Question 6

There exists as much confusion concerning the nature of the church as there does on any Bible subject.
One need only consult a modern dictionary to see a fair representation of the way most people understand
the term "church." A church is a building for public Christian worship; the clergy of a religious body; an
organization of religious believers as the whole body of Christians, a denomination, or a congregation; it is
a public worship service. The modern perception of the/a church is a marked digression from the biblical
and true concept.

The word "church" in our English bibles comes from the Greek compound word ekklesia, meaning, literally,
"called out." It was used in New Testament times to denote a special assembly of citizens called together
for judicial purposes. While "called out" is the most literal translation of ekklesia, the terms "assembly" and
"congregation" also suit the Greek concept well. God specially selected this word to denote his special
people, the body of Christ. The body of Christ is "the church," his special called-out assembly (Eph.
1:22-23; 1 Pet. 2:9-10; Heb. 12:23). In the New Testament, the church is synonymous with those who are
saved (Acts 2:47; cf. Eph. 5:23).

So, "church" is simply a designation of God's people--those who are saved and who comprise Christ's
body. In keeping with the "assembly/congregation" aspect of the word ekklesia, "church" may have
reference to all who make up the body of Christ everywhere, or to a local congregation or gathering of
God's people (cf. Gal. 1:2; 1 Cor. 11:18). You will not find, however, ekklesia ever having reference to a
physical building for worship, the "clergy" of a religious body, or a denomination. [The KJV does use
"churches" to refer to physical temples in Acts 19:37, but it is translated from a different Greek word.]

Read through your New Testament on your own and ask yourself if the modern expression of
denominational Christianity is supported. You will find that there is but one universal body/church of Christ
(Eph. 4:4; Matt. 16:18), and that it is comprised of local congregations or churches (cf. Rom. 16:16; Gal.
1:2). You will discover that God's plan never called for anything in between, i.e., denominations.

God has but one people. Christ has but one body--they espouse one faith, engage in one worship, are led
by one Spirit, submit to one Lord, partake of one baptism, and strive for one hope (Eph. 4:4-6). It is an
absurd notion that God would give his one Son and reveal one gospel in order that men might organize
themselves into any number of "churches," each with its own particular beliefs and practices.
Denominationalism is illogical and unscriptural.

In denominationalism, it is impossible to "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the
faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27)." Paul warned some who possessed a denominational spirit in the first
century to "all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10; cf. 1:12-13)." The church that the God
of heaven set up will stand forever (Dan. 2:44), but every one not planted by the Father will come to ruin
(Matt. 15:13; cf. Ps. 127:1).