The Huddle

By Sidharth Mohandas

In today’s teaching I direct your attention to something called a “huddle” in sports terminology. A huddle is when a team gathers together in a tight circle, to strategize, to motivate or to celebrate.  The captain of the team is the leader of the huddle usually, and it is he who inspires his fellow members to achieve success. In the huddle, he makes it clear what each person is to do, in order to score points. After huddling up, the team disperses, ready to play against their opponents. I believe that this is one of the best pictures of what the Church is all about. A study on the Greek word “Ekklesia”, which has been commonly translated as “church”, reveals that the word “Ekklesia” has very little to do with the word “church” (which is another Greek word called “kyriakon” meaning “those who belong to the Lord”). In the New Testament, the word “Ekklesia” is used 115 times, out of which 113 times it is translated as “church” and the other two times it is translated as “assembly”. In fact, the word Ekklesia was also used to refer to an assembly that was called together by an Idol maker to decide on what to do with the people who were turning from idol worship to Christ (Acts 19:32,39,41). What then is Ekklesia? Ekklesia can, therefore, be defined as “an assembly brought together to bring about a specific purpose or goal”.

I want you to note at this point that my purpose in writing on this topic is not to raise an argument about correct usage of words (Ekklesia vs. Church). On the other hand, it is to bring us to the awareness of what the role of an assembly of believers actually is. So then, what is the purpose of the Ekklesia of those who believe in Christ? Is there a definite purpose? Let’s read from the book of Ephesians:

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him (Ephesians 1:9-10 NASB; Also read Ephesians 1:22-23)

The key purpose is contained in the Greek word anakephalaioo, which means “to sum up”, also translated as “to bring all things….together under one head” (NIV), “to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ”(AMP), “to gather together in one”(KJV). This is the goal of the Ekklesia of Christ. We strategize, plan, motivate, exhort, teach, comfort, evangelize, and prophesy – for the fulfilment of this grand purpose.

How is this “gathering together under one head” worked out? It is through the gifts He has distributed in the church (Ephesians 4:4-7). Paul mentions five gifts here, namely, the calling to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). And what is the ultimate objective of their roles? “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

Though it is important that we have a clear understanding on the word, Ekklesia, I believe it is much more important that you ask yourself today: “Why am I going to church every Sunday? Am I being equipped and trained for the work of ministry? How has the Ekklesia affected my life during the week?”

Friends, it’s so easy to get caught up with church programmes and activities, and be complacent. But I want to remind you that the original mandate Jesus gave us never had any mention of church activities or programmes. There was only one mission He gave you and me, and that is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). In an upcoming article, we will deal in more detail on what it means to be a disciple. Stay tuned!

Till then let’s huddle up to win the game!

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