What Is A Church?
Baptists have constantly debated the meaning of the word
"church", or assembly, for the last century. Their debate, I fear,
has done much harm to the kingdom of our Lord and to the honor of his name. A
Every true local assembly is a miniature of the church universal, as
described by Paul in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11-22. A true church is a
"habitation of God through the Spirit". It is important that we, as
believers, be properly immersed, observe the Lord's Supper, and hold to a sound
creed. But, this is the question of great concern, "Are we a habitation of
God?" If not, all these other things are mere vanities of religious
ritualism!
A church is a family, united by the blood of Christ. A church is a
body, with Christ as its head. A church is a kingdom, under the dominion of
Christ. A church is a brotherhood, established in the love of Christ. A church
is a temple, built upon Christ, the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.
It is our desire that the Savior's promise will be
constantly fulfilled to us as a
Don Fortner