“The local body of believers, the assembly of believers, has some organizational structure as outlined in Scripture.”
Now you see, some of the goofy people here say that there is no address for the “true church”, you seem to be saying there maybe. Is there some special label we should look for? Like maybe the “First Bible Church” or “Free Baptist” or “The Elders of Zion”? Or do we just have to sample this or that odd non-denomination group until we find one that doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Easter or do anything else “pagan”?
No, I'm not. There is no address for the true church, which is the body of Christ, as it is made up of all true believers throughout the church age.
Is there some special label we should look for? Like maybe the First Bible Church or Free Baptist or The Elders of Zion? Or do we just have to sample this or that odd non-denomination group until we find one that doesnt celebrate Christmas, Easter or do anything else pagan?
Religion doesn't mean anything. Church membership doesn't count. Denominations are meaningless. Buildings are not the true church.
The true church is an organism, not an organization.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one bodyJews or Greeks, slaves or freeand all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.