Jesus’ Eklesia as a Civic Community Movement

The term "eklesia" originated in the Greco-Roman world as a secular designation for a gathering of citizens convened for civic purposes. It referred to assemblies where citizens met to discuss and decide on matters concerning their city, functioning much like a city council or public forum. This usage was firmly rooted in the political and social life of the community rather than in any religious context ([06:58]).

Jesus’ use of the word "eklesia" marked a profound departure from its traditional religious associations. When Jesus declared, "I will build my eklesia," the term would have been understood by his contemporaries as a call to form a community of active citizens engaged in the life and concerns of their society, rather than a reference to a religious congregation confined to a synagogue or temple. This redefinition shifted the concept from a static religious institution to a dynamic, community-based movement focused on societal involvement and transformation ([06:58]).

In Roman culture, "eklesia" was also linked to official gatherings sanctioned by the Empire, often convened under the authority of Caesar. Jesus’ appropriation of this term reimagined it as a continuous, grassroots community of followers operating "24/7 in the marketplace," influencing every aspect of daily life rather than being limited to a physical church building or clergy-led organization ([07:35]).

This historical understanding reveals the revolutionary nature of the early Christian movement. It was not the establishment of a new religious institution but the creation of a community of ordinary people empowered to serve, influence, and transform their society from within. The early church functioned as a living civic movement, deeply engaged in community life and societal impact, reflecting the original secular meaning of "eklesia" rather than the later institutionalized church model.

Believers are called to view themselves as part of this active community, operating in workplaces, marketplaces, and society at large, embodying the original intent of "eklesia" as a civic gathering with the power to effect change. This perspective highlights the church’s true purpose: to be a community of engaged citizens making a tangible difference in the world, not merely participants in religious rituals confined to a building ([06:58]).

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Parallel Church, one of 60 churches in Boulder, CO