Church is not a building snippet I wrote recently...

[Believer1997]

Carlos,

I think this is a topic which has come up often in your previous posts. As I recall, you had issues with organized religion and I understand many people do.

A church building is just that - a building.

A church is a living and breathing organism.... People and the Holy Spirit make the church, IMO.

Have you had a better experience in finding a church to which you feel comfortable and suited? That's so important for growth.

[Fez]

Act 17:23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

Act 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

Act 17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Act 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

Act 17:27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Which does not mean we should not congregate as the "church"

[Guest man]

Is there a sin being committed when we call that building a "church" or are we just being petty?

Serious question.

[Believer1997]

Is there a sin being committed when we call that building a "church" or are we just being petty?

Serious question.

I think we are being petty - but that's just my thought. I guess anywhere can be called a House of God - where 2 or more are gathered in His name and worship God.

[nebula]

Is there a sin being committed when we call that building a "church" or are we just being petty?

Serious question.

I wouldn't call it a sin, but I would not consider the issue petty.

We have in our minds that "church" is the Sunday morning meeting with an ordained graduated-from-seminary/Bible school pastor presiding. I've had discussions with Christians who got offended at the idea of having "church" in someone's home or at the campground or wherever. Oh, you can call it a "Bible study" - but it isn't church. I also know a lot of people who hold higher reverence for the building than they do the body of Christ (people), or acting like the building is akin to God somehow.

So I do believe correct terminology matters.

[Guest man]

Is there a sin being committed when we call that building a "church" or are we just being petty?

Serious question.

I wouldn't call it a sin, but I would not consider the issue petty.

We have in our minds that "church" is the Sunday morning meeting with an ordained graduated-from-seminary/Bible school pastor presiding. I've had discussions with Christians who got offended at the idea of having "church" in someone's home or at the campground or wherever. Oh, you can call it a "Bible study" - but it isn't church. I also know a lot of people who hold higher reverence for the building than they do the body of Christ (people), or acting like the building is akin to God somehow.

So I do believe correct terminology matters.

What would be the correct term to use?

[Fez]

Is there a sin being committed when we call that building a "church" or are we just being petty?

Serious question.

I wouldn't call it a sin, but I would not consider the issue petty.

We have in our minds that "church" is the Sunday morning meeting with an ordained graduated-from-seminary/Bible school pastor presiding. I've had discussions with Christians who got offended at the idea of having "church" in someone's home or at the campground or wherever. Oh, you can call it a "Bible study" - but it isn't church. I also know a lot of people who hold higher reverence for the building than they do the body of Christ (people), or acting like the building is akin to God somehow.

So I do believe correct terminology matters.

What would be the correct term to use?

You tell us

[Guest man]

What would be the correct term to use?

You tell us

I'm not the one who's all uptight about calling that building a church. For reasons that are beyond me, some feel it shouldn't be called a church. If "church" isn't the correct terminology for that building, what is?

Personally I don't have a problem with it. I've always known it as church and that knowledge hasn't hindered me one way or the other in my search for the Truth. Labeling that building something other than "church" isn't going to make it somehow holier. It's still just a building where people gather to worship.

The name of your meeting place isn't what's important, it's what you get out of it.

[carlos123]

If we take the word chuch from the NT to the the Lxx where the greek was translated from the Hebrew we see its the same word God used for those gathered at Sinia, it is always His congregation, assembly or called out people never a building or structure.

Alrighty. I just had to say something respecting your comment mizzdy. I agree. Now...the question is what are we going to do about it??

Anything?

Or are we going to go right along and continue with the whole Church is a building practice while all along knowing it is not in our heads? I don't care what present day Church leaders think or are doing if their practice is not accountable and submissive to what the Word says we ought to do to please our Lord. So again what are we willing to do about this head belief that Church is not a building? How do we apply that?

Carlos

[carlos123]

Have you had a better experience in finding a church to which you feel comfortable and suited? That's so important for growth.

No.

Carlos