People or Steeple?

People or Steeple?

Is church people or a place? According to the dictionary, it's both.
a. A building for public christian worship
b. The whole body of christian believers
c. A body of christian believers worshipping in a particular building.

That sounds politically correct doesn't it? Let's cover the bases, it's the building, it's the people, or it's both.According to the Bible, the church is the people. period. end of story, no confusion. The church is the body of Christ"After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of his body." Ephesians 5:29-30(NIV)-Jesus comparing the church to a marriage.

There are other scriptures that back up the church being people and being the body of Christ.My point is the church is people. It's not a facility, it's a family. It's not a location, it's loved ones. It's not a place, it's a people. I think some people have this mindset that church is a place we attend, instead of a body we are a part of. Many feel that if they attend a church service once a week, they are participating, but they are only attending.We treat church like we are going out to a movie or a ball game. We go, we sit, we watch, we observe, and we go home.

Some treat church like a social club or group. We are members, we pay our dues, we attend meetings, and we are "members" of that church.Without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Christianity is just ritual and religion. Without actively participating in the body of Christ(the church not the place), we are simply going through motions, paying dues, and physically attending, but not spiritually connecting.When you become a member of the body of Christ, just like any part of a body, we have a function, a part, and a role.

If we are not functioning and being used, we will wither,die, or become obsolete. If you view church as a place you go on sundays and not a body you are a part of on a daily basis, you are missing God's purpose for His church.We are all part of God's church, His body, His family. Churches own buildings, have programs, and develop ministries, but the church from it's creation is the people.

Jesus died for the church, not the building. Jesus want a relationship with His people, not just weekly attendance to a public worship service at a church building. We are the church. We are His church.