What is church/the church?

When we say, "Let's go to church", what does that mean?  Generally speaking, from its context, it is easy enough to know what someone basically means when they say "go to church". But what does it mean in depth?  If the church is not the building, then it’s a misnomer to "go". But surely the church is more than simply a mental concept. And it cannot simply be the gathering of like-minded people. Merely claiming to be something is not grounds for actually being it.  One cannot appeal to Matt 18:15-20. This passage, in its context, is talking about church discipline, not the worship service. Then there is 1 John 3:15, where the church is identified as the pillar and foundation of the truth. That kind of designation is hard to nail down if one is going to identify the church as an ambiguous "everyone who loves Jesus". The over whelming variety of doctrines throughout the Protestant world makes this kind of designation practically impossible.

I believe this leaves only two options. One, the church, when defined as "anyone who loves God", requires an incredibly narrow and shallow articulation of truth, so that the only thing necessary for being part of the Church is narrow mental consent. Or two, the church is an objective, definable entity with a life and practice of which one should partake.  There are no other options.

The historic church, that is, the Eastern Orthodox Church, sees, understands and promotes itself as the church that has lived and moved and breathed as "the Church" defined by Jesus and the apostles and animated by the Holy Spirit. I would agree.
The church then is that visible body that embraces and lives out the faith as handed down by the apostles and their successors, led by the Holy Spirit, as a body not as individuals, striving towards eternal life by working out their salvation with fear and trembling. And being part of that church does not end at death. Since Christ's victory over death at the resurrection, death is now merely temporary disembodiment. The final judgment will bring with it eternal embodiment either with God as the collective bride of Christ or apart from God as the unfaithful servant.

It is not legitimate to base ones faith and belief on personally interpreted Scripture, independent of the historic Church. If someone finds themselves believing something contrary to that which the church has always believed or taught, they should seriously consider why. And give serious consideration as to likelihood of being wrong. Because the church, as the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. No one else is. And to be out of communion with the body of Christ is to be as the branch that has been cut off.

          Far too many see the religious life in strictly subjective terms. But we cannot ignore the objective reality of Church life. To do so would be similar to claiming love for your spouse while not living with or growing with her.