What is the Church? by Ps Tong 1/10/06

In its theological sense, the best word to use for Church or Ekklesia is ‘community’. We are a community of people, whether it alludes to the whole Christian community, or to a particular location, or to a group of Christian who meets together.

Christians are a community of people called out because we responded to the call of Jesus; as children of God we must endeavour to emulate Christ and do according to the will and purpose of God.

Therefore, it is the purpose of God which defines the church and not human organization. In Colossians 2:19 Christ is called “…….Head, from who the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grown.” Jesus is the Head and chief corner stone of the Church, and we are His body and the living stones.

The Church takes its identity from Christ Himself and we are an extension of Christ, just as Christ was the fullness of God’s nature to the world.

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Therefore, as Christian we must show love for another before it can be expressed outside to the world. Or else Jesus gives the right for the world to judge us that we do not behave like a Christian. Loving carries the expression of caring for one another, praying for one another, bearing the pains and burdens for one another, encouraging one another, serving one another and all other gestures of love. It also means praying and saving for the loss souls of this world, for they too are created in the image of God.

As Christians we need to unite our hearts, unite our minds and to unite our lives with God and our Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian is called to serve; there is no Christian Guru in the Church. We are all God’s workmen, waiting to be used by Him. All Glory belongs to the Lord.

Ps. Tong