What Kind of Church Is This?

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

– Matthew 16:18

What comes to mind when you hear the word church ?

Ask 10 different people, and you’ll likely get 10 different answers. But a common denominator for most is that church is a sacred place for feeling closer with God. Some feel closer to their Creator in a traditional worship setting — one typically characterized by stained glass windows, choirs, sanctuaries and sacred organ music. Other Christ-followers have a different perspective. They feel comfortable with meeting in diverse locations ranging from storefronts to movie theaters. And still others contend that the formalities of a traditional church can actually hinder authentic worship.

We may envision church as a cathedral, a coffee house or something in between, but the Bible defines it quite differently. Rather than being a structure filled with pews and crowned by a soaring steeple, the church is actually people: all those who count Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. No matter who you are and where you live — if you’re a Christ-follower — you’re part of his church called the Body of Christ.

Opinions vary. But regardless of where we gather on Sundays (or some other day of the week), we should all agree that it’s no replacement for the sacred presence of God with us. Jesus — who is God in the flesh — paid for his church with something much more valuable than money or gold. He came to earth to personally live out the human experience, and then buy our spiritual freedom and eternal future at the price of his own blood. One result is that Believers are now one body —the Church — joined through a common faith. 

Yes, an awe-inspiring church sanctuary can be a holy place of prayer and celebration. But for that matter, so can the workplace, gym or supermarket. Let’s just remember that wherever we are each day, our sacred place of worship should be there as well.