Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance gives this definition for “ekklesia”:
“Ekklesia - a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.” The key Greek root words for “ekklesia” would mean “called out.” We see this phrase in the given definitely.
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my (ekklesia) church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)
It would be incredibly amazing if we could know what Jesus had in mind when He used this Greek word, “ekklesia” as He was talking to Peter. This is the first time this word is used in the New Testament. It is only used three times in the Gospels, and all three times are in the Gospel of Matthew.
It would also be very interesting to know what came to the disciples’ minds when Jesus used this word for the first time.
What I do know is that most often today, if we hear the word “church”, which is how this Greek word is most often translated into English, we think of a building!!!
Another thing I am fairly confident about is that when Jesus used this word, and when the disciples heard this word for the first time, they DID NOT think of a building!
There is a reformation beginning to take place in these days. The “church” today is being “reformed.” Our Western traditional church model is struggling mightily today. A recent headline of an article stated: “Tsunami of Church Closings Poses Crisis and Opportunity.”
There is data to suggest that in the next several years that 100,000 churches will shut down permanently.
These seems very sad, but it is not necessarily bad news. God is doing a new thing! For us as Christians, we need to be praying and seeking the Lord and allowing Him to lead us by His Holy Spirit into the new forms and models that the Spirit is birthing to do the work of the Great Commission.
I am going to close this blog with several statements regarding “church.” Let us pray!
The church is a building.
The church is an institution.
The church is an organization.
The church is an assembly.
The church is a movement.
The church is a kingdom.
I would be curious to hear from you for which one of these speaks to your heart. I would also be curious if you have your own saying or sayings for helping others understand what the ekklesia is or is supposed to be?
As I said, “Let us pray!”
(Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope that this will spark some prayer and some curiosity. I most certainly believe that God is doing a new thing today. I also hope that if you are not a paid subscriber to this blog that you would become one. That would be a blessing and an encouragement for sure!)