What the Church is Not and What the Church Is

The church is not a building; the church is not a specific day and time of the week, nor a 501 (c) (3) or not-for-profit organization, nor an order of service, nor a style of music, nor anything else that looks like the church today. 

Church is a family, a Christ-centered family. Church is real, strengthened by strong relationships. The more we look like a family and the further away we move from an institution or club, the more New Testament-like we will be. 

To develop this topic, we will look at two portions of Scripture. Out of those two portions of Scripture, we will look at the four devotions of the church and the four dynamics of church participation.

The Four Devotions of the Church

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (NIV) Acts 2:42

1. The Apostle’s orthodoxy: The church’s teachings come from the Bible. Our focus is the Apostle’s orthodoxy, not denominational opinions. Remember that the original apostles were not perfect, but their doctrine was.
2. Fellowship with one another: As a family, we are called to come together; we should be excited about spending time with one another just as regular families do. In our case, Christ is at the center. We can come together and ride our bicycles, play golf, hike, etc., but we are gathering in Jesus’ name.
3. Eating together: Eating together is very important; there is something special about it. 
4. Praying together: This is a crucial component as we come together. 

These four devotions must be accompanied by the four dynamics of our participation together. Participation, not spectators or one-person shows, is the key to our gatherings. The Apostle Paul gives us a great insight into the gatherings of the first century.

“…When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” I Corinthians 14:26 (NIV) 

The Four Dynamics of Church Participation

1. Hymns: The Greek word psalmós means “To sing, chant. Originally a touching, and then a touching of the harp or other stringed instruments with the finger or the plectrum; later known as the instrument itself, it became known as the song sung with musical accompaniment.^[1] Our gatherings involved singing and the playing of music. The word Hymns here is where we get the word Psalms. The book of Psalms must guide us as we sing to the Lord. I must also add that folks who sing and play instruments must be gifted and anointed by God to do so.
2. Word of Instruction: The word instruction is the Greek word didasko, meaning “to give instruction,”^[2] It is essential to understand that Bible studies are not just to give out information; they are actual instructions for living the Godly life we are called to live. We must approach our Bible Studies that way; we must ask ourselves, what is it that God wants us to do and not to do and then walk in it?
3. Revelation: The prophetic word, the now word. The Greek word apokálupsis means “Uncovering, unveiling, disclosure.”^[3] This is when the word is open to us profoundly. This is a word that reveals or unveils.  As we look at the gifts of the spirit, we can see that we also add the gifts of Wisdom (What God has to say about a particular situation or dilemma) and the Words of Knowledge (God revealing something so profound to you that you know only He could have revealed that to the person exercising that gift.

4. A Tongue or Interpretation of Tongues: This is more of the gifts of the Spirit manifesting. 

Our gatherings are filled with dynamic participation controlled by the Holy Ghost as He uses us to edify one another. Beloved, I have shown you what the church is and is not in this short article. This topic is that simple; it is not complicated. The church does not have names, bank accounts, legal status, etc. The church is simply a family… and not just any family, but a Godly one… with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost at the center. 

If you have any questions regarding this topic, please write us. God bless you, 

Angel Casiano is a pastor, counselor, and life coach.

Master of Arts in Pastoral Clinical Counseling (MAPCC)

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^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 619.

^[3] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).