Let The Church Be The Church

By Frank Stigall

The Church -- What Is It?

What is the Church? Ask this question of almost anyone and they will tell you it is a building on a corner where people congregate. It is mind boggling to think that the uniqueness attributed to God's people has been given to a lifeless building that decays every day (Hebrews 8:13). There seems to be a multitude of thought on this subject. Almost everyone who goes to a building called a church feels that the building is the Church. But as I read the Scriptures, I can find only one Church. So, I must ask, "Which one of these buildings is the real church? All these buildings can't be the Church, so which one do I choose?"

It gets even more complicated. We have a Methodist church in our town that went into a building program and built a new church. They sold the old one to the Eagles. They in turn installed a bar somewhere in the area where the altar was located. Now when the Eagles have a meeting, they drink booze where the altar was in the church. If that, in fact, was the church, then we must ask, "Why is it not the church now? When does a church cease to be a church and, can it become something else?"

Then we have another group in our town called The Foursquare. They moved out of their church and into a vacated Safeway store. Now, on Sunday, are they all backslidden because they don't attend the church anymore but instead congregate in an old Safeway grocery store? Many religionists, motivated by law, make statements like, "they don't even go to church." They consider you backslid and hell-bound. Now I must question this statement. Are these people backslid because they attend an old Safeway store?

Isn't it strange that a grocery store, a union hall, a civic center, a lodge hall, or a theater can be a church, but they tell me that my home, where we have worship and teaching, cannot be the church? We have meetings that have lasted four hours with singing, worship, testimonies, prayer, and even an offering. It makes me wonder what the religionists think they are doing to deserve the prestigious title of church, and, yet, we do not. What do they do that we don't? Oh yes, now I remember. They practice law.

Church Error -- Commingling

This skill of commingling requires mastering double-talk. Double-talk is incoherent babbling that says nothing, but it contains some religious words which fool the mind into thinking something was said. This requires a double-minded person who does not know law from grace. James says, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." You see how complicated this gets. This kind of teaching is enough to make you have a nervous breakdown. At the least, it can lead to mental disorders and multiple personalities.

Let me tell you what is really going on in religion: commingling of Old and New Testament theology. The Temple in old times was the place where God dwelt; it was always the central part of life in those days, much like a town square around which life revolved. This Old Testament idea, that God dwells in buildings, has erroneously been brought into the New Testament church as New Testament doctrine.

I believe Jesus knew this was going to happen. The primary reason God allowed the temple, that Herod built for the Jews, to be destroyed by Titus was to put an end to the idea that God dwells only in buildings. We must stop and ask ourselves, "Where does God dwell now?"

Anybody who knows anything about Old Testament history knows that most of these things regarding tabernacles and temples were only shadows of things to come. The reality is Christ now dwells in temples not made with hands. This is the Church: "Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands... " (Acts 7:48).

You see, most ministries today that preach they are the church must develop a vocabulary to fit their doctrine, and they do, along with a forked tongue. It is like speaking out of both sides of the mouth; it's called commingling the gospel. Out of one side it comes out like a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal saying, "You must be here, folks, in this house of God, in order to meet God." What have they said? They said, "You must come here because this is God's house and God dwells here." If that is where God is then maybe I should move in, because I want to live in His presence. When I go to church and give three or four hours a week to it, does this mean the rest of the week I am in jeopardy without His presence? Does not being there mean I do not have His presence until I return? Believe me, they want you there for many other reasons than just to meet God!

Then every once in awhile they tell you the truth; you have Christ in you who alone is your hope of glory, and that you are the temple of God wherever you are. This is a direct contradiction to their requiring you to come to their building to meet with God. Because the emphasis is put on the building, many are not able to hear and receive the truth of Christ being your life.

Buildings Are Places Where The Church Meets

Now, I know the clergy is not ignorant of the facts. They know the buildings they are using are only third dimensional, temporal and earthly. But in their messages, they tell us the buildings are the house of God. The building is a place where the Church not made with hands meets. The building is not the Church, regardless of the cost or how beautiful it is. Remove the people and the church is nothing but an empty building.

The Father does not stand and wait at the door to check you in on Sunday. The building is not for His dwelling place; that is Old Testament theology. The building is solely for your comfort. He dwells only in the house He has made (Hebrews 3:4). More than likely this truth will not be taught at all, for religion is not going to share this knowledge with you, because you just might be set free from its bondage.

Just don't show up at your selected building for awhile and see what happens. You suddenly become a second-class Christian, and many members of these buildings will consider you backslid and hell-bound. You see all religious programs require three fundamental things: people, money, and obligation.

It appears there is not much consistency when the clergy talks about the church. One time the church is you, the next time the church is the building. The rules keep changing to meet the need; one day the building is the church, the next day it is sold for a restaurant or a lodge hall. Only the Church (believers), built without hands, never changes.

You may think what follows is stretching the truth a little, but it really isn't. The reason is, it has become common to think of church-buildings as a holy environment. I have heard many say things like, "We have the Spirit here in our church, " or "This is God's house. " The truth is, buildings do not have spirit, and God does not dwell in houses made with hands. Some may never have stopped to think about it, but the heathen who worship idols give the same credence to their idols that we give to our church-buildings.

While we don't outright worship the building, we do make it a holy place to come and meet God. I think it is time to realize the Father does not come down to us because we go to a church-building, neither does He walk the aisles nor do we have to reach out to touch Him. Why? Because He dwells in all who are born again. You are never separated from Him.

Then why do we go to a church building? It is for fellowship, and to hear a message of hope and freedom. The fellowship, if genuine, can give you a warm glow and a feeling of being loved. But on the other hand, as many of you know, it can become the biggest hell you were ever in. As for the message of hope, you are lucky to get one. Most preaching is wrapped up in the cloak of law, and with this comes condemnation.

Wake Up, Church!

Wake up, and let the Church be the Church. You see this word "church" does not mean the same thing in the Bible that it has come to mean in our modern English language. In the Greek text, the word for church is ekklesia and it means "a called out people." It is also interesting to note that the ek in the Greek text means origin which indicates a birthing and a genealogy. Buildings do not qualify.

So there you have it! The Church is not a place on the corner, it is not an organization, it is not a building made with hands, even though this is what you have been led to believe. The Church can only be birthed, so it is made up of all who have been born again. They are the called-out ones who have a God-origin; they have the Seed from the Father implanted within them which is His divine nature. No building can ever be that Church regardless of the cost. The ekklesia is never a building.

One day this message of Christ in believers may end up in a building, because we have outgrown our homes. When this happens, that building will not be the Church; the Church will go to the building. Remember you are the Church. Jesus said, " ..upon this rock [speaking of Himself] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Where Is The Showcase Church?

If the building is the church then it should be the showcase for all Christianity, bearing the fruit of the Spirit and running over with kindness. However, the opposite is true. My friend, you can get beat up in a church building and severely wounded mentally and sometimes physically. I heard of a group of elders who had a knock-down-drag-out argument in a board meeting and one of the members was actually shot by another member. There was another group that had to have a sheriff present at their board meetings to prevent violence. This, folks, is not going to church; it is more like going into a war zone.

You may say that is the exception, but I say it is the rule. I have had personal experiences with religious boards and I know things can turn nasty quickly. A lady at camp meeting this fall told her story of how she was kicked out of her church, even though her name was on the corner-stone. In subsequent meetings, the board debated on how they could remove her name from the corner-stone without damaging the building. I guess they were not successful as her name is still on the corner-stone. What was her crime you ask? Her crime was that she had an encounter with Christ that changed her life. Religion cannot handle anyone who receives a deeper understanding. Freedom from bondage and joy in the Holy Spirit are not permitted in religion. She was guilty of wanting to share the joy.

We can tell from history that the religious church has left a trail of blood. You don't have to take my word for it, just turn to Hebrews, chapter eleven, or read the account of the crucifixion of Jesus. It was the religious church that betrayed him. Read about Stephen. If that is not enough, then read Fox's Book of Martyrs, a book full of how Christians were persecuted by the religious church.

The awful truth is that very often the religious church organization is not a true representation of Christ and it is not a showcase of the spirit of Christianity. Too often buildings are built to exalt the leaders and to lift up personalities. They continue to use large amounts of money to build bigger buildings while an unsaved world slides into hell.

The Church In The Wilderness

The first reference to a church in the Bible had to do with a body of people in the wilderness, although it did not have the same meaning attached to it as it does now. In fact, the word "church" does not appear in the Old Testament. However, it does appear in Acts 7:38, where Luke speaks of the "church in the wilderness." He was referring to the Israelites who were waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. We should note at this point in time Israel had no Tabernacle and no house of God of any kind. There were three to four million people wandering out in the wilderness desert. Luke referred to the people only as "the church in the wilderness." It is very plain that this great number of people in the desert could not all enter into that little tent to worship. It must be equally true then, they didn't go to church.

Why did I pick on this portion to write about? It is because here at Sinai the first Pentecost was celebrated. Pentecost means fifty. Specifically it means fifty days from Passover. Pentecost is a fifty-day time period from the historical Passover in Egypt to Sinai. This is when God gave His Law to Moses. His presence to them was as a cloud by day and a fire by night to all Israel. It also was a time when the plan was given for the Tabernacle in the wilderness with all its assorted furnishings.

Many today look at that Tabernacle, and make a lot out of it, but if you were a Levite and had to work there, you might have wished you were of another tribe. The work was very hard. The slaughtering and burning of animals on the altar was back-breaking work. Only a select few were ever allowed to enter into the Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies.

Now I would like to point out that the Tabernacle was not called the Church. People were and still are the Church. Even so, God came down in a funnel-shaped cloud to the Holy of Holies to meet with the properly sanctified priests, who would only enter at great peril. If they were not ceremonially clean, their lives were in jeopardy. Now we must ask ourselves, if the people are the Church, then what was the Tabernacle for?

The truth is the Tabernacle of Moses was an object lesson for the children of Israel. It was full of meaning concerning heavenly things and the plan of redemption. However, it is highly unlikely that many understood it. They did, however, seem to understand that salvation required the shedding of innocent blood: "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Hebrews 9:24) "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). "For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11).

The Church In The Times Of Jesus

At this point, we must come to some logical conclusion of what the Bible means in the usage of the word "church." The English word "church" is derived from the late Greek word kyriakon: the Lord's house, a church-building. In the New Testament, the word "church" translates to the Greek word ekklesia. In secular Greek, ekklesia denotes a public assembly.

There are several words used in the Old and New Testaments that are translated church. In some cases, the translators use the word "church" to denote an assembly of God, or a synagogue. Even in the New Testament, ekklesia may signify the assembly of the Israelites (Acts 7:38; Hebrews 2:12); but apart from these exceptions, the word ekklesia in the New Testament denotes the Christian Church (the people).

Call it what you will, but know this, the meaning of the word "church" changed when the apostle Paul came along, as will be explained later. In reality, the word "church" appears three times in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus spoke these words Himself, and the word does not appear in any other gospel. The church as we know it now did not exist. For example, Jesus said to Peter, "..upon this rock I will build my church.." (Matthew 16:18). In other words. "It is something I have yet to do which I have not accomplished to this time." It is a logical conclusion when you stop to think: Jesus is the chief corner-stone and He must face Calvary before the stone is laid, or the building cannot come into existence. "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building" (Hebrews 9:11).

When it comes down to the definition of the word "church," the only possible interpretation that can be applied is in conjunction with what is going on in the spiritual realm. We will see as we read on, there is a far greater emphasis on the fact that the Church is a body of people and not a building.

The Church At Pentecost

Happy birthday! This day the body of Christ, the Church, the ekklesia of God born. Here we see the reality of what was celebrated at Mount Sinai. Fifty days after the Passover, just as it happened to the historical Israelites, the Father established -- His true Church. It was not the giving of law, but the fulfillment of the law by His placing the law keeper (Jesus) in His children.

These people are called the ekklesia (called-out ones), the living Tabernacle of God. Often the King James Bible translates the word ekklesia to mean some earthly structure, but the apostle Paul, over and over, refers to the born-again people as being "the body of Christ," which is a more exact interpretation.

Now we come down to some nitty gritty facts concerning the gospel that was preached at Pentecost. While this gospel seemed to be successful, as many wonderful things happened when Peter preached, it was without the new revelation of the body, but was rather an explanation of some prophesies pertaining to Jesus and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the people. This message, of course, was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. He was the real player here, not Peter. The crux of the message Peter delivered was the same as it had always been: Israel was to repent.

While this is a valid message, they seemed to miss one thing, the coming of the Holy Spirit as Teacher (John 14:20). It was then much like today, people are caught up in the thrill of the moment and try to repeat experiences of Pentecost over and over again. This is evident because later we see Peter mixing law and grace. He did not have a good grasp on the true gospel. But in spite of all this, the true Church was on its way, complete with born-again believers and the promised Teacher sent from the Father.

Paul And The New Meaning Of The Word "Church"

It is not something we like to think about, but the Church was without the message of the revelation of the mystery for about thirteen years after Pentecost. It was not until Paul came along that the true message was revealed to the Church (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3; Colossians 1:26). Now we come to a change in the meaning of the word "church." It is no longer just a group of people but a single body. Let us look at some New Testament terms for the Church.

If one is to be true to the New Testament testimony, it must be acknowledged that there is a multiplicity of images and concepts that contribute to an understanding of the nature of the Church. Some of the images are as follows: 1) the people of God, 2) the new creation, 3) the fellowship in faith, 4) the body of Christ, 5) the salt of the earth, 6) branches of the vine, 7) the elect lady, 8) the bride of Christ, 9) ambassadors, 10) a chosen race, 11) the holy temple, 12) priesthood, 13) sons of God, 14) household of God, 15) members of Christ, 16) spiritual body. You will notice, not one time does any of these refer to a physical building or a denomination. The New Testament uses nearly a hundred different images that relate to the Church. The predominant image is the body of Christ, which is especially rich in what it communicates about the nature of the Church.

The Gospel of John speaks of the one shepherd and the one flock (John 10:16), and Jesus prays that his followers may be one, even as the Father and Son are one (John 17:20-26). In Galatians 3:27-28, Paul declares that in Christ all are one, with no distinction of race, social status, or sex. Acts 2:42 and 4:32 give an eloquent testimony to the oneness of the Church. Perhaps the most stirring passage on this point is Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." It is significant that Paul speaks of the Church as the body of Christ but never as a body of Christians or body of believers.

Church Unity

Union is the message to this new body of Christ; however, it does not demand uniformity. The New Testament church had neither uniformity of worship nor uniformity of theology. Union is God's will. Christians form a union (oneness) with Christ and with one another. Christ is acknowledged as the one head who stands over the Church (His body) and gives life to it. Union is not possible when we think of our church or denomination being the vine. Jesus is the vine and all believers are branches.

I think we need an awareness of what holy means in the Bible. To be holy is to be separated from the Satan nature and receive the Divine nature of God. It does not mean that Christians are free from sinning nor that they are perfect in mind or body. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us " (I John 1:8). The apostle Paul said of himself: "Not as though I have already obtained this or am already perfect..." (Philippians 3:12a), and he calls the Corinthian Christians sanctified and saints. Were they without sin? I don't think so. Christians are holy in that they are the called out ekklesia, and set apart by the Father and they have His divine nature.

God called the people of Israel to be "a light to the nations" (Isaiah. 42:5-8). So in the fullness of time, God Himself entered fully into human history in the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Simeon at the temple called, "A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32 RSV).

Jesus then called twelve disciples, symbolic of the new Israel of the end time. I think we need to see that these twelve disciples were called out by Jesus and were given a ministry to establish His earthly kingdom. I think this might explain why they, for awhile after Pentecost, continued preaching the Law.

The Father fully intended to establish His kingdom on the earth with Jesus as King. He desired for His creation to have fellowship with Him, but when that fellowship was broken, God called a remnant from the Gentiles.

One reason the ministry of the apostles had to change was to meet the challenge of the birthing message (Christ placed in believers). All these apostles were just like us. They had to be retrained in the grace of God. We don't know if they all made that transition, as some are not heard from again, but we do know a few of them did.

The Visible Church

The visible church and the invisible Church have been lumped together, but, the facts are, they are very different. What you see is not the real spiritual Church. No one can build this Church, as this is the one that Jesus spoke to Peter about and said, "I will build my church."

The invisible Church consists of all those throughout the world who profess true salvation. It is called invisible because its members are known only by God, and they have a new name written down in glory. They are the structure that contains the Divine nature which, for the most part, is invisible to the world. The visible church is a building, a non-spiritual structure. It is not spirit-filled or born-again, and it surely won't be resurrected. When the resurrection takes place, all church buildings and organizations will be left behind. Not one of them will pass through the air to meet Christ.

In the Old Testament, and in the times of Jesus of Nazareth, the building was a very important structure. All spiritual life revolved around it. This is where we make our mistake today. We put no separation between law and grace, or between the visible and invisible church. I am not against having a building to worship in; however, I am against the idea that if you don't attend one, then you are backslid.

If Christ came to the visible church, how many secret evils would He discover? So many things are practiced every day under the cloak of religion. He most likely would find it to be more compatible to a den of thieves than to a house of God!

The longer a domination or a non-domination goes on, the more political it becomes, as well as richer and greatly increased in goods. It is at this point that Jesus calls it wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. It is plain to see from a collection of scriptures that the visible church can have the appearance of the real thing. Take the fig tree, for example, which had leaves but no fruit. Without fruit the tree was worthless and cursed. The vine of the visible church is empty. They blow bubbles of hot air about earthly programs and prosperity but are fruitless in the things of God. This professing, visible church may be cut off as unfruitful. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, holy unto Himself. He will preserve His true Church, and the holy Seed will shoot forth with numerous branches of righteousness.

Sometimes in the visible church the wheat is lost in the chaff, and the gold lost in the dross; that is not a problem to the Father. A sifting will take place, and a refining will come, separating the chaff and the dross. It looks like this is happening even now with many preachers who are falling and the vast numbers of church buildings that are closing throughout the world.

The Invisible Church

Now let us consider the difference between the visible and the invisible. The invisible Church is the one being built by Christ. It has the seal of the Spirit and is made up of all born-again believers. These distinctions represent the difference between the visible, nominal church, and the true spiritual Church, which alone has access to God, and communion with the Father; it is called the church of the first born. This Church requires a birthing to be in it.

The invisible Church is completely free from any measure of the anti-Christian spirit which prevails in every religious society. Christ has made possible, in His visible manifestation as Jesus of Nazareth, the discovery of the invisible God. He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. " And Paul writes of Jesus Christ, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature " (Colossians 1:15). See also Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:20; I Timothy 1 :17.

The promise of this salvation was made to Abraham (a Gentile) who accepted it by faith. The promise was to his seed (Christ) and to those afar off, and to as many as the Lord should call (Acts 2:38-39). This invisible Church is called holy and saints of the most high. These titles designate the members of the Christian Church. The invisible Church consists of all the elect who have been, are, or shall be gathered into One under Christ, who is the head. This is a pure society, the Church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ, it is called invisible and it is in the fourth dimension.

Christ Is The Church's Foundation

Any building that has a foundation in this world is of this world. Your foundation is in Christ. Hebrews 13:14 says," For here have we no continuing city...." Nothing in this third dimensional world is eternal.

I have been accused of being picky on this subject of the Church, and maybe I am, but I do want to de-emphasize a worldly structure as being the habitat of God. Sometimes I still call the building a church, but I mean it only in the generic use of the word. It is not the real thing; it is a substitute structure without life. It could be considered blasphemy to transfer what Christ has done in us to a building. Let the church be the church!

Copyright � 1994 Warren Litzman. The Bible text in
this publication, except where otherwise
indicated, is from the King James Version. This
article appears on the site: http://www.posword.org/

This Article Is From Positive Word Ministries