A Letter I feel Prompted to Send Out

Brother or sister in Christ;

I am writing you out of a passion to see God’s Church be one. To see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. I have prayed and searched that this will come to you in clarity and in peace. I have written similar letters to every body of believers in St. Clair County. This entails the power of language in the creation of division in the church as a whole and its unity.

Acts 2:42-47 gives this description of the church:

42 they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Over the past 15 years I have seen the church of Jesus Christ that I read about in the Bible very differently then it seemed in my reading. I have rarely heard the church called the church, but rather in terms of churches. People refer to their church, our church, and that church. When in truth there is but on church; one church that God demands remain as one body; with Christ as the head.

The origins of the word "church" is such: Middle English "chirche", from Old English "cirice", ultimately from Late Greek "kyriakon", from Greek, neuter of "kyriakos" meaning “of the lord”, from kyrios meaning lord, master. This means when the word church is used in the Bible it speaks of those people who are of the lord Jesus Christ, Christians. The Greek word ekklesia, which is translated church as well, is a combination of the Greek word kaleo (which means to call) and ek, a preposition meaning out or out of. Therefore, ekklesia is properly translated as "called out ones".

So, while the common contemporary understanding of the word "church" is focusing upon a gathering or building, the actual meaning of the word is on our status as followers of Jesus. Within the context of His teachings that we are to be "in the world", but not "of the world"; the application of being "the called out ones" is appropriate. The common usage which empowers the system of “churchianity” is not an appropriate interpretation of "ekklesia" or “kyriakos”. For, the focus is not on the group, nor on the gathering of the group, but upon our status as belonging to the Lord and being called out of worldliness and self life.

Although the Christian Bible says that the church is actually the body of believers, in Jewish times, the temple at Jerusalem held the presence of God in a place called the Holy of Holies. After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit / presence of God dwells within each believer.

I understand that each denomination has particular beliefs that have been passed down throughout the ages. The below chart shows a basic summary of this.

As christians, followers of Jesus Christ, we need to make sure that the body of Christ in in one piece. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1-7:

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

I am writing this with the same passion that Paul had. I urge each of you to identify with the green line on the above chart; the line that comes directly from the early church that was established by Christ; that is not the creation of man. I urge you to take action in your life and in your fellowship.

I would ask that to begin you use the word “church” as it was intended. The church is you and me, your congregation and all of our friends who trust Jesus Christ as their lord and Savior. Don’t use the word to say my church, our church, or at church. Language is powerful; Look at what the human baby has become by being defined as a fetus. God created the world by speaking. Help create the church as it was intended. And if you are bold change your fellowships name to exclude the word church.

I love you brother or sister, God loves you to. Be blessed.

Heath Achatz