Church

Churches and church organizations in the United States, listed by city.

Aaron, first Jewish high priest and traditional founder of the Hebrew priesthood. According to the Old Testament Book of Exodus, Aaron was the older brother of Moses and a direct descendant of the tribe of Levi. As Moses' minister and spokesman (Exodus 4:10-15), Aaron helped Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When Moses was receiving the stone tablets containing the Law at Mount Sinai, the Israelites asked for a god to worship, and Aaron made them a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-24). He thereby incurred the anger of Yahweh and was pardoned only through the intercession of Moses.

2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37.

3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. ``When they had ordained them elders in every church.'' --Acts xiv. 23.

4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.

5. The collective body of Christians.

6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm.

7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil.

Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. --Bulwer.

Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something belonging or relating to the church; as, church authority; church history; church member; church music, etc.