Church

Almost every Christian is familiar with the fact that the Greek word for 'church' is ekklesia, 'call out,' from which we get the English adjective 'ecclesiastical.' But what about the word 'church' itself? In fact, the present English word, 'church' is devolved from Old English 'cirice' or 'circe,' which is derived from the Greek adjective kyriakon which means 'the Lord's.' This derivation is also apparent in the Scottish and German words for church, 'Kirk' and 'Kirche' respectively. Kyriakon itself appears only twice in the NT: 1 Cor 11:20, where it refers to the Lord's supper, and Rev 1:10, referring to the Lord's day). There is, therefore, no situations in the NT where the word would have been conceived of and translated as 'church.' This bit of historical sleuthing, however, provides a startling perspective of the nature of the church; whatever else we understand by it nature and mission, it belongs to the Lord, and however poorly we think the church may be 'doing' it is precious in His sight.

The term 'church' is mainly in three different senses today.

1. Most popularly, a 'church' is understood as a building where Christians gather to worship.

2. Also understood popularly, a 'church' (usually with a capital C) refers to a denomination, such as in the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, etc.

3. Understood theologically, the 'church' is the gathered body of Christian believers gathered together to worship, to witness, and to serve the Lord in the redemptive business of the Kingdom of God. This can refer, narrowly, to a local gathering of fellow believers, whence it is called 'the local church.' It can also refer broadly and collectively to all these 'local churches' all over the world, an idea to which is given the label 'the visible church.' Broader still is the idea of the visible church standing in continuity with all the Christian witnesses and believers of the past and future under the lordship of Christ; this is referred to as the 'invisible church,' sometimes the 'catholic church,' even the 'universal church.'

The concept of the church, its nature and its mission, is a major category of Christian understanding. A fuller article on this subject is in preparation.