Is the Church a Building or a Called-Out Assembly in the Town Square?

Rather than asking people, "Where do you go to church?" it would be more accurate for us to ask a person, "Where do you go to assemble?" The word translated "church" (ekklesia) in the New Testament never refers to a building. Instead, it refers to a called-out assembly of citizens in the town square, and more specifically it is applied to the called-out believers of our Lord Jesus Christ who are assembling. Acts 19:32, 39 and 41 are interesting verses which each contain ekklesia translated “assembly,” not church.

Kittle - Theological Dictionary of the New Testament - ekklesia (G1577)

1. (Literally) a “calling out.” 

2. (Concretely, of Greece) an assembly of citizens (as called out by the town crier for a specific purpose).

3. (Specifically, of Jesus) a called-out assembly of the Redeemed of Jesus (Yeshua).

We are to be like Jesus Who ministered with Kingdom authority in the public arena

1. Jesus established a kingdom that would replace all earthly kingdoms: In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed … it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever..."  (Dan. 2:44-45).
2. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isa. 9:7).
3. Jesus, our perfect example, generally ministered in public places, calling all to repentance, displaying the Father’s compassion as He ministered healing and deliverance, and rebuked leaders who were evil (Matt. 14:14; Jn. 8:44).
4. We are empowered and commissioned to disciple nations: “And Jesus spoke, saying, ‘ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’" (Matt. 28:18-20).
5. God put US in charge of the earth: The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, But the earth He has given to the sons of men (Ps. 115:16).
6. We need revelation to see that we are now ruling with Christ: May (God) give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened… He raised Him (Christ) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Eph. 1:17-23).
7. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places: God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6).

When America was birthed, the Church strongly influenced the government!

1. George Washington stated – “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” John Adams declared, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” Many additional quotes by America’s early leaders are available here.
2. Bill of Rights (adopted 1791) Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
3. Amendment 1 in no way forbids Christians from being active in politics, holding office, creating and voting on moral, upright laws, and living out what George Washington said was so desperately needed.
4. God calls political rulers His ministers! We must once again call believers into full-time ministry as leaders in every aspect of society, for when the evil rule, justice comes out perverted and people mourn (Rom. 13:3,4; Prov. 29:2).
5. Early Americans were encouraged to carry the Bible and the Constitution with them and study them both.
6. The Church was active in society - 123 of the first 126 colleges were Christian. Black Robe Regiment pastors called their congregations to fight in the Revolution. You can become a member of this group today.
7. The prophetic voice of Quakers to England created a campaign that brought the issue of slavery before governing authorities where new laws brought an end to slavery.

When the Church was removed from the public square, demonic deception took its place

1. Thomas Jefferson in his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association declared that when the American people adopted the first amendment in the Bill of Rights they built a “wall of separation between the church and state.” (NOTE: this is NOT what the First Amendment says!)
2. 1954 - Senator Lyndon Johnson introduced an amendment to the U.S. tax code prohibiting churches from taking a public stand on political candidates. If anyone from a pulpit dared to endorse a candidate, that church’s tax exemption would be repealed. Note: President Trump enacted an executive order which greatly diminished the potency of this law.
3. In 1963 the Supreme Court ruled that prayer was to be taken out of schools. This brought about many other evil laws and the absolute collapse of every aspect of schooling and American society which can be graphically seen on these charts. This total devastation is exactly what God said would happen if a nation does not hear His voice (Deut. 28:15-68 NKJV).
4. Evil leaders arose and God sent to them a spirit of delusion (2 Thess. 2:10-12).
5. We have now moved into “the naked public square” as churches dutifully submitted to government decrees, and the religion of secular humanism took over education and the country. With it came abortion on demand (1973), sexual grooming, same sex marriages, horrific transgender surgery, elitists in control of governments, and a host of other evils.
6. Children have been subjected to unimaginably inappropriate ideas by teachers paid with our tax dollars, and their parents have even been told that their children’s learning is no concern of theirs and that the state will choose what and how they learn. This is Communism come to America. (Metaxas, Eric. Letter to the American Church (pp. 14-15). Salem Books. Kindle Edition.) Four million children have moved to private/Christian schools, and the stream is growing fast.
7. During 2021, churches were told they were non-essential and ordered by the government to not assemble, while marijuana dispensaries, casinos, and strip clubs remained open. When they were allowed to meet, they were commanded not to sing their worship to God! Sadly, many pastors behaved as though it was their Christian duty not to speak.
8. Name-calling followed. Anyone taking a stand for Christian principles is ridiculed, called a right-wing extremist, Christian nationalist, fascist, white supremacist and a host of other much more barbaric names.

It’s time to take ACTION and bring God back into the town square!

1. Hear His voice and obey: My sheep hear My voice - you are the head and not the tail (Jn. 14:1; Deut. 28:1,13,14 NKJV). Training on hearing God’s voice is available here.
2. Be empowered by the Holy Spirit: You shall receive power when… (Acts 1:8). Training here.
3. No longer be the silent majority: We demonstrate God’s kingdom in the public square. We prophesy, show compassion, heal and cast out demons, and promote godly rule. See: The Church Slept. Hitler Arose. Millions Died. Bonhoeffer Fought Back.
4. Realize the building we attend on Sunday morning is NOT the Church. It is a place the Church gathers. Pastors are to train Christians how to disciple nations.
5. Speak prophetically to the governing authorities, giving them God’s wisdom and guidance even as Daniel did. Daniel was elevated to a position of leadership (Dan. 2:46-49).
6. Call upon God to release His power to defeat our enemies (1 Sam. 7:8-12)!
7. My journaling: “Lord, how do we go to war with the enemy and fight them?” Click here.