“As alien and archaic as the idea may seem, the task of the church is not to make men and women happy; it is to make them holy.” Chuck Colson

How many of us at one time or another thought that going to church referred to just a building? Or what about the incomplete defining of a church as a “religious service” or denomination or religious organization that unites in a legal or administrative way? May we suggest a more accurate definition today accompanied by Biblical insight that may help us focus more carefully in what we mean when we say the word….”church”.

A church is a gathering of individuals, assembly, or congregation who share common beliefs and meet on a regular basis. From a Biblical standpoint, the church would specifically refer to all the Christians of the world; (meeting in various local places) who clearly picture Jesus Christ as the head of the entire body of believers ( Col 1:18; Eph 1:22-23), see Him as the foundation of their Spiritual building (1 Cor 3:11; 1 Pet 2:6-8), and the One who is the loving husband of His bride (Eph 5:25-32). In Hebrews 10:25, Christians are counseled to assemble together and to encourage one another, especially as we draw near to end times and Christ’s return.

Faithfully attending a Biblically-based church helps people mature spiritually and influences them to share their joy in the Lord with others in an outreaching or evangelistic way. Fellowship, praying and worshipping the same God, reading God’s Word from the Bible, praying for each other’s needs, and growing through experience and the counsel of more mature Christians sets the stage for action—the opportunity to fully benefit from going to “church” and generating the desire to share the gospel message or good news as part of a genuine lifestyle.

The most blessed consciousness is knowing, receiving, and living with God actually occupying our heart as an individual temple of His Holy Spirit (1Cor 6;19). Within that Biblical framework, wherever we go, (physical building aside) so goes the assembly of God or His Spiritual Church. There is no place where God can be prohibited; after all He created and owns everything. Therefore, even the White House, the beach, Kmart, Staples, or the library could qualify as a “church” when an activated saint of God arrived. In this truth, light shines on mans’ best attempt to implement the idea of separation of church and state as simply a figment of our imagination.

We pray these simple observations or insights help you today. May you attend a real Biblically-based work-in-progress-church; not a perfect place but one more like a Spiritual hospital, school, social agency, construction company, family, business network and cheering squad. In that reality, with Christ or God as its divine and Ultimate Pastor, the Healer, the Teacher, the Community Organizer, the Builder, the Father, the Greatest Entrepreneur and Encourager will not only greet you at the door, He’ll already be inside you when you get there!

1Peter 2:4-5; Eph 2:19-22;1Cor 14:26; Rom 12:4-5

** Credit to Christian Practices by David Batty, Teen Challenge International