When we hear phrases like “the church is in decline” or “the church opposes this,” what exactly do we mean? Is it the global body of believers—or the local institution of congregations?
Join us as we discuss how Scripture and grammar shape our understanding of “the church.” Is Jesus in Matthew 16:18 referring to all believers everywhere, or to the collective body of local churches He began with His disciples? And how does Matthew 18 help clarify the distinction?
In news items, and in general we see statements like ‘the church ‘ is experiencing great decline. Or ‘the church ‘ spoke against gambling.
I know people usually mean ‘all redeemed ‘ when saying ‘the church’.. but have you thought about this:
In English grammar.. .multiple, numerous things can be said in one type.
So, ‘the dog’ is a loyal animal. Which dog? Not Rex down the road ..but one type representing all.
‘The car’ is an amazing invention. Which car? Not the Ford that Harry has over the fence..but one unit representing all.
So..i believe when we see ‘the church’ in scripture.. it is this type of grammar.
Actually the institution of ‘the church’.. meaning all churches plural. Not the congregation who meet down the road..but one type representing all congregations.
Matthew 16:18 ‘I will build my church’
Here Jesus is referring to the institution of churches He started, with the first being Him and the disciples .
Further proof He is referring to the local church is that in Matthew 18 He speaks of talking to ’the church’, in dealing with a sinning brother.
Why would He introduce the church one way and contradict Himself later?
All redeemed, I believe is a different entity to ‘the church’
Using your dog analogy, many times you’ll see many different breeds of dogs, running together, in other words, they’re having fellowship. A cat would not “durst join them” (Acts 5:13)
In one of my Bibles, I wrote down a quote from a message: “In the essentials - Unity, in non-essentials- Harmony”
If we are “the church”, some doctrines are essential. Jesus Christ came to save sinners would be one of them. In fact I would say that nearly all of 1 Corinthians 15 would count as essential, where there would be no deviation. How “the church” is fleshed out by His followers, may not always look the same, and that is where harmony is needed.
You’re trying to slice the Church into two… one being “all the redeemed,” the other being “the institution of churches.” But Scripture won’t let you do that without spiritual surgery that cuts against the grain of the gospel.
Jesus in Matthew 16:18 says, “I will build My church,” and you say that means the institution of churches. But what Jesus actually said in context was in response to Peter’s confession of faith… that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. What was Christ building His church on? That confession. That faith. That reality. Not an institution. Not a building. Not a collection of visible organizations, but a body of believers who know who He is and bow to that truth.
Then you point to Matthew 18 where Jesus says “tell it to the church” in the context of church discipline. And yes, there He’s referring to the local body, the gathered community. That’s not a contradiction, it’s a clarification. Just like Paul wrote to “the church of God that is in Corinth” but also said, “we were all baptized into one body.” Same word, different scope. One body, many local expressions. Unified in Spirit, diverse in geography.
But trying to pit the “institution of churches” against “the redeemed” like they’re separate entities is the kind of theological hair-splitting that creates confusion, not clarity. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. That’s not a metaphor for buildings or bylaws. That’s His bride. That’s the redeemed.
The Church is not a category. It’s a people. It’s not an institution. It’s an identity. If your definition of church doesn’t bleed, worship, and rise with Christ, it’s not the one He died for.
—Sincere Seeker. Scripturally savage. Here for the Truth.
