"The Church"

A few days ago I read a devotional written by someone who was sharing his experience in his new church.  He felt blessed and thankful to be a part of the body of Christ in that particular fellowship.  I found it interesting that he said he was having great times with "the church."

I wondered about those quotation marks.  Usually, when you see quotation marks like that, it's because you are calling something by a name that might not be appropriate.  My first read of that sentence was that it was something we call a church, but really isn't.

I don't think that's what he meant (I'm sure it's not), but do you think someone might ever call us a church in quotation marks?

"The church."