JANUARY 26, 2020 - "THE WORD “CHURCH” HAS PROFOUND MEANINGS "

In old Testament times, Almighty God commanded that a special place be set aside and dedicated for worship and prayer. God gave specific instructions for the construction and decoration of that temple. The Bible records that people gladly responded by giving for this purpose.

A church is the HOUSE OF GOD. Large or small, ornate or simple, it is the dwelling place of the Almighty. Our Lord once said: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I amongst them.” So, we try to make the church a lovely place, inside and out. We decorate with icons and furnishings. In truth, we try to make the temple building “a heaven on earth.”

It is necessary to comment that the word “church” means much more besides a building. People make up a parish, people who believe that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” The church is a world wide community of faithful which carries on the work of Christ, fulfilling His command: “Go and teach all nations… baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Let us, then, love the church, our birthplace into the Christian life. May we embrace the spirit of one of the Psalms: I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”