The objective of this lesson: To encourage the awareness that in the first century world a secular concept of the word "church" existed before the believers in Jesus Christ's resurrection were declared to be God's "called out."
Today, the word "church" is a distinctly religious word. In today's world, the word "church" is synonymous with the words "Christian religion." Virtually every expression of Christian religion is expressed by its association with a "church." Even independent churches have theological connections with a "church" movement. In this nation (and many others), when people hear the word "church" they automatically think the word "religion." Rarely is the word "church" used in today's world outside of a religious context.
Encourage the awareness that our religious word "church" was not a religious word when the concept took word form. Challenge class members to think about the fact that "church" today is almost exclusively used in as a religious word and is almost exclusively used to refer to concepts in Christianity.
It surprises many to learn that "church" did not begin as a religious word. Originally, it was not a Christian thought and concept. Initially it was a political word in an idolatrous world and had a secular emphasis. It referred to a political gathering of people "called out" to address matters that affected the community or city.
The teacher might ask the students, "How many of you knew the word 'church' began as a political word rather than a religious word?"
Consider: when Jesus declared, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18), he was referring to an understanding/concept the disciples knew. Jesus used the word "church" infrequently. In referring to God's purposes, he more frequently spoke of God's "kingdom." In using the word "church" in Matthew 16, he related his objective to an existing concept. "Just as cities have called out people to deliberate on matters pertaining to the city's interests, I, too, will develop a called out people to deliberate on matters pertaining to God's purposes." Instead of Jesus' called out focusing on political concerns, his called out would focus on God's concerns.
Note that it was common knowledge among Jews living in areas other than Palestine [as well as common knowledge among people who were not Jewish in Roman cities] that there were people politically who were "called out." Jesus would also have a "called out" people, but they would not be a political group.
Run references on Jesus' use of the word "kingdom" (such as Matthew 4:17 and Matthew 13) and note how frequently he used that word/concept. Run references on Jesus' use of the word "church" (such as Matthew 16:18) and note how infrequently he used the word/concept.
The common usage of the word "church" exists in the original language of the New Testament. Ekklesia is occasionally both translated or not translated when it refers to something besides Jesus' called out. In Acts 19, ekklesia is not translated church when it referred to a pagan assembly. The situation is described in Acts 19:28-41. Demetrius, the silversmith who earned his living by making shrines of Artemis, caused a general uproar in Ephesus. The city was filled with confusion and a large group rushed to the amphitheater (verse 29). Many chanted, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" (verse 28). The chant produced the confusion, and the confusion resulted in an assembly. In verse 32 the gathering is called ekklesia and is translated "the assembly" (NAS, KJV, RSV, Philips, NIV, Jerusalem Bible, NEB). The TEV translation uses the words, "the whole meeting." Ekklesia occurs again in verse 41 in the NAS translation and is again translated with the words "the assembly."
Acts 19 is an example of the word "church" occurring in the original language but not being translated "church" because the word referred to an assembly which was not Christ's "church."
The point is not that these are poor translations. The point is that ekklesia was an understood concept in the first century Roman world, a profoundly unchristian world. In its common concept, the word had nothing to do with the Christian movement. It could even be used in reference to a confused, illegal assembly of idol worshippers who advocated loyalty to the idol Artemis. In the amphitheater at Ephesus, those gathered represented the concern of the idolatrous population of the city as a reaction against Christian teachings and influences.
Be clear that the above statement is not an attack on translations. The intended point is the realization that the word "church" was used and understood in the first century world in a way that was common to them but is uncommon to us.
The Christian, Stephen, used ekklesia to refer to the nation of Israel assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai when they received the ten commandments. They were "the church in the wilderness." They were called out of Egypt and then assembled at Sinai to receive directives from the God who called them out of Egypt.
Acts 7:38 is an example of "ekklesia" referring to the a gathering of God's people that predated Christ's church by hundreds of years. [In this reference, "ekklesia" is translated "church" in the KJV; "congregation" in the NAS, the RSV, and NIV; and "assembly" in the JB.]
The called out were called from something to something for a specific purpose. Politically, they were an assembly called out of the general population to consider matters concerning the entire population. They were called out to consider matters bigger than themselves. In the same manner, those entering Jesus Christ through God's redemption needed to realize that they left the general population of the enslaved to evil to be God's holy ones. Though they were called out from evil's enslavement, they were concerned for those continuing in evil's enslavement. In Christ, they were about God's purposes, not the purposes of physical desires and lusts that opposed God. As those called out to be God's, they were concerned about matters bigger than themselves.
In this paragraph, two things should be understood. (a) Those "called out" are called from something to something. (b) Those "called out" are called to consider matters bigger than themselves.
The common concept of "church" today [held both by many who are Christians and many who are not Christians] is centered: (1) in buildings, (2) in attendance, (3) in membership, and (4) in a religious belief system. To ask, "Where do you go to church?" is often understood to be a question concerning: (1) a location, (2) frequenting that location, (3) membership in the group at that location, and (4) acceptance of a religious belief system declared at that location. In those matters [and more], today's concept of "church" and the first century concept of "church" are quite different.
Challenge students to contrast the common concept of the word "church" today and the common concept of the word "church" in the first century. Challenge them to note the difference.
Interestingly, today's concept often has little or no association with the concept of being Christ and God's called out. A person can "go to church" regularly, be "a member," and affirm acceptance of specific beliefs while living and acting like people who do not "go to church," do not have "membership" in a church, and do not endorse Christian beliefs. We live in a society with a divorce rate of about 50% for first marriages. "Members of the church" have a divorce rate of about 50% for first marriages. An identifiable segment of those who are not Christians nurture addictions to pornography. An identifiable segment of "church members" nurture addictions to pornography. An identifiable segment of those who are not Christians have sexual affairs. And identifiable segment of "church members" have sexual affairs. Lust, greed, dishonesty, and materialism are common expressions among those who are not Christians. Lust, greed, dishonesty, and materialism are common expressions among "church members."
A terrible thing has happen to the concept of "church" in the modern and post modern world. This is the terrible change: today "church" is about "attending"; "church" is no longer about "being." A "church goer" can look, act, and live like people who have no knowledge of God and still be a "church member" if he/she attends "church assemblies." There is little association between the concept of "church" and the lifestyle of the person. In the first century, "church" was primarily evidenced in the lifestyle of the Christians. The epistles frequently called that fact to Christians' attention. God's person was "called out" from a lifestyle of evil to a lifestyle of godliness.
Please note: deep-seated lifestyles among those who do not desire Christian ethics [Christian concepts of right and wrong] or morals [consistently living with one's understanding of right and wrong] will be found among Christ and God's called out. The presence of unethical and immoral practices among the called out is not as significant as the motivations behind unethical and immoral behavior. If the person is growing toward spiritual maturity by learning to depend on God to escape unethical, immoral behavior/thoughts/emotions/practices, his or her journey is godly. If the person wears the external appearance of godliness while condoning personal ungodliness, he or she insults God. Look at 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, Galatians 5:16-24, Ephesians 4:17-32, Philippians 3:17-21, and Colossians 3:1-11. Remember these statements were written to baptized believers. Obviously, they were still learning the meaning of being the called out. That meant more than declaring faith in the risen Jesus Christ as Lord! It also meant changing lifestyles and purpose in life! Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord changes lifestyles. However, that change requires new understandings and continuous growth.
When a man or woman becomes a Christian, there is a learning curve as he or she seeks spiritual maturity. That learning curve is individual. It will involve different time frames for development for different persons. Usually, the more severe the evil a person was converted from, the slower and longer his/her learning curve. There is a vast difference between the persons who (a) want to be godly but struggle to escape their past or (b) the persons who have not yet learned that some forms of evil are evil AND (c) the persons who know the difference between evil and good but want to justify evil acts. One seeks to escape. The other seeks to condone. Those who understand God's concept of the "church" seek to escape.
Thought and discussion statement. Discuss the following statement: "Being one of the called out involves what one believes and his or her private and public lifestyle."
Two things should be stressed in this discussion. (a) What one believes is important. To be a "called out" person, one is called to God's concepts and values. (b) It is not enough merely to have "correct beliefs." The "called out" person wants those beliefs to be reflected in the way he/she lives.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 2