Church

CHURCH - The spiritual house we call a church is above all intended to be reflection of heaven arrayed in signs and symbols.  A church is intended to be a map of heaven and how to get there.  The church building is also a metaphor in stone of a people’s own spiritual journey as we make our pilgrimage from isolated individuals, into community, to the presence of the Divine. 

This is the gate of heaven, the door of eternal life: it leads the traveler towards the stars.  On entering, a person may penetrate the heavenly mountain, if he takes with him faith and hope as his companions.  Here forgiveness may be sought, if the pilgrim enters with a devout heart, and on foot.  Here also a sinner may shed his evil acts and with tears wash this sacred threshold.  Then purged by tears of repentance and adorned with humility, he is worthy to enter the holy places of God.  I believe that Jesus in his mercy forgives their sins, so that whoever enters sad will emerge more joyful.

Our English word church (from the Saxon cirice or cyrice, Middle English chirche ), like the German word Kirche, or the Lowland Scots “Kirk” comes from the Greek word “kyriakon” meaning “the Lord’s” and would appear to mean the Lord’s people and not necessarily a building. 

Prior to the word “church” the Greek word “ekklesia” (ecclesia in Latin form) was the most commonly used word to describe the gathering of the Christian community.  Ecclesia comes from a Greek word meaning those “who are called out”.  Then, as now, the church is ultimately not built and held together by bricks and mortars, but rather by people called by Christ to build a better world.

(KJV 1 Peter 2:5) - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

(KJV Eph 2:19-22) - Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.