Title: Meditation on the Church
meditation on the church
Acts 2:1-47, Isaiah 56:7
1. Introduction
The church that was born by the coming of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to the 120 disciples gathered in Mark's upper room on the Day of Pentecost (Ekklesia-Kyrike-Kyrike-Meeting of Called People) has been today for 2000 years since that day. Until that day (and the day when the Lord comes again), it stands tall as a lighthouse that shines the light of the way-the truth-the life for the salvation of all mankind. Today, I would like to share grace while examining and meditating on the image of the church.
As a reference, in everyday life, Catholics “go to church” and Protestants “go to church,” but in Korea, both churches and cathedrals are called “churches.” However, in Europe and America, the term for ‘church’ is completely different. The Protestant side is derived from the Greek word kyrike (community belonging to the Lord), English church-German Kirche-Swedish kyrka, etc. On the Roman Catholic side, it is derived from the Greek ekklesia (collection of the called), Latin ecclesia-Spanish iglesia-French eglise- It is referred to as chiesa in Italian.
At the time of the Reformation, Protestant Reformers (especially Luther) emphasized the concept of kyrike (Church as a community belonging to the Lord) to distinguish it from Catholicism, and the concept of ekklesia (Ekklesia - the catholic church called) in Roman Catholicism. is.
2. What is a church, whether it is called 'kyrike' or 'ekklesia'?
(1) The church is the house of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
-But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave, if I tarry, that you may know how to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and pillar of truth. thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)
(2) The church is the body of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and we who belong to the church are a community of faith - a community of destiny. - Christ made the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all, Ephesians 1:22-23, for we are members of his body. body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30). Please pay more attention to the English translation (his body-his flesh-his bones) rather than the Korean translation ‘肢 (body)’.
(3) The church is a house of prayer for all people.
“I will bring him to my holy mountain, and I will make them happy in my house of prayer, and their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar. holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations Isaiah 56:7.
- He said to him, "I have heard you pray and supplicate before me; I will consecrate this house that you have built, and I will put my name there forever, and my eyes and my heart will always be there." The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever.
(4) The church is a communion community - fellowship community - love community that breaks bread together.
In the Bible, the word “breaking bread together” (Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:20-34) appears very, very, very often. Koreans also refer to a family (family) or people in the household as eating 口 (family-eating food + mouth 口 = a person who eats rice in one pot). And when you introduce your very-very-very best friend, they say, “We are eating together.” In our day - in the Bible age - everyone in this world is the same.
“Break the rice cake together - 食口 (family) - one pot rice” all mean the same thing. It's friendly - it's good - it works - it's happy - I don't want to use the word 'love' that is polluted, vulgar, and tattered because it's so common, but the meaning of 'love' in the beginning It means 'I love you'.
(5) The church is the witness community - mission community - the outpost of the kingdom of God (Missio Dei).
-Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me; therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. I will always be with you, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:18-20).
3. Closing story
To summarize today's meditation on the church, the church (ekklesia-kyrike) is in this world Kerygma (Kerygma - proclamation) - Eucharist (Eucharist - Eucharist) - Didake (Didake - teaching of morals, ethics, precepts, wisdom) -Koinonia (breaking bread together, sharing of love) - Diakonia (koinonia - fertility, service, washing feet...), etc., are called to be faithfully practiced until the day the Lord comes. received community.