Beautiful Words Blog | Exactly Where Are We By Pastor John Moropoulos | Gateway Christian Fellowship

Text: Colossians 1.24, Galatians 6.10

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of

His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to

those who are of the household of the faith.

A couple of weeks ago we had our church's annual meeting. I love church meetings, whether we call them annual meeting, annual business meetings, or anything else. I love them because so much of who we are is made open to those in attendance. It goes without saying that I think church members should attend.

The church meeting reveals so much of just who we are. A more fundamental question

however would be “what” are we? I think a good many Christians don’t know just “what” the church is. This is reasonable, as the church has no real parallel in the world. There are similar things, but no real parallel.

The New Testament uses at least three different words to describe what the church is. Taken together they give us a good understanding of just what the church is.

In Colossians 1.24 the apostle Paul refers to the church as Christ’s body. So we are the body of Christ. The word used here is soma. In antiquity, the soma of something was understood to refer to the whole of an organism. Distinct from its parts and from the psyche (mind or soul) the soma was described as the part that casts a shadow. In other words, the soma was the part that gave evidence of one’s presence. This gives us insight. The church, whatever else may be said of it, gives evidence of both the reality and the presence of the Savior. It is made clear to the world that Jesus both exists and is present in the world because the church is present in the world.

In this same verse of Paul’s letter, the church is also described as the ekklesia. This is the word most often translated as “church” in the New Testament. This word is made up of two words, which together literally mean “called out.” It’s a direct reference to the practice in ancient Athens of calling out the city’s citizens to gather as the “body politic.” Athens was, in its times of democratic governance, a pure democracy; every citizen was called upon to participate in the decision-making process. There is much to be said here.

First, when called out the ekklesia spoke for Athens. It represented Athens. In many ways it was Athens. The ekklesia was, in session, indistinguishable from Athens. The ekklesia was more Athens than the streets, buildings, houses, even the stones themselves were.

Second, the ekklesia was “called out.” This was a two-part reality. All too often the church has only recognized one part, but it is two. The church is called out from the world. The church is called to be different from the world, distinct at many levels. But that is also true of the hermit who escapes from the world and lives alone in the wilderness. The church is so much more than a hermit, or even a group of hermits. The church is not only called out from, it is called out to. The church is called to represent Christ, to manifest the person of Christ in the world. The church is called out to be His family.

This brings us to our third word. In Galatians 6.10 the church is called the household of faith. The word here, oikios, refers to the people who live together in a family. The word is taken from oikos, which is house, but it refers not to the structure but to the bond shared between those who dwell under its roof, who live in relationship.

So this, take collectively, is what we are. We are His family, those who live in relationship with Him and with one another. Our living is this manner gives evidence of His character and being. Our distinction in character from the world, even as we live in the world shows the world the distinct nature of the Savior.

Two things remain to be said. First, the recognition of our inadequacy to this task. We are, as fallen creatures, simply not equal to this task. This must then be placed beside the reality that He dwells in us, His church, by His Spirit. This alone makes us equal to the task. Secondly, we are the body of Christ. We are the church. We are the household of faith. There is no other. It is a sobering thought, but nonetheless true. We, the collected communities of faith around the world are the church of our Lord and Savior. The world has been given no other.

May we, by the grace and mercy of our God, and by the presence and power of His Spirit, be found adequate to the task.