What Is the Church and What Does God Desire of It?

When we hear the word “church,” perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a building for worship. But what exactly is the church according to the Bible?

 

The Church Is the Body of Christ

He is the head of the body, namely the church. He is the beginning, the first to rise from among the dead, so that He might have first place in everything. – Colossians 1:18

In the verse above, we find the word “church”, which is none other than the church. The church is described like a body that has a head. That body is the church, and Jesus is the head of that body. So, the meaning of the church according to the Bible is a gathering of believers who make Jesus their head.

The true church is not a building or a place. Imagine our brothers and sisters who live under the oppression of a certain state ideology. They must worship in secret in underground rooms, or move from place to place, even into remote forests. Would we not still consider them the church even without a building over them?

Then what is the body of Christ like, and what should our relationship be as one body in the church?

Many Members but Still One

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. – 1 Corinthians 12:12

The church congregation in this country has extraordinary diversity. Starting from ethnic backgrounds, for example Javanese, Batak, Ambonese, Papuan, Chinese Indonesian, to differences in temperament, such as choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic. Some live in prosperity, some simply, and some in lack; some are highly educated while others are fairly ordinary, with different talents, for example skill in public speaking, singing, writing, sports, and so on.

Regardless of all those differences, we are all one body, because we have the same Father, namely Christ. We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Needing One Another and Complementing One Another (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

But God has arranged each member in the body, every one of them, just as He desired. – 1 Corinthians 12:18

For just as in one body we have many members, but not all the members have the same function. – Romans 12:4

Our body consists of many parts: there are ears, feet, eyes, a heart, skin, and so on. There is no part of the body that is more important or more needed than another (1 Corinthians 12:14-17). Every part was created for a different task, each with its own function so that our body's metabolism and activity can run well.

Just like the body, the Lord designed us to complement one another in the church. So, all members of the congregation need one another and are expected to care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25). Members who have not had advanced education are just as important as those who are more educated. Those who live in abundance or are good at speaking are not therefore the greatest and no longer in need of others.

One for All, All for One

Therefore, if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. – 1 Corinthians 12:26

In the church, there is no such thing as, “Your business is not my business, your problem is not my problem.” When our foot is injured, our mouth will not shout for joy or even laugh at it. Instead, the other parts of the body will automatically seek help so that the injured foot does not remain in pain and can recover.

So it is with us as members of the body of Christ: “Your business is also my business, your problem is also my problem.” If a brother / sister is struck by misfortune, we all grieve and feel concern. When a brother / sister suffers, we share in that suffering. Likewise, when a brother / sister is blessed by the Lord, we also celebrate their joy.

Admonishing One Another

But encourage one another every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Hebrews 3:13

Another design that the Lord desires for relationships within the church is that we admonish one another.

Why admonish one another?

First of all, to be able to admonish others, of course we must first know one another. That means it is not enough merely to know a brother's / sister's face, then throw out a casual smile or greeting, but to truly want to know them more deeply. By knowing them, we can be open and share, both bad news and joyful news, so that each of us can learn from and inspire one another.

So, within this relationship there is a bond, not merely the status of being congregation members without being connected to one another.

This attitude of admonishing one another shows that God does not want us to live the spiritual life alone. He wants there to be someone else who can guide and give us understanding. Someone we can trust, with whom we can share joy and sorrow. Of course, they are people who are close to God and can build up our faith .

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as the day of the Lord draws near. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Let us take part as members of the body of Christ according to each of our roles. Do not be insecure and feel useless, or on the contrary, consider yourself more important. Whatever role you have received is not an accident, but something God has already planned. Use to the fullest what the Lord has entrusted to you to build the church according to His design.

Amen.

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