genuine desire to serve Christ from the heart. Don’t serve out of guilt, but because you truly love the body of Christ. If you struggle with this, ask God to change your heart. There is always hope for transformation—after all, home is where the heart is.