The music we were hearing indicated we were late to the dedication of a small country church’s new sanctuary. Standing in its foyer a quickly devised plan was formed as to how to quietly sneak inside. My husband barely had one of the double doors parted before I swiftly executed my part and was standing in front of its twin companion.
What followed was due to a couple of miscalculations. The first one was on the part of the church design calling for a too long back pew located near the entrance and the second would be Scott’s assumption those double doors were solid and not hollow core. His thrust application made the sudden door to pew collision thunderous.
Not sure if it was the inertia from the impact or the ‘fight-or-flight’ response when fear strikes an individual, but the kid that had been sitting in the bumped pew was propelled to new heights.
As the people turned to check out the commotion caused by us bustin’ in like we owned the place, I couldn’t think of anything to say except, “Well, we’re here!”

Rumor had it that after a few more of those door to pew connections the church replaced the long pew with a shorter one.

Can’t help but think of some flawed ‘church’ designs that have negatively impacted members by causing them to lose spiritual altitude yet have never been adjusted or out right replaced because things have been done the same way for so long that any change would be deemed the wrong way.

Before a ‘church’ started being the place for believers to go and just sit to hear one man talk, the ‘church’ was on the move by following Jesus orders:

As you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is here! Restore to health the sick, wake up the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without pay you have received, without charge give. (Matthew 10:7-8; Luke 9:2)

Let’s look at what the Bible says concerning Ekklesia that is interpreted using the English word “church.” In the first century,  Ekklesia was a gathering of believers who had a plurality of elders to oversee their daily meetings in different houses where everybody was able to use their spiritual gifting to strengthen the faith of each other.

Paul left Titus to appoint elders for some of these gatherings:

For this reason I left you [behind] in Crete, that you might set right what was defective and finish what was left undone, and that you might appoint elders and set them over the assemblies in every city as I directed you. (Titus 1:5)

It wasn’t just houses where the ‘church’ met. The Greek word, luó, mentioned as synagogue in Acts 13:43 is breaking up a meeting and not a building. A synagogue is the place where people gather for prayer, reading and exposition of the Written Word.

 

They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers. …Day after day they met in the temple area continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, …
Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news of Jesus as the Messiah.
I did not shrink back in fear from telling you anything that was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public meetings, and from house to house,… (Acts 2:42, 46; 5:42; 20:20)

And to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier [in the Christian warfare], and to the church [assembly that meets] in your house:... (Philemon 1:2) [Plus check out others Paul mentioned as having the fellowship of believers meeting in their home: Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15)

 

Undeterred by our difficulties of meeting in large buildings, couldn’t we continue to share our bread (substance of Instructions which prompts a change afterwards) with intense joy and gladness by gathering in our homes? Or even as we go?

In retrospect, my bold entrance at the church’s grand opening is an example of walking in the sureness of my faith as I proclaim, “Well, God’s Kingdom is here!”