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WHEN DOES A CHURCH BECOME A “CHURCH?”
1.
The very definition of church(ekklesia)can help determine the answer to
the question, “When does a church become a church?” The Greek word, ekklesia,
comes from two Greek words: kaleo=meaning to call and ek=meaning out from, so
in its simplest definition it can mean “those who are called out” or “the
called out ones” and in the Greek culture it implies also “to be gathered”
which involved the decision making of the city. So the ekklesia is can be
understood as “the called out” gathered for Kingdom work.
2.
Thus the question is better framed by using the Greek word for church,
“When does an ekklesia become an ekklesia?” The definition in it self seems
to explain. If the ekklesia is understood as “the called out ones (to be
gathered),” then, couldn’t the answer be, “when they are called out or become
the called out ones(to be gathered)?”
3.
There is also a true sense in which the ekklesia can be either
“gathered” or “scattered,” as in Acts 8:1 and still called the ekklesia.
“There was great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;
and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles.”
4.
Do the “called out ones” become the “called out ones” when they reach a
certain traditional criteria such as having a board of trustees, constitution,
bi-laws, certain number in attendance, certain maturity level, building,
organizational development, elders and deacons set in order, Body ministry,
all believers functioning in gifts, etc., or is it when they are “called out”
by the Lord and “gathered in His Name for Kingdom work?”
5.
In Matthew 18:17-20 Note that the word “church” is used twice
in Matthew 18:17. “You go to your brother(total of 2
believers)Take one or two witnesses(total of 1 or 2 more believers)…Tell it to
the church(unknown number of additional believers); but if he neglect
to hear the church(unknown number of called out one). Note that the
“church” in this context is made up of more than 4 believers but how many more
is not recorded. “Whatsoever ye shall bind…loose…If two of you shall
agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done…For
where two or three are gathered together(Greek is literally have been
gathered)in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
6.
Keeping in mind the emphasis given in Scripture to the “household” and
the church in the house, i.e., Mary, Martha & Lazarus, Zacchaues, Levi, Peter,
Cornelius, Lydia, Jailer, etc., the smallest number of believers illustrated
in Scripture as a church seems to be the number of a specific household. Thus
Mary, Martha & Lazarus in Bethany could be considered among the smallest
households and others like Lydia included her whole household including
servants of unknown number.
7.
The Jerusalem church was called an ekklesia in Acts
2:47
and yet did not have leaders known by the name of elders until Acts
11:30.
Until that time, the Apostles gave leadership to the church.
8.
Acts
11:19 “Now
when they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that
arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and
Antioch(Syria),
preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
9.
Acts
11:20-21 “And
some of them were men of
Cyprus and Cyrene,
which, when they were come to
Antioch(Syria),
spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed,
and turned unto the Lord.”
10.
Acts
11:22-25 “Then
tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was
in
Jerusalem: and
they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as
Antioch
(Syria). Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad,
and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave
unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of
faith: and much people were added unto the Lord (As in Acts
2:47
“The Lord added to the church”). Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for
to seek Saul:”
11.
Acts
11:26 "And
when he had found him (Saul), he brought him unto Antioch (Syria). And it
came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the
church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called
Christians(with in context an interchangeable word with church and
disciples as seen in other referred passages)first in
Antioch.”
12.
According to Acts 13:1a, the
Antioch church
was called an ekklesia and yet did not have leaders called
elders. They had leaders but they were called prophets and
teachers according to Acts 13:1b.
13.
Acts
14:27-28 “And
when they were come, and had gathered the church together(Antioch, the
church that had prophets and teachers), they rehearsed all that God had done
with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And
there they abode long time with the disciples(of Antioch where they
were called “church” in v27 and “disciples” in v28 thus the words “disciples”
and “church” can be used within context as interchangeable).”
14.
It should be noted that Peter and John referred to themselves as fellow
elders in I Peter 5:1, II John 1 and III John 1. Since they were also
apostles, meaning “sent forth ones,” the implication is that they were
elders when they were local and apostles when they were
trans-local.
15.
Acts
14:21-23 “And
when they had preached the gospel to that city(Derbe), and had
taught many(implying the Matthew 18:18-20commission): “teaching them
all things”), they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium and
Antioch(Pisidia, in Asia Minor, west of Iconium), confirming the souls
of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we
must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they
had ordained(to place or set)them elders in every church
(including Lystra, Iconium and Antioch), and had prayed with fasting, they
commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” (Thus again, “disciples”
and “church” can be in context used interchangeably.)
16.
Titus
1:5 “For this
cause left I(Paul) thee(Titus) in Crete, that thou shouldest set in
order the things that are wanting, and ordain(to place or
set) elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.”(Note that
the Scriptures interchangeably speaks of elders as both being
ordained in “every church”(Acts
14:23)and
“every city.(Titus 1:5)” Thus in Crete, it can be understood
that Titus was left there to ordain elders in every city-church.)
17.
Thus it can be understood that an ekklesia is an ekklesia when
there is a “household” of two or three gathered, in Jesus’ name and in his
presence, to do Kingdom work but that the ekklesia is not fully “in order,” or
“is wanting and lacking” until elders are ordained.
18.
According to Ephesians 4:10-16, the ekklesia will only
come to full maturity as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors
and teachers equip the saints for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ:”
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