Comments on: What is Church? http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/ Bringing Scripture and Theology to Life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:57:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rocco http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-9442 Rocco Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:09:20 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-9442 Jeremy, you said... "I am about to embark on a series of posts that attempt to begin to answer some of these questions..." I don't suppose you have those posts categorized somewhere? Jeremy, you said…
“I am about to embark on a series of posts that attempt to begin to answer some of these questions…”

I don’t suppose you have those posts categorized somewhere?

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7647 Jeremy Myers Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:29:35 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7647 Yes, I have done a lot more posting on this in recent months. This post itself was from 2007 when I first began to ask questions about the church. If you found this post through Facebook or Google+, it is because I am going back and updating all my posts for SEO purposes. Yes, I have done a lot more posting on this in recent months. This post itself was from 2007 when I first began to ask questions about the church. If you found this post through Facebook or Google+, it is because I am going back and updating all my posts for SEO purposes.

]]> By: Joshua http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7610 Joshua Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:04:40 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7610 We are the ekklesia. Where and how we gather is irrelevant so long as we gather. Corporate worship is awesome but what we've done as far as creating superstar pastors and mega churches is a bit rediculous and it's not working. I'm glad your posting on this and can't wait to read more. We are the ekklesia. Where and how we gather is irrelevant so long as we gather. Corporate worship is awesome but what we’ve done as far as creating superstar pastors and mega churches is a bit rediculous and it’s not working. I’m glad your posting on this and can’t wait to read more.

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7522 Jeremy Myers Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:01:41 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7522 Lustus, I am not too interested in a debate about when the church started...it is generally fruitless. Much more important is learning to be the church right now, since the church certainly exists today, and we are members of the church. I am not going to exclude you for thinking church began at creation, and I hope you would not exclude me for thinking it began at Pentecost. Lustus,

I am not too interested in a debate about when the church started…it is generally fruitless.

Much more important is learning to be the church right now, since the church certainly exists today, and we are members of the church.

I am not going to exclude you for thinking church began at creation, and I hope you would not exclude me for thinking it began at Pentecost.

]]> By: Lustus http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7516 Lustus Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:48:48 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7516 No problem. Let's disregard the creeds for the time being so that you can tell me why you think the church “began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2”. For example, would you exclude the prophets from the church? Doesn't Paul say, <b>“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. ”</b> ~ <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:19-22&version=NASB" rel="nofollow">Ephesians 2:19-22 (NASB)</a> No problem. Let’s disregard the creeds for the time being so that you can tell me why you think the church “began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2”. For example, would you exclude the prophets from the church? Doesn’t Paul say, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. ” ~ Ephesians 2:19-22 (NASB)

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7511 Jeremy Myers Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:53:05 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7511 Ha! My bad. I misquoted you. Yes, I have seen the creeds. It is all I have been blogging about for the past thee weeks, and how dangerous they are to the life and vitality of the church. Just because a creed says something does not make it right. I disagree with several points in those creeds you mentioned. One of my points of disagreement is the understanding of "church." Ha! My bad. I misquoted you.

Yes, I have seen the creeds. It is all I have been blogging about for the past thee weeks, and how dangerous they are to the life and vitality of the church. Just because a creed says something does not make it right.

I disagree with several points in those creeds you mentioned. One of my points of disagreement is the understanding of “church.”

]]> By: Lustus http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7506 Lustus Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:59:24 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7506 No, Jeremy, I said it <b>has</b> sacraments. Adam and Eve were clothed in a sacrament which is a <i>type</i> of Christ, the covering of the blood drained Lamb of God. And have you not seen the creeds? The idea that the church began at Pentecost proceeds from the novel doctrine of Dispensationalism I believe; the historic orthodox church has no such notion. For example, <i>The Belgic Confession</i> states: “This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end, as appears from the fact that Christ is eternal King who cannot be without subjects.” Or, <i>The Heidelberg Catechism</i> states “That the Son of God from the beginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves to himself by his Spirit and word, out of the whole human race, a church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and that I am and forever shall remain, a living member thereof.” The examples could be multiplied. May the Lord bless your study. No, Jeremy, I said it has sacraments. Adam and Eve were clothed in a sacrament which is a type of Christ, the covering of the blood drained Lamb of God. And have you not seen the creeds? The idea that the church began at Pentecost proceeds from the novel doctrine of Dispensationalism I believe; the historic orthodox church has no such notion. For example, The Belgic Confession states: “This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end, as appears from the fact that Christ is eternal King who cannot be without subjects.” Or, The Heidelberg Catechism states “That the Son of God from the beginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves to himself by his Spirit and word, out of the whole human race, a church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and that I am and forever shall remain, a living member thereof.” The examples could be multiplied. May the Lord bless your study.

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7500 Jeremy Myers Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:06:44 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7500 Lustus, That is a decent definition of "church." I am not sure I would say that it began with Adam in the Garden of Eden, but I see your point. I agree it needs no sacraments or location. Lustus,

That is a decent definition of “church.” I am not sure I would say that it began with Adam in the Garden of Eden, but I see your point. I agree it needs no sacraments or location.

]]> By: Lustus http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-7452 Lustus Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:27:16 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-7452 <i>The church is the universal and spiritual body of believers in Jesus Christ: which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and gathers together in various physical locations for: exaltation of God by glorifyinig Him through a life lived in worship edifcation of one another through teaching, fellowship, and prayer evangelism of the world through social and spiritual acts of service</i> "Church" means "called out ones" and started in the Garden of Eden with Adam. It needs no "physical location", has sacraments and depends on the Word of God mediated by the Spirit of God for the glory of God. <b>“Believe me,” returned Jesus, “the time is coming when worshipping the Father will not be a matter of ‘on this hill-side’ or ‘in Jerusalem’. Nowadays you are worshipping with your eyes shut. We Jews are worshipping with our eyes open, for the salvation of mankind is to come from our race. Yet the time is coming, yes, and has already come, when true worshippers will worship in spirit and in reality. Indeed, the Father looks for men who will worship him like that. God is spirit, and those who worship him can only worship in spirit and in reality.”</b> ~ <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204:21-24&version=PHILLIPS" rel="nofollow">John 4:21-24 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)</a> The church is the universal and spiritual body of believers in Jesus Christ:

which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2
and gathers together in various physical locations for:
exaltation of God by glorifyinig Him through a life lived in worship
edifcation of one another through teaching, fellowship, and prayer
evangelism of the world through social and spiritual acts of service

“Church” means “called out ones” and started in the Garden of Eden with Adam. It needs no “physical location”, has sacraments and depends on the Word of God mediated by the Spirit of God for the glory of God.

“Believe me,” returned Jesus, “the time is coming when worshipping the Father will not be a matter of ‘on this hill-side’ or ‘in Jerusalem’. Nowadays you are worshipping with your eyes shut. We Jews are worshipping with our eyes open, for the salvation of mankind is to come from our race. Yet the time is coming, yes, and has already come, when true worshippers will worship in spirit and in reality. Indeed, the Father looks for men who will worship him like that. God is spirit, and those who worship him can only worship in spirit and in reality.” ~ John 4:21-24 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/what-is-church/#comment-6953 Jeremy Myers Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:28:24 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=26#comment-6953 Interesting. I like the point about Sunday being a work day and the church should be doing something. Great, great point! Interesting. I like the point about Sunday being a work day and the church should be doing something. Great, great point!

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