Christian: "Church" (Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints, Earth, attend, doctrine)

[Scott1]

"The word "Church" (Latin ecclesia, from the Greek ek-ka-lein, to "call out of") means a convocation or an assembly. It designates the assemblies of the people, usually for a religious purpose. Ekklesia is used frequently in the Greek Old Testament for the assembly of the Chosen People before God, above all for their assembly on Mount Sinai where Israel received the Law and was established by God as his holy people. By calling itself "Church," the first community of Christian believers recognized itself as heir to that assembly. In the Church, God is "calling together" his people from all the ends of the earth. The equivalent Greek term Kyriake, from which the English word Church and the German Kirche are derived, means "what belongs to the Lord."(CCC #751)

What does "church" mean to you/your faith?

Local? Universal? Both? Neither?

[Scuba Pete]

Just that Scott... the "FFOF" (Faithful Few on Fire).

[Scott1]

Hehe... I get ya brother, but if there are only a "few"... what are the rest doing? Just gathering together for nothing?

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Scott1

"The word "Church" (Latin ecclesia, from the Greek ek-ka-lein, to "call out of") means a convocation or an assembly. It designates the assemblies of the people, usually for a religious purpose. Ekklesia is used frequently in the Greek Old Testament for the assembly of the Chosen People before God, above all for their assembly on Mount Sinai where Israel received the Law and was established by God as his holy people. By calling itself "Church," the first community of Christian believers recognized itself as heir to that assembly. In the Church, God is "calling together" his people from all the ends of the earth. The equivalent Greek term Kyriake, from which the English word Church and the German Kirche are derived, means "what belongs to the Lord."(CCC #751)

What does "church" mean to you/your faith?

Local? Universal? Both? Neither?

Hi, Scott.

To me it has different meaning, based on the context. But like you, I'm sure, I do not believe in the concept of "the invisible church." Jesus Christ actually established a Church and it was organized they way He personally wanted it to be. There can be only one such Church, only one (1) teaching the doctrines He taught and (2) holding the authority He gave to His Apostles.

Obviously, I see that Church as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, that doesn't mean that I believe all other churches (Christian or otherwise) as wicked or depraved. I just don't see them as meeting the requirements I mentioned in the first paragraph. I believe that He hears the prayers of the members of these churches, too, and that the Spirit may attend them as they worship. In once sense, I see it as being entirely accurate to speak of "the Church" as representing all 30,000+ Christian denominations, because -- whatever their many differences -- I see them all as workshipping Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World.

I believe that, ultimately, there will be just one universal Church -- Christ's Church. But that won't be until He comes again.

Kathryn

[Scuba Pete]

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. NIV

I like to believe what it says.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

I like to believe what it says.

That doesn't help me.. is the "church" not a place or a thing, but a goal(the narrow gate)?

[Scuba Pete]

The church of Christ is an organism. There are very few who find the way.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. NIV

[Scott1]

I guess I can't find the way ND... I don't have a clue what you are getting at.... let's see what other Christians may offer this thread.

[Scuba Pete]

Scott,

let me elucidate with scripture:

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. NIV

I Corinthians 12:12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prop