"Going to church"

In chapter 8 of The Emerging Church, Kimball challenges the expression "going to church."

This got me to thinking about the church in France where I grew up. I don't recall anyone ever using the expression "go to church." (And not only because they were speaking French, wise guy!) If they meant the place, they said "aller au bâtiment" (go to the building); if they meant the Sunday morning gathering, they said "aller au culte" (go to worship).

I don't know if it was a conscious, theologically motivated decision on the part of the church leadership to promote these expressions, but it seems like a good way to keep at the forefront that the people (and not the building where they meet) are the church.