The word church means “an assembly, a company of people gathered together for a certain purpose. It is not a building.
>>Are you giving it a 21st century definition, or are you looking back at how the term was defined outside of scripture.
You can’t simply take a wooden reading of the Bible and impose preconceived notions on the particular text.
The question should be: Was Jesus visible, and if the Church is his body isn’t it also visible?
The problem with Evangelicalism is it starts with anti-Catholicism as the beginning of its scriptural interpretation rather than looking for clues how St. Paul or the other writers would have thought based on their cultural , linguistic, and other considerations.
The fact is you had a firm ecclesiastical hierarchy in place within 50 years of the Book of Acts. That’s not me talking. That is a historical fact.
Should we begin our history with interpreting scripture in the light of 16th century squabbles in the Western Church, or should we make an honest effort to start afresh when reading the Bible?
It is my sincere belief that when approaching the Bible one is approaching the literal Word of God.
To interpreret such is akin to that of approaching the Throne of God, i.e., w/out overt genuflectrions.
It is stated in Hebrews that the World of God is ‘alive’ and able to divide asunder the spirit & soul.
Good luck on doing that these days. I guess that is pretty easy when examining Isa 40.
“The question should be: Was Jesus visible, and if the Church is his body isn’t it also visible?”
What did Jesus say?
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” - Matt 13
Or later:
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ - Rev 3
Okay, sorry. I guess we need huge cathedrals and all the pomp and say this and do that and have priests with robes and whatever in order to worship properly.
BTW - ever read about Dorcas? Might be a bit of an eye opener on the early church.
Of course not...The church is spiritual...
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Do you think Christians have a visible, physical circumcision when they partake of this circumcision???