when we say church

when we say church

church is not something you
drive by
look at
walk into
go to
sleep in
live near
get married in
attend

church is not something that
starts at eleven
is boring
never ends on time
asks for money
has stained glass windows
needs new carpet

church is something you are

church is a gathering of people
believing god
following jesus
being filled by the spirit
loving each other
serving the city
changing the world

church is something that belongs to jesus
church is something whose birth cost his death
church is something he promised to build, and against which the gates of hell have no chance

shouldn’t we mean what he meant
when we say church?