Church vs Congregation: A needed word study.

What was originally a word describing a group of people who followed Christ gathering together became a building to attend.

Valiant Made

The word “church” bugs me to no end, not churches themselves per se, just the word because people have no idea what they're missing out on and just how badly it’s messed things up. Some time ago, there was a word edit during a translation and “congregation” formally became “church.”

What was originally a word describing a group of people who followed Christ gathering together became a building to attend.

What I’ve seen because of this word choice.

I personally don’t like my worship being scripted, I want the freedom to talk, ask questions, get excited, and feel the Holy Spirit. Not have to look at the church pamphlet to know when I’m allowed to sing praises, say hello to my pew partner or when I’m expected to stand next.

Worship shouldn’t be hard-core scripted; it cripples our growth.

This doesn’t mean I’m opposed to an order of events to have it go smoothly, just that in a lot of my experiences with different churches I saw and felt a weight because of the rigid timetable set up for attendees.

It felt more like a performance, with everyone stifling yawns and checking their watches because they wanted to get out of there, pastors included.

How is the Holy Spirit supposed to work with that?

I believe when the word “ekklésia” was formally instituted as “church” instead of “congregation” everything changed. A new definition started to take hold and our perspective of what it meant to gather followers together was altered into what we have now.

Kings and their authority issues.

You can ultimately blame King James for being the one who put this in motion. It started with his version of the Bible in 1611. Sorry ahead of time for those who are KJV-only readers, but the proof is in the pudding. Edict #3

King James clamped down hard on that word; he needed it to support what he was doing and wanted to continue to do, and that was to keep his authority over the Church of England.

He created this edict because he had no authority or jurisdiction over a congregation (assembly of people). His authority was only over buildings, hence the need for the word tweaked to “church.” He wanted people in those buildings for control, he didn’t want them holding praise and prayer meetings in their homes.

By forcing the word “church” into his translation and pushing his definition of it on the masses, he redefined what it meant to gather and worship in His name.

Paul’s letters are the best example of what gathering together with others used to mean.

Mentally, many are stuck on how “church” is defined now.

We need to step back in time before there were thick walls and lines of pews standing in the way of worship. People used to meet in homes during Paul’s time, usually around a table with food and fellowship.

People would bring prayers and songs to share with everyone, and people sat around a table enjoying good food and fellowship face-to-face with each other.

It's that friendship, open acceptance despite class or color, and excitement of gathering that the Holy Spirit could really do some amazing things with. They moved around, and they went out into the world and spread the Gospel.

They weren’t held in place by brick walls; the Holy Spirit can do a lot when people aren’t afraid to leave the safety of their pews.

Some think I’m always harping churches, and well, yes, I kind of do, but only because I’m tired of what I see going on. It doesn’t mean that I believe people shouldn’t go to church or look for Bible studies or that all churches are “bad” for lack of a better term.

I just think most could be doing a whole lot better than they are now.

When I have gone to as many churches as I have and only found one that hits the mark of what my article is about, there’s a problem.

I can’t help but wonder what would happen to the Christian faith if more understood the difference between “church” and “congregation.”

Just imagine the possibilities.

First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

© Jane Isley

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