When geese gather in a pack on land, they are called a “gaggle of geese” (much like a herd of cattle, or a swarm of bees).
The other day I was sitting in a room, surrounded by Christians. We had gathered “in a pack” to come together and worship God. The language we typically use to describe this phenomenon is “going to church.” But that day, the language changed for me. It took on an additional layer/dimension. I started thinking of the word “church” in a whole new way.
If I were a goose (go with me on this), I wouldn’t GO to a gaggle. I would be a part of the gaggle. Furthermore, I can still be a goose and not be a part of a gaggle. In a similar way, I can still be a Christian and not be part of a church. (See the analogy happening here!)
Often, I’ve heard people describe their religious affiliation based on what church they attend. Even more frequently than that, though, I have heard people define their entire religious status based on whether they do or don’t attend a church. As if the gaggle is what makes them a goose.
But a goose is a goose whether or not it’s in a gaggle. A gaggle can’t exist without a group of geese. Church isn’t just a place we go to. Yes, in our language, we use that word “TO” to describe a building with walls and a roof (or sometimes a grass hut with no walls and a roof made of leaves). But it’s so much more than that. When we come together, our gathering is what creates church, a community of Christians, a pack of people who believe in God. Without the group of people, “church” (in it’s purest definition) can’t exist.
Valid question: if going to church isn’t what is going to make me a Christian than why go? Easy answer: Community. The mere fact that the word “gaggle” even exists shows that there is some semblance of communal need among geese, (same with several other creatures in the animal kingdom). We humans aren’t immune to this trend of community. We create clubs, fraternities, organizations. We seek out people with similar interests and passions. We are social creatures consistently seeking some form of social interaction.
So “church” is not just the building we go to. It’s not limited to the program of events: worship music, meet and greet, preaching, offering, etc. “Church” is the people. When we gather together, we ARE the church.
In the Bible, a group of believers is defined as “the body of Christ.” A body is a living entity. It not stagnate, like a building. It has a voice. It can exist both inside a building, but also outside the four walls.
Therefore, let’s not put “church” in a box.
