The Big Questions About ChristianityExemplo

What does it mean to belong to a Christian church?

I’ll start with what the Church is not, and this might surprise you. The Church isn’t a building. It’s actually the people. The Christian church existed long before there were church buildings.

The Church isn’t a specific denomination. If you look down the road, you might see a church building. There might be a sign at the front telling you it is an Anglican, Baptist, or Uniting Church. None of those denominations are the Church, but the people can all be a part of the Christian church.

The Church isn’t a religious institution. What I mean by this is that churches, as you see them these days are typically legal or incorporated entities or institutions with their hierarchy and organizational structures. Again, as useful as these things may be, they don’t define the Church either. The Christian church existed before the institutions, and it extends beyond them.

The Church isn’t a set of rules about what to do and not to do. Unfortunately, that often comes to many people’s minds when they think of “church,” based on cultural stereotypes or their own negative experiences, but it’s not the Church.

So, what is the Church? The Church is the gathering of people who are with Jesus, wherever they are, and however they gather. The Church is a family of people who recognize Jesus has saved them. They’ve accepted God as their father, and they’re family, all brothers and sisters.

Because of that, they’ve got each other’s backs. They can turn to each other in the tough times, knowing they won’t be judged, but instead, they’ll find acceptance and healing.

The Church is a people with a purpose. What they’ve discovered is so good they want to tell everyone and share it with others.

Well, that’s the ideal, isn’t it? Most of it is right, except for the bit I didn’t tell you. The Church is full of normal everyday people like you and me, and they can’t always live up to what Church is meant to be. So, what do you do with people like that? You love them.

With that in mind, let me say it like this. The Church is a community where you belong, worship God, and love others. If you go to church with that mindset, you’ll do just fine.

– Eliezer Gonzalez