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It is a wonderful thing to hear from such an accomplished student of Christian church history. Thank you so much for your penetrating and helpful observations!

Yet that subject matter is not the jist of what Alamo-Girl and I have been concerned about recently. There is an "objective" church, which has a history (i.e., it has a "past.") There is also a (forward-looking) "subjective," or inner church, which is inspired and drawn by the Holy Spirit in "real time," the cultivation of which is of particular interest to my dear sister and me.

FWIW. Don't know whether this makes any sense to you. But there it is anyway.

Thank you so much for writing, annalex!

There is an "objective" church, which has a history (i.e., it has a "past.") There is also a (forward-looking) "subjective," or inner church, which is inspired and drawn by the Holy Spirit in "real time," the cultivation of which is of particular interest to my dear sister and me.

I understand. "Glorify and bear God in your body".

There is a danger in cultivating your own temple though.

19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God, 20 Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: 21 In whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord. 22 In whom you also are built together into an habitation of God in the Spirit.
(Eph 2)

[ There is an "objective" church, which has a history (i.e., it has a "past.") There is also a (forward-looking) "subjective," or inner church, which is inspired and drawn by the Holy Spirit in "real time," the cultivation of which is of particular interest to my dear sister and me. ]

The word "the Church" is a metaphor.. meaning "the called out ones".. Called out of "the world", which is another metaphor..

The "Church" and "The Bride of Christ"(yet another metaphor) are similar.. The "Church" is NOT an earthly organization, the masses for some clergy to manage, sheep for some pastor to be the husbandman to cull, or a polity to be governed..

The church and bride of christ are governed by the Holy Spirit completely.. even though many organizations call themselves churchs when they are really clubs wholly and completely.. as is outlined in the book of relevation which is the Revelation of Jesus Christ(Ch 1;1)..

The Holy Spirit allows membership in clubs, but a club is not the church.. nor is it the Body of Christ or Bride of Christ.. Membership in a club can be and many times is Idolatry.. Missing the metaphors in the metasphere of spiritual reality exposes whether you are a goat or a sheep.. Which MUST be separated(goats from sheep).. and will be separated..

Must be WHY? clubs are allowed by the Holy Spirit, to the sheep..
Pretty tricky.. Is GOD cool or WHAT?...

Yet that subject matter is not the jist of what Alamo-Girl and I have been concerned about recently. There is an "objective" church, which has a history (i.e., it has a "past.") There is also a (forward-looking) "subjective," or inner church, which is inspired and drawn by the Holy Spirit in "real time," the cultivation of which is of particular interest to my dear sister and me.

Well said and very true.

There is an "objective" church, which has a history (i.e., it has a "past.") There is also a (forward-looking) "subjective," or inner church, which is inspired and drawn by the Holy Spirit in "real time," the cultivation of which is of particular interest to my dear sister and me. ...Don't know whether this makes any sense to you.

Makes perfect sense to me!