the one true church
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thought I'd pop in my 1 cent here
most popular beliefs about church:
Catholic view- it is a universal, visible assembly of all baptised people in the catholic church
Protestant view- it is a universal, invisible assembly of all saved people on earth, every where.. and normally it is added that this is shown through local churches.. universal and local .. both invisible and visible.
Now here is something you may not have heard, but is very scriptural
'the church' is a local assembly or saved baptised believers, covenanted together to carry out the great commission and the great commandment. It is not a building.. but a group of believers..
the body of Christ.. becomes like 'the bar' or the 'the post office', or a body of water.. it is not the literal body of Christ.. but 'body' as in local entity.
What is universal.. is the Family of God, and teh Kingdom
The Family of God = God (as Jesus, the Father, the Holy Spirit).. His angels.. and all saved people, in heaven and on earth.
The Kingdom of God= The Family of God.. plus God's creation.. earth, planets, stars, heaven..universe
The Family is inside the Kingdom
The body of Christ is inside the Family
The body of Christ= a local assembly of saved baptised believers..with Jesus as the Head.
Consider that every book of the NT addressed to church.. was addressed to a local body of believers in particular.. applied particularly to them. Ephesus independent from Phillipi independent from Corinth.. independent from Thesselonica independent from Antioch..
The letters were distributed to other churches as examples of God's working in an assembly.
Consider that the word 'church' was not in the original bibles.. but 'congregation' and 'assembly' were... King James ordered alot of these words out.. to allow a broader definition - so the word 'church'. Thankfully studying context allows that word to become a local assembly anyway.
Consider that bibles that are honest.. have Jesus talking to churches plural in Revelation... not one church.
Have you ever heard of an 'unassembled assembly?' I haven't. But that is what the universal church is! It is a contradiction!
A congregation that never congregates?
A flock that never flocks together?
When Paul was talking about unity -- that was addressed to whatever church the letter was to! Ephesians verses about being built up together.. fitly framed together etc.. they are for the church at Ephesus.. for a local assembly, not one universal church!
Unity is possible in a local assembly of believers.. unity is a logistical nightmare and practically impossible for a universal church- especially if it is invisible!
Paul's writings about unity were meant to be achievable and realistic.. not some lofty.. never able to reach thing.
Anyway
the one true church?
A bible believing, independent, local assembly of saved baptised believers, covenanted together to carry out the great commission and great commandment with Jesus as the Head.
my 1 cent
most popular beliefs about church:
Catholic view- it is a universal, visible assembly of all baptised people in the catholic church
Protestant view- it is a universal, invisible assembly of all saved people on earth, every where.. and normally it is added that this is shown through local churches.. universal and local .. both invisible and visible.
Now here is something you may not have heard, but is very scriptural
'the church' is a local assembly or saved baptised believers, covenanted together to carry out the great commission and the great commandment. It is not a building.. but a group of believers..
the body of Christ.. becomes like 'the bar' or the 'the post office', or a body of water.. it is not the literal body of Christ.. but 'body' as in local entity.
What is universal.. is the Family of God, and teh Kingdom
The Family of God = God (as Jesus, the Father, the Holy Spirit).. His angels.. and all saved people, in heaven and on earth.
The Kingdom of God= The Family of God.. plus God's creation.. earth, planets, stars, heaven..universe
The Family is inside the Kingdom
The body of Christ is inside the Family
The body of Christ= a local assembly of saved baptised believers..with Jesus as the Head.
Consider that every book of the NT addressed to church.. was addressed to a local body of believers in particular.. applied particularly to them. Ephesus independent from Phillipi independent from Corinth.. independent from Thesselonica independent from Antioch..
The letters were distributed to other churches as examples of God's working in an assembly.
Consider that the word 'church' was not in the original bibles.. but 'congregation' and 'assembly' were... King James ordered alot of these words out.. to allow a broader definition - so the word 'church'. Thankfully studying context allows that word to become a local assembly anyway.
Consider that bibles that are honest.. have Jesus talking to churches plural in Revelation... not one church.
Have you ever heard of an 'unassembled assembly?' I haven't. But that is what the universal church is! It is a contradiction!
A congregation that never congregates?
A flock that never flocks together?
When Paul was talking about unity -- that was addressed to whatever church the letter was to! Ephesians verses about being built up together.. fitly framed together etc.. they are for the church at Ephesus.. for a local assembly, not one universal church!
Unity is possible in a local assembly of believers.. unity is a logistical nightmare and practically impossible for a universal church- especially if it is invisible!
Paul's writings about unity were meant to be achievable and realistic.. not some lofty.. never able to reach thing.
Anyway
the one true church?
A bible believing, independent, local assembly of saved baptised believers, covenanted together to carry out the great commission and great commandment with Jesus as the Head.
my 1 cent
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