What is church?

This question has been reverberating through my head for the last couple of weeks. Shockingly, there are a huge number of books out there on the topic! More material and videos than I could consume in a lifetime. All of them claim a biblical basis. Many diverge wildly from one another. How do we come up with the right answer?

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

The first part seems simple enough. I can visit widows and orphans.

How do you keep oneself unstained from the world? Follow the ten commandments? Love others? How do I show love? Become a monk?

There are so many different ways you could do each of those things. Whose way is correct? Churches divide over the answers.

And what do we do as our culture influences us? The idea of visiting widows and orphans is to help those who cannot help themselves. In America and most of the western world, there are lots of government programs that help those who cannot help themselves. Should we still visit and help?

Each generation must rediscover church for its time and its place. This will, and should, vary wildly. A church in India will look different from a church in Kenya. A church in Missouri will look different from a church in California.

How do we make sure it stays the church?

One great tool is to look at history. What have always been hallmarks of the historical church?

Helping those who cannot help themselves.

Educating people so they can learn to help themselves.

Educating people so they can learn more about God.

Regular practice of the Lord’s supper

Regular, outloud reading of scripture

Baptizing people into the community

Loving God.

Loving others.

Making Disciples.

What should church look like in your time and place? What should it look like tomorrow?