Courtesy Christianity Today
When I say the word “church,” what comes to mind? A small red brick building with a cross standing high above a steeple or a large gothic European cathedral? An enormous suburban megachurch or a small, but crowded Asian home?
Depending on our cultural context and personal experiences, different images pop in our head when we think about a church, but hopefully we all understand that those buildings are not a church. With such contrasting pictures in our minds, however, how can we tell what truly constitutes a church? That’s where ecclesiology comes in.
Ecclesiology, the theological study of the church, is a big theological term, and rightly so. It must bear a great deal of theological weight. What we believe about ecclesiology shapes the way the church is structured, how the people relate to one another, and how it goes about accomplishing its mission.
When I say the word “church,” what comes to mind?
Historically, ecclesiology has been an important aspect of Christian theology. Every generation has outlined certain distinguishing marks of a church. The Reformers said it was “the right administration of the sacraments” and “the right preaching of the word.” Catholics pointed to, among other things, apostolic succession. For 2,000 years, people have been talking about what makes a church a church—until recently.
Regretfully, the extent of the ecclesiology in most of our churches today is weak. People identify a church simply because it meets and has the word “church” in its name. But beyond that, there is an acute misunderstanding as to how we identify biblical churches...
Depending on our cultural context and personal experiences, different images pop in our head when we think about a church, but hopefully we all understand that those buildings are not a church. With such contrasting pictures in our minds, however, how can we tell what truly constitutes a church? That’s where ecclesiology comes in.
Ecclesiology, the theological study of the church, is a big theological term, and rightly so. It must bear a great deal of theological weight. What we believe about ecclesiology shapes the way the church is structured, how the people relate to one another, and how it goes about accomplishing its mission.
When I say the word “church,” what comes to mind?
Historically, ecclesiology has been an important aspect of Christian theology. Every generation has outlined certain distinguishing marks of a church. The Reformers said it was “the right administration of the sacraments” and “the right preaching of the word.” Catholics pointed to, among other things, apostolic succession. For 2,000 years, people have been talking about what makes a church a church—until recently.
Regretfully, the extent of the ecclesiology in most of our churches today is weak. People identify a church simply because it meets and has the word “church” in its name. But beyond that, there is an acute misunderstanding as to how we identify biblical churches...
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 3:8-10
Ephesians 3:8-10
