Build Your Church
Maverick City Music came out with an amazing song called “Build Your Church”, which I’ve been heavily listening to these past few months. I decided to share it on here, however, I also felt the need to give some background information (also known as the Word of God) for a better understanding of where the lyrics of this song is coming from. The context of the song, “Build Your Church” comes from the book of Matthew:
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
- Matthew 16: 13-19 (NKJV)
Many people today refer to the church as a building where Christian services are held. Although they aren’t necessarily wrong, the definition will make you believe that Jesus was just referring to the church as a physical building. When the Bible was being translated (during King James VI’s day), an alternative phrase for church was used instead of its original meaning. The original meaning, in Greek, was ekklesia. The ekklesia refers to a body of believers [Christians] who are gathered together to do God’s will (which can be different things, but all acts are to honor God and God alone). No physical building required.
Individually and collectively, we are God’s church! This means a group of believers can gather together and minister to people at a neighborhood park or even on foreign soil and they are still referred to as the church. After all, we are the body of Christ here this earth.
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
- 1 Corinthians 12: 27 (NLT)
With this in mind, please re-read Matthew 16: 13-19 with this new meaning of the church in mind.
The song also makes a reference to a chapter in Romans:
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
- Romans 10: 13-15 (NLT)
We can only be saved and forgiven from our sins through Jesus Christ. But how do we get to that point? For most of us, it takes Christians to share the Gospel (God’s word) for us in someway, shape, or form. This gospel encounter will allow the Lord to do His work in us. It is up to us to make the decision to repent of our sins and give our lives to Jesus.
For me, personally, giving my heart to Christ was the best life changing decision of my life. I thank God for His children that He sent to deliver the Good News [His Gospel] to me still to this day.
Lyrics:
On Christ alone
Our Chief Cornerstone
No other foundation
Can we build upon
Not philosophy
Nor the wisdom of man
All other ground
Is sinking sand
Upon this Rock
You build Your Church
And the gates of hell
Will not prevail
When we bind and loose
We proclaim Your truth
And in Jesus’ Name,
We will not fail
Crucified
Raised up from the dead
Led captivity captive
It is finished
He gave us the keys
His authority
Now we are joint-heirs
To the praise of His glory
Build Your Church
Build Your Church
Build it from the ground up
It’s Your Church
Build Your Church
Build Your Church
Build it from the ground up
We’re Your Church
