Church Talk

It’s so interesting how man can be creative enough to meet his every need or desire – that is when he needs or desires something. People once believed in the relics of the church so much that they would not only travel thousands of miles to see and kiss them, but also design and build special churches just to house those relics. Churches in Medieval times were designed as efficiently as possible to meet the needs of the pilgrims who came from miles around. I ask you, is that really the original purpose of the church? Not at all. Actually, the “church” originally meant the literal body of Christ, or His “members.” This is where we get the name “body of believers.” Really, the term “church” originally didn’t mean a building of stone at all. “The Church” merely described the group of people that agreed with each other that Christ was God’s Son. They obeyed His Spirit, fellowshipped, and suffered persecution together, with Christ as their Head. Eventually they came to call their place of meeting a church…which is where the church met (ironic). Present times seem very similar to those ancient times when “a church” meant something many sought after earnestly and yet upon arrival found that what it contained was empty of meaning and could not provide eternal satisfaction. Perhaps today it is quite like it was then. We have certain expectations that what we do and hear and see when we go to church will make our lives complete. The reality is that “church” has nothing to do with the actual going to a place of “religious gathering.” Rather, it has everything to do with what goes on in the hearts of the people who gather there. Do we go to a church to show others how we view Christ or to express that to Him? Perhaps it is both. We each have our reasons for going to church, and the people in medieval times had theirs. He still knows the intent of each man’s heart…and He’s looking for those who will agree to come and be members of His body…for His purpose. It’s His church and His body…whether we see it that way or not. He has a plan for His church. And His layout is just right.