Church

What is Church? I have been asking this question a lot lately...and getting a wide variety of answers. I would like to hear some of your thoughts? This question seems to be one of a number of questions that seem to be coming to the surface as the face of Christian is taking on a new look. Is that what we need? A new look. Sounds like following the fad of the time. Maybe, appearances have been our problem all along. Maybe, we need to stop being so concerned on how we look....and more on how we ARE (when no one is looking). Are we righteous and holy in those moments? Or, do we slide to default. If I am honest and transparent....I would say that I often slide to my carnal default. My prayer is to stop being about appearances...and just BE. Be the person that God created me to be....or, redeemed me to be. Maybe, stop talking about it, preaching about it, blogging about it, ;). I don't know.. Oh yeah! What is Church. Some ask the question...what was the original church like? We have some ideas based on scripture and other historical references. Some of those are the indication that the early Church always had communion. Communion=Community...Hmm?. They would remember what Christ did for them sometimes daily as a community...and then they would eat together. Often times they never had a speaker or teaching..they would just fellowship together. Many times women would be the leaders of the small gatherings...did I say small gatherings? Anyways, there are some that have shared with me that church is all the time...like Church is basically any time we are spending time with Christians...we are experiencing Church. Others believe Church to still be in the traditional sense....of a place (most often a large building) where fellow believers gather to Worship and be fed (spiritually). I 'm not sure where I land. I feel I am being stretched in this area of my Christianity. Hopefully in a fruitful direction.