Consider the way in which we use the word 'church'. If one were to catalogue its uses in contemporary American Christianity, more than likely the most frequent meaning used would be a building ("I was at church'); secondly, by a service event ("I went to church"); thirdly, a group of believers ("I joined the church'); and fourthly, by all those who are Christ's ("I am in the church").

Yet, when we read the New Testament the pecking order appears almost entirely reversed. If the term 'church' were an empty glass, the New Testament would fill it with meaning in an almost entirely different way. The definition 'the people of God' would substantially fill this glass. The water level would then be raised even further by the idea of 'a local congregation'. Our second-most frequent use of 'church', carefully-outlined and patently-planned services, might add a drop or two. The idea of a building falls outside of the glass.

Should we conform our vocabulary to its original source, or should we continue to read the New Testament term by our own definition? It is not simply a matter of semantics. The answer predetermines much of our theology of the church.