In Denmark it´s very simple.  The talk of the town points to the state church ("Lutheran"), its rituals and religious scenario are subject to the laws of the state.  If a certain religious procedure is not followed to the letter including, say, the gown of the minister,  the law has been violated and the Minister for Ecclesiastical  Affairs is supposed to solemnly intervene.

But the state church is not the church.

If we were a Roman Catholic country the answer would also be simple.  The church is that religious body of which the pope is the supreme head.  He represents Christ and speaks on behalf of Him in all doctrinal matters.

But the Roman Church is not the church either.

If you go to the U.S. it´s also simple.  The church is where you worship, period.  The church is the established place you pick out.  If the Bible and the gospel is cherished, you have a better chance to find Christian brothers and sisters there than in a state church or under the pope.

And yet this evangelical establishment is not the church.  It may have the right doctrines and everything and still be just a shell or an outward show.

 Now listen, the church is a redeemed people of Christ "purchased with His own blood"  (Acts 20:28). They love  one another with the love of Christ.  They love to meet, to share what they have found in Christ, His love motivates them to go to others with His love to win the lost, - their focus is Christ and not "church" (which is the word I hear more  frequently in the U.S. than "Christ") their hope is not set on politics or political leaders, but on their common hope which is "the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Tit. 2:13).

Their outward frame is immaterial.  It has changed over the years.  But the Christ uplifting Spirit that draws them together is the same and without Him we have no glory despite an impressive, religious machinery.
Don´t let that "machinery" cool you down, but do lift up Christ!

March 10, 2016 - jn