We live in a day when the assembly of the saints seems more invisible than visible. COVID gave people the perfect excuse not to gather. Forgetting a weekly assembly has become the norm. Others have become disillusioned with the organization and organizers of said assemblies. Regardless, Jesus' promise stands true. He is building His Church. If it is clear to you that Jesus is Lord and that His Word is life, keep following Jesus. But know that you cannot do 'church' on your own. May you search for and find other believers whom you can gather with and live in covenant community with and so withstand the attacks of the fires of Hell. Do in your homes. Do in your neighborhoods. Do it at your workplace or school. But please, do it! Let others in the group know if you are in or out of their gathering. Commit to them. By God's grace, be a person of your word. Jesus will build His church, will you be part of it?
For the backstory ...
Matthew 16:15-20
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
This passage is controversial. Roman Catholics use it to establish the foundational authorities given to Peter and maintain that such authority must go to a Petrine successor of sorts (i.e. the Pope). Others (including myself) see the preceding statement "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" as the important revelation that made Peter a leader in the church. The word play is interesting: Peter (petros) and rock (Petra). No doubt Peter played a significant role in the early church as its leader. He was not the foundation, though.
Eph. 2:19-21 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
The church (ekklesia) Jesus would build would have massive strength to hold against the kingdom of hell. It will be able to withstand attacks of evil. Ekklesia is often spoken of as "called out ones" which the church is certainly is "called," "Called to be holy," and "to be in the world not of it." But the word ekklesia, though it looks like the word "Ek - out, kalew - called" to be called out was used at that time by other organizations to mean a recognized assembly.
The term ἐκκλησία was in common usage for several hundred years before the Christian era and was used to refer to an assembly of persons constituted by well-defined membership. (Louw & Nida, p. 127).
The point being the church is the people of God who are recognized as true followers of Christ, who have given themselves over to the be living stones (1 Peter 2:5) built on the foundation of the Apostles, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.
We live in a day when the assembly of the saints seems more invisible than visible. COVID gave people the perfect excuse not to gather and returning to a weekly assembly has become the norm. Others have become disillusioned with the organization and organizers of said assemblies. Regardless, Jesus' promise stands true. He is building His Church. If it is clear to you that Jesus is Lord and that His Word is life, keep following Jesus. But know that you cannot do 'church' on your own. May you search for and find other believers whom you can gather with and live in covenant community with and so withstand the attacks of the fires of Hell. Do in your homes. Do in your neighborhoods. Do it at your workplace or school. But please, do it! Let others in the group know if you are in or out of their gathering. Commit to them. By God's grace, be a person of your word. Jesus will build His church, will you be part of it?
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
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