What does 'Church' mean to you?

Question

Does 'church' mean a place people go to worship?
Does 'church' mean a body of people worshiping?
Does 'church' mean something other than these two things?

Which do you think is 'right' and why?

Answer 1

I agree with a previous poster who says he is Ronald Regan (well!). Words are a hobby of mine, but I'm no expert. One thing I have learned in reading and researching etymology is that living languages change over time (and English is alive and well!). A word that used to have one meaning can take on another.

This is probably what has happened here. In the Bible Paul wrote his epistles to "the church at Corinth" or "the church at Galatia," and so on. He directed the letters to particular groups of believers. But on the wider scope, as another poster pointed out, the entire body of Christ is considered the church -- all the people taken up into the rapture. This is the generally accepted KJV definition of "church."

It's understandable that people who meet regularly would begin relating their group to the actual place. So "the building where the church meets" became "the church building" and eventually "church."

Even though these distinctly different definitions survive, I think the two can coexist.

Good question.

Answer 2

I think it is all of the above...There is no right or wrong...it's what's in your heart. And no matter how you explain your answer to this question, there will always be someone to disagree with it.
Luckily, my church is a very small Christian Church that has never been money hungry or in it like it was a "Business" I can tell you this...I definitely don't go as often as I should and often am very comfortable experiencing my religion in my own home, outdoors, etc. but I will tell you that every time I leave my church...I have such an inner peace that I can't explain to anyone...It just feels good.

Answer 3

Church can be used in both contexts you listed - a place to worship and the body of people worshiping. It has also been referred to as the "House of the Lord" because worshipers are calling on God to join them as they praise His name. Casting Crowns has a great song called, "If We Are the Body" (body referring to the "church") that describes what we should be doing as the "church".

Answer 4

Since Christ said there would be many who declare themselves in his name, but are not of the body, you cannot assume it to mean anyone who says they are Christian. These days, church has become as distorted as the word Christian. It no longer refers to the body of Christ, but to anyone, who regardless of their behavior, or even their lack of accurate knowledge of the scriptures, thinks they are saved. They ignore the fact that it only took on sin to prevent Moses from entering the Promise Land. The question is whether the sin was what he did, or that he assume in his heart that it wouldn't count against all the good he had done. Assuming to know God's Way can bring down even someone as great as Moses. Thus, the term Church has little to no relevance anymore.

Answer 5

Paul the Apostle said 'the Church is the body of Christ." God himself said that he does not live in temples made by man. The church is a people, not a cathedral. Maybe it's time we realized that, and stopped dividing ourselves into eleventyhundred different denominations. Hmmm?

Answer 6

Of the three choices all three can be right. When I think of "Church", I think of the Acts Church. Specifically Acts 2:44-47.
I haven't seen much of that in my travels and wish I could see more.

Answer 7

church is the people. The place they go to pray and worship is just a building

Answer 8

The greek word translated as church, really meant "congregation"

Congregation refer to the people that meet together. Never to a building.

Gal. 1:13 persecuting the congregation of God.

Philemon vs 1, to the congregation that is in your house.

Answer 9

Church is the Greek word "ecclesia". Which means "assembly" or "ones that gather". It is definitely not a building or structure.

The church is the bride of Jesus Christ. Believers of the Way. Those willing to follow Jesus Christ even unto death.

The church does not consist in a certain denomination or organization, structure or area. No, it's all faithful believers in Jesus Christ who come together to simply give thanks and praise to the Lord of Hosts.

Answer 10

church is a building that is built by man to worship something built by man