Defining Church

Church. Just the very word brings all kinds of ideas to peoples’ minds. Good, bad or ugly, most people have an opinion about church. You probably have some thoughts on the matter yourself. What do you think about when you hear the word “church”?

For most people, a church is a building. It’s the place you go for weddings, funerals and Sunday morning services, at least at Christmas and Easter. If I were to ask you, “Do you belong to a church?” you would probably answer by saying something like, “Yes, I go to the one with the tall steeple on the corner.” It’s the building, the place.

For others, church is religion. Church is mass or communion or baptism or confirmation. Saying your prayers, giving an offering, bringing in some canned goods for the food pantry. It’s what you do to be religious.

Some conjure up images of dusty old songbooks, long, boring sermons (no one at FBC, of course), Christmas pageants, potluck dinners, Vacation Bible School, revivals, stained glass and wooden pews. It’s the activity and events and stuff they think of first.

Can I challenge your thinking for a moment? The Bible doesn’t describe church as a building, as religion, activity or stuff. Jesus defines church as those who give their lives to follow Him. Not just the Sunday morning crowd, but the 24/7 followers. Not just the ones who stick around while the music suits their taste or while the preaching is entertaining, but those who stick with Jesus no matter what and whatever the cost.

In the sixth chapter of the gospel of John, there’s a huge crowd hanging around Jesus. Why? Because they saw the cool stuff He’d been doing, like healing the sick and turning water into wine. Man, that’ll draw a crowd! And so there’s all these people waiting to see what Jesus will do next. And He doesn’t disappoint.

With a gathering of about 5,000 men plus women and children, Jesus starts handing out free food. The people go crazy. Kind of like the celebration in St. Louis after the Cardinals won the World Series. They’re ready to coronate Him as Israel’s king right then and there. Down with the Romans! The Messiah’s finally here!

Except that’s not the kind of kingship Jesus came for. Not yet, anyway. And these weren’t the kind of followers Jesus was after, either. They were only interested as long as the fish fry was on. As long as the bread sticks kept coming to their table. Oh, and could You do that thing where you turn some water into more wine for us, Jesus?

But when Jesus started saying some hard things, the people didn’t stay. When He started teaching them about His Father in heaven who sent Him to be the true bread from heaven, they didn’t like it. When He told them they must feed on His flesh and drink His blood in order to have eternal life, they got a little creeped out.

What Jesus was saying was that to “eat” His flesh meant to believe in Him. And to “drink His blood” is not to be taken literally either. It means to trust in the shedding of His blood on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus died and rose again so that all of our spiritual hunger and thirst would be fully satisfied in Him. And when we receive His sacrifice for our sins, we also receive the abundant and eternal life He alone can give.

Many of His “followers” walked away that day. They weren’t sold out to Jesus. Just interested in the show. Jesus looked at His closest Twelve disciples and asked them if they wanted to leave, too. Answering for the group, Simon Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

That’s the church Jesus has in mind. Why not come and truly follow Jesus, and join us in the journey at Petersburg First Baptist Church?