David Miller wrote:
Terry wrote:
Try to get over the idea that the Church is a
small or large organization. It is neither
It is a living organism
I hear where you are coming from, Terry, but there is something about this
organism called church that is defineable. The word church is found in the
plural quite often in Scripture. I cannot read Rev. 2 & 3 and not see that
Jesus perceives several defined churches there. You didn't comment about my
remark about the Temple Menorah, having one root, but many branches. This
is the imagery of Revelation concerning the churches. Notice that to the
church of Ephesus, Jesus threatens to remove its candlestick (Rev. 2:5).
Doesn't that mean that this church had autonomy from the other churches?
Doesn't it mean that this organism called the church is more defineable than
simply saying it is all the believers upon the face of the earth? How can
you read about these 7 churches and not see different problems and different
strengths? How can you read how Jesus deals with his churches here and not
recognize that there exist different churches with different strengths and
different weaknesses?
One consideration about the church is its sphere of operation. Is it the
whole world? Is it the nation in which it exists? Is it the county? The
city? I think Scripture is consonant with the idea that the city defines
geographical the sphere of operation for the church. The city is the
smallest political unit, and it seems that perhaps this is what is meant by
passages that speak about the WHOLE CHURCH. We read about the "whole
church" referring to the saints in Jerusalem in Acts 15:22 and this same
phrase appears to refer to the saints in Corinth in 1 Cor. 14:23. Acts
11:26 refers to Paul and Barnabas assembling with the church in Antioch in
Acts 11:26. This church seems to have distinction from the church in
Jerusalem and other cities. It sure seems to me that the Holy Spirit has
something in mind about church that is different than the idea that Christ's
church is simply all those in the world who believe in Christ.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
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I see the menorah and I see it represents seven bodies of believers in
different geographical areas. I also see that one of those bodies of
believers is about to be admonished or punished for disobedience. The
church with a small c is called a church because it is a body of
believers. If there were no other body of believers, it would be THE
Church, but since it is not alone, it is just a portion of The Church.
The smallest unit is not the city. The smallest unit is the individual
Saint. Individual Saints make up individual churches. Individual
churches make up The Church. (One cornerstone, one foundation, a bunch
of living stones. I have stated what I believe. You cannot see it
that way. No problem, it doesn't mean you have lost your salvation.
It just means that you are wrong. That makes us even. You were more
correct on the prophets. :-)
Terry
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