BACK TO CHURCH
Regresando a la Iglesia
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Wednesday, June 30, 2021
During the pandemic, churches found alternate ways to provide spiritual support. [Photographer: unknown. Photo from an inactive Pixabay account. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
It's been more than a year since the beginning of the pandemic when restrictions were placed on meeting in groups. To cope with those restrictions, many churches began televising their services and offering them online. Other churches found different ways of coping.
While some churches began in-person gatherings months ago, others have been slow to do so. That means that churches in some areas are now gradually returning to in-person Sunday services. They may be slower still in scheduling regular weekly meetings such as choir practice and youth activities.
As I contemplated the dilemma that churches face, I began to think about the difficulties that the early church encountered. When I searched the scriptures, I found that the word "church" first appeared in the Bible in Matthew 16:18 when Jesus said to Peter, "And I (Jesus) also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (NKJV) That was the first appearance of the word "church" in the Bible. Therefore, "church" is a New Testament word. If that's news to you, it was news to me, too!
The Greek root of the word "church" means "Lord's house", but each time it is used in the New Testament, it refers to the assembly of people that believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The Apostle Paul clarified this when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:2, "To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." (NKJV)
Thus, in the New Testament, the word "church" does not refer to the building in which believers met because many churches met in homes. We see mention of this in 1 Corinthians 16:19 in which Paul wrote, "3) The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." (NKJV)
This reference corresponds with the first church that I attended as a baby with my family. It met in the large home of the pastor. Other churches that I have attended have met in a movie theater, a tent, a former army Quonset hut, refurbished army barracks, an elementary school, a storefront, and a high school. Over time, the word "church" has metamorphosed to mean both the gathering of believers as well as the building in which they regularly meet.
Some rural churches found that they could maintain social distancing by converting barns into churches. [Photographer: mgeneral. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
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Miraculously, many rural churches have managed to survive. Some found that they could maintain the required social distancing by meeting in barns. Regardless of how they manage to cope, it is clear that churches will find ingenious ways to continue.
BIBLE VERSES USED IN THIS POSTING
Matthew 16:18 — And I (Jesus) also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (NKJV)
Mateo 16:18 — Y yo también te digo, que tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta roca edificaré mi iglesia; y las puertas del Hades no prevalecerán contra ella. (Reina-Valera 1960)
1 Corinthians 1:2 — , To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. (NKJV)
1 Corintios 1:2 — a la iglesia de Dios ques está en Corinto, a los santificados en Cristo Jesús, llamados a ser santos con todos los que en cualquier lugar invocan el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Señor de ellos y nuestro. (Reina-Valera 1960)
1 Corinthians 16:19 — 3) The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (NKJV)
1 Corintios 16:19 — Las Iglesias de Asia os saludan. Aquila y Priscilla, con la la iglesia que está en su casa, os saludan mucho en el Señor. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Like many small churches, this one in Chester, Arkansas, will survive the pandemic [Photographer: Jennifer Aguirre*.]
*Please do not use our original photos without our permission. These include photos by Mary Hunt Webb, Morris Webb, Jr., Morris Webb, Sr., C.B. Hunt, and Jennifer Aguirre. Thank you.
