Ekklēsia: Contending for Church as ‘People’

Abstract

Abstract This article investigates the presumed identity of the present-day Church while seeking parity in terms and meaning with the identity of the early church. The phrase, ‘The church is not a building; the people are the church’, displays the existence of multiple perceived identities of what/who is known as the church within Western culture. New Testament Scripture best defines the church of Jesus Christ as a gathering of believers, not an inert structure. English-speaking contexts utilize church to describe both a community in relationship to God and owned real estate. Identity confusion about what/who the church is affects the perceived agency of the community of faith. This research then proposes cues to define and retain a nt scriptural identity of the church amidst contemporary cultural influence.