Church – the Real Meaning
There is a word that shows up in the New Testament of each Bible translation we read that does not belong by any definition. This word is ingrained so deep in our society that it will never be removed. This word’s definition to most people will mean – building, steeple, place, statutes, regulations and organization. In reality, “church” is a destination. This is easily understood when people tell you where they are headed on Sunday morning……they are going to “church.”
There are others who claim this word simply means “believers” without further definition, adding greater confusion. Thus, when reading the verses where this word “church” is placed, the verse is twisted to fit whatever the reader wants it to mean. What this does is block God’s truth from man’s wants and wishes and twists Scripture from intent to interpretation. This must be clear; interpretation is an admittance of not understanding.
This is all proven from the definitions written for the word “church” by Merriam-Webster dictionary:
1. a building for public and especially Christian worship
2. the clergy or officialdom of a religious body
3. a body or organization of religious believers: such as
a: the whole body of Christians
b: denomination
c: congregation
4. a public divine worship (goes to church every Sunday)
5. the clerical profession (considered the church as a possible career)
Unlock The Word stands on Scripture in the purest form. Very few come to understand the mysteries of God and His Kingdom because their faith is not planted in good soil.
Being unaware, each of us have been deceived from birth. Only a few can see past the deceptions because tradition gains prevalence in our lives and POSITION becomes more important than truth.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Unlock The Word will tackle the deceptiveness of this world’s traditions, but first let us look at that word “church” as defined in our lives and compare it to Scripture as originally written. The word “church” does not have any direct Scriptural translation from Greek to English. In fact, the original word for church is “kirche” which comes from Old English and German language. In Scotland it was pronounced “kirk” and in Koine Greek it was pronounced “Kuriakos” which is Strong’s word number G2960 meaning “belonging to the Lord”. This word is found in only two places in the New Testament.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
1 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV) (belonging to the Lord)
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Revelation 1:10 (KJV) (belonging to the Lord)
This information is not hidden, and any Pastor/Minister should know these truths. Unlock The Word will leave the next obvious questions of each one reading this to ponder on their own.
What each and every Pastor/Minister/Priest also knows is the word “church,” that is translated into our English Bibles, is from Strong’s number G1577: “ekklesia” which means “the called out” – with assembly and congregation appropriately fitting into some verses quite comfortably. Simply eliminating the unbiblical word “church” and inserting the correct translation will effectively and dramatically change the verse and understanding for anyone reading the Bible today, which will be proven shortly.
When “the church” is discussed in today’s vernacular, there are many assumptions made among the people involved in the definition. For simplicity, let us look at the widely held false teaching of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. For those unaware, this teaching claims that Christ will come to claim (Rapture) “His church” before the anti-Christ is revealed and the start of the seven year tribulation before this world ends.
Unlock The Word would like to ask which “church” is Christ coming to take away? Is it the universal church of Roman Catholicism whose “parishioners” have no idea what this Rapture is? What about the Lutheran church? If it is this church, which sect of Lutherans hold the winning tickets? Maybe it is neither of these two goliath churches and the Methodist or Baptists get the free ride “outa” here? If all of these “churches” are not the chosen church, it must be the Mormon or Pentecostal/Evangelical churches that win!
The individuals who assert that it is all “believers” who claim the prize of the “Pre-Tribulation raptured church” are simply marketing the deception to a wide audience of people who do not want to lose the comforts of their go-to-church-on-Sunday, “Christian” life.
In any case, whichever church (denomination) as defined today gets raptured before all the bad stuff happens as described in the book of Revelation, do all members of this blessed “church” get the “get out of tribulation free card?” Is there no criteria, such as showing up every week to Sunday service that needs their attention? Are there any guidelines besides to just “believe in Jesus,” “have Jesus in your heart” or simply “accept Jesus into your life” that the church leaders have written/taught for safe passage into the clouds? Or is it simply being a member of “the church” (organization) that is required at the time of Christ’s Pre-Tribulation arrival?
Unlock the Word could carry on at nauseam with many other questions for “the church” of Rapture but you can clearly see this teaching (narrative) brings forth many unanswerable questions if “church,” as man has defined the word, were actually in the Bible.
While this is not the point of this article, it would be very easy to prove the Pre-Tribulation is a false doctrine by using the same exact Scriptures against the narrative as those who profess its validity. This simply shows how blind man can be when reading Scripture, as it is difficult to shed bias and tradition. Man surely does not like to admit error, blinding themselves to their own detriment and worse for the teacher, to the detriment of others.
Recognizing the daunting task set forth, Unlock the Word, as always, begins and ends with Scripture by looking at verses with the true meaning. You will witness by using the correct translation of “ekklesia” by the removal of the word “church” as we define today, the meaning changes and the understanding will open doors to many other misunderstood Scriptures. This is especially important knowing the biblical end times age we are living in today.
Lest you think Unlock The Word is taking the high road in this proclamation, it can be assured, we too have and do use the word “church” out of context. Changing is difficult for everyone, including Unlock the Word.
Unlock The Word will establish a foundation for you to dig deeper on your own. Personal study is imperative and having this be the only thing anyone looks at for understanding of this or any other topic covered goes against the foundation of this mission. Unlock The Word is not here to tell anyone what to think or how to act. Each of our relationships with God is personal and not organizational. Unlock The Word is only here to guide your understanding in His Truth (John 17:17). Each one of us, individually, is responsible to take the task of searching the Scriptures to validate any teaching set forth by another man – Acts 17:11: 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
With all of this in mind, a few examples will be used to get you started on your own journey separating tradition from Scripture.
Church vs Ekklesia
Acts 20:28 – 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
As has already been established with the discussion relating to the “Pre-Tribulation Rapture,” there can be no clarity to which “organization or building” is “the church of God” as written in this verse. And since each denomination has their own set of rules/guidelines/sacramental laws/beliefs/traditions all claiming they hold biblical truth by definition, there is only potential for one of these “churches” to be “the church of God.” Acts 20:28 is a great example of the difficulty we have discussing Scripture with fellow “believers” as the false narrative is next to impossible to overcome. Unlock The Word will share what should have been written a little further down to show how this verse changes drastically when understood as intended.
John 17:17 – 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth – makes it clear that there is only one truth. Sanctify is Strong’s #G37 which means, (to make holy, purify or consecrate; to venerate:- hallow, be holy, sanctify). – This must be understood, there is one guide for purification, for holiness and Jesus stated very clearly it comes from the Father’s directives. Each “church” as defined in our world holds their own directives proving beyond doubt that “the church of God” does not exist in any one of these man-made buildings or organizations. It is the basis of this truth from which we will work through the word “church” as written in our English translated Bibles going forward.
Acts 20:28 is a prime example where the word “church” has revealed its controlling grip of narrative. When seeing “church” in any verse it comes from Strong’s #G1577, “Ekklesia” which means “the called out” – with assembly and congregation appropriately fitting into some verses quite comfortably.
Acts 20:28 – 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:28 - 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the called of God which He purchased with His own blood.
It is clear “the called of God” bears no uniformity with any denomination or organization. The called are the purified in the Father’s truth. The teachers among us are shepherds to the called, they are not meant to be leaders of organizations who hold sway over the Bible with their own set of rules/guidelines/sacramental laws/beliefs/traditions.
A few more verses will help demonstrate the change in meaning by properly addressing in translation from Greek to English.
Romans 16:4-5: 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
Romans 16:4-5: 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the called of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
Notice the called assembled together in a house. They did not attend a “church” building. Having explained this, there will be those who share verses of the disciples teaching in the synagogue. During this time, the teachers of Truth needed to be where the people who lacked understanding attended. Of course they spoke in these synagogues. Once separated from the “synagogues,” the called assembled wherever they could outside of traditional venues – what we call today – “churches.”
1 Corinthians 4:17: 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Corinthians 4:17: 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
Consider when looking at this verse using the defined terms in today’s world with the word “church”. Could Paul, or Timothy in the case of this verse, walk into a “church” and teach against its rules/guidelines/sacramental laws/beliefs/traditions? Picture one of these men walking into almost any Christian denomination today on December 25th and proclaiming the Truth about the pagan worship day of the rebirth of the sun god! This surely would not be allowed, thus demonstrating this verse and “church” are antithetical to Scripture. These men, however, would be mostly welcomed with open arms to the called-out assembly of God.
1 Corinthians 11:22: 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
1 Corinthians 11:22: 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the called of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
To understand this verse one must read in context which is: the called of God recognize the Passover as a holy convocation. This took place well after the death and resurrection of Christ. Why does today’s “church” not recognize this as a holy convocation? This is a question you should consider.
Philippians 3:6: 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Philippians 3:6: 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the called of God; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Before Paul’s conversion, he was not persecuting the people who would be looked upon today as those who show up irregularly to their “church” buildings, but label themselves under the denomination of the building they would attend. The point of this is most identify their “spiritual” life in relation to a religious denomination and building defined as “church.” This gives one a belonging to from which there is no root to the relation of being “called,” completely changing the context of taught Scripture to His Truth.
KJV – Hebrews 2:12: 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
NKJV – Hebrews 2:12: 12 saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
Here the NKJV has the proper word in the translation from Greek. This is a good example of the importance of study instead of the act of simply reading the Bible.
From here, you should chose to become a Berean (Acts 17:11) or you will continue as always. This decision will bear witness to much of what was just shared above.
Unlock The Word does not hold the belief that “church” leadership will be swayed in favor of what was clearly laid out as God’s TRUTH in this article and adjust their teachings to Scripture.
“Church leadership” will not recognize, see or understand THIS ENDING TRUTH on “church”: the religious system that we all currently live under was established by Satan. Our Father in heaven does not support “religion.” Jesus Christ destroyed “religion” in Matthew 23, yet society speaks in these terms, hindering man from seeking the personal relationship the Father craves with His children.
What man fears more than anything in this world is loss of POSITION. For any “church” leader to step away from the current system they themselves live under would cause a loss of POSITION from their carnal comforts. God did not intend for His teachers to be beholden financially by religion. Paul was a tent maker to supplement from what others were willing to share with him for his evangelical work. Paul was not beholden to other men (organization) as today’s “church” leaders are beholden. Changing from tradition will cause disharmony, the very disharmony that Christ came to bring.
Blessings to all of you from Unlock The Word.