In churches today, it’s common to associate church primarily with worship services, hymns, and sermons. However, an exploration of the early Christian church reveals a different emphasis—one centered around church community and the building up of its members (Eph. 4:11-16). Let’s delve into the essence of the church which centers around fostering deep relationships. A place where Christians minister to one another, as opposed to being solely a place for worship and preaching.
Ekklesia: Beyond Worship
The Greek word for church, “ekklesia,” carries a deeper meaning than mere worship. Surprisingly, the New Testament never explicitly pairs it with worship. Yet, today, many churches prioritize worship services as the core of their gatherings. This has led to the proliferation of worship bands and music. But what did the apostle Paul, one of the foundational figures of Christianity, believe about worship?
Paul’s concept of worship transcended singing hymns within the confines of a church building. Instead, he advocated for a broader understanding—a life of constant worship, something believers should engage in, not only during church gatherings, but also before and afterward. His perspective challenges our modern notion that the church should focus so much on worship.
Church Metaphors
The New Testament provides us with over 90 depictions of the church, with most being communal and dynamic images. These metaphors emphasize relationships and interconnectedness among believers. Two of Paul’s most frequently used symbols to describe the church are the “Body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12-14) and the “Family of God” (Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:18-19; Romans 8:16-17). These underscore the importance of connecting in authentic community whenever the church assembles.
Author Robert Banks’ perspective on salvation also aligns with this emphasis on community. Salvation isn’t merely a transaction between an individual and God. It also involves becoming part of a new, Christ-centered community where people deeply connect.
Building Relationships: The Core Purpose
For Paul, the primary reason for the church to gather was to deepen and strengthen relationships among its members. In 1 Corinthians 14:26, he writes, “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so the church may be built up.”
Banks adds that the core purpose of the church is “for the growth and edification of their members into Christ and everyday life through their meals and ministry to one another.” He highlights that these two activities—shared experiences and helping meet each other’s needs—are intertwined and essential for the church’s wholeness.
Where Should the Church Go from Here?
In a world where the concept of church can sometimes be reduced to a weekly worship service, it’s crucial to return to the early church’s radical understanding of the ways we are to relate to each other in helping people grow. The first-century church prioritized relationships, mutual support, and meeting everyone’s emotional needs such as acceptance, empathy, validation, identification, containment, affirmation, and comfort. Dr. John Townsend calls these relational nutrients.
- Acceptance is connecting with the real me, with no judgment, as I have fail, struggle, or judge myself internally (Romans 14:13 & 15:7). “I need you to let me know that while I did a poor job in this situation, that you are still for me and you aren’t judging me like I’m judging myself right now.”
- Empathy is letting me know you feel what I am feeling (Romans 12:15). “I’m irritated and discouraged today, and I’d like for you to show that you understand these emotions.”
- Validation is letting me know my feelings are significant and not to be dismissed or minimized (Jeremiah 6:14). “I need for you to just let me know that my emotions of being overwhelmed are important and real, rather than telling me that things aren’t that bad, or that my experience isn’t logical.”
- Identification is sharing your own similar experience, to help me see that I’m not the only one who has struggled (Luke 22:32, James 4:11 & 1 Peter 5:5) (but keep it less than 60 seconds) “If you can, give me an example of when you haven’t led your family well.”
- Containment is letting me vent and just have the feelings, without fixing me (Ephesians 4:2). “I just need you to be here while I download how bothered I was with my conversation with my siblings.”
- Affirmation is noting something good that requires effort (1 Thessalonians 5:11 & Hebrews 10:24). “Let me know you think I did the right thing by letting that person know, even though it was very difficult.”
- Comfort is being with me when I grieve a loss (Romans 12:15 & James 4:8-10). “I need you to be present with my sad feelings, so I can properly let go of something that didn’t happen well in my childhood.”
Worship, while important, was only one facet of their gatherings. Today, it’s time for us to refocus on building a transformative community of believers who, like the early church, come together to strengthen and help one another grow towards wholeness, both in their spiritual journeys and everyday life.
