what is being built?

how do you define the church? what is the center reality of what the church should be? if given an opportunity to define "church" what would it be? what would be the "core" or "foundation" of the church? i think, depending on who we are, the defination changes, but does the core? should the core? here are some words of jesus in matthew: [16:17-19]

Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

the "core" is that jesus is the christ - nothing mre then that is needed. many churches, people and demoninations desire to add so much to this reality, but it still boils down to christ. but, if we are "the church" should not our core be christ? everything we do needs to start with christ, end with christ and should be filtered through christ - not paul, not peter, not james, not our pastors - but through christ.