"Church" is not a biblical word . . .

[Neighbor]

Just now, Marathoner said:

I give our @Neighbor points for the Swedish Chef gif...

 

Thanks! Fortunately "the points don't really count" and we can all have some fun  as we share and learn.

Spouse and I happen to love the Swedish chef; using our best imitation of him as a punch line in many of our own conversations."Okee Dokie"

[Sower]

9 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

I love the many spices added by VA, makes worthy often worth it.

The word needs no spice. Only man's appetite.

[Marathoner]

5 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Thanks! Fortunately "the points don't really count" and we can all have some fun  as we share and learn.

Spouse and I happen to love the Swedish chef; using our best imitation of him as a punch line in many of our own conversations."Okee Dokie"

The Swedish Chef was my favorite, followed by the two old men who were critics of the show. 

[Vine Abider]

16 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Ecclesia is also not a particularly spiritual word either,

at least not without additional clarification,

and how it is translated is not very important to the Elect.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called (kletos),

but few are chosen (eklektos). The Elect, The Chosen 

Ecclesia, from kletos, is simply a public gathering,

to hear the announcements of a herald,

and could even become unlawful. (Acts 19)

The Chosen or The Elect is the Bedrock.

Matthew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound

of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the

four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Romans 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? 

It is God who justifies. 

Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb

will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; 

and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Since we are "stirring things up" 

Imagine if the Body of Christ referred to itself as the Temple,

or House of God? As opposed to referring to a building as such!

[G3485] naos=temple

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? 

for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, 

and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

House of God is my favorite!

[G3624] oikos=house-the root word for which we obtain:

steward, stewardship, dwelling place, indwelling (Spirit).

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at

the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be

 the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; 

whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and 

the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, 

let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are

of the household of faith. (oikeios)

And the Grand Finale!

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

That's right, "ekklesia" is used in scripture to identify a number of gatherings.  For instance, the mob that assembled against Paul in Acts 19 who were yelling, "Great is the goddess Dianna of the Ephesians!" is called an "ekklesia" in verse 32.

9 hours ago, enoob57 said:

 

Matthew 16:18 (KJV)

[18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

 

I have been considering this verse, one of my favorite lately, in light of where "church" really came from.  It just sounds strange to me now that Jesus would say that, instead of what he actually said (true meaning being a called-out gathering).

8 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I have a very slight aversion to the use of "church". I feel like it places too much emphasis on it as a building or organization (the Roman Catholic church, Protestant church, etc.) rather than the people within it. I don't hate the term, mind. It's easy enough to clarify meaning when needed.

All told I don't care so much about what King James and his translation team had in mind so much as I care about what it means now and to who you're communicating with. Languages change over time. The word "gay" in modern parlance isn't the same as it was to people a couple of centuries ago. We all understand bugs to mean insects, but to a programmer a bug is quite something else. I see a little of what Paul said about being all things to all people to win as many people as possible in this. But purely speaking from my own preferences and how I mentally process things? I feel like ekklesia better conveys the intended meaning.

Indeed!

As someone said earlier, I have no trouble saying "church" to people like my wife, as I get that this is the simplest communication we have, although I know it is an erroneous word.

The word "church" has been quite the curiosity for me for some time, and now that I learned there may be even more to its etymology (possible Masonic and pagan roots), I have even more distain for it.  However, to put it in perspective, it is certainly not a core essential of the faith.  But it bewilders me a bit to think that modern translators, who have gotten away from other erroneous word usages, continue to use "church," even though it is clearly an incorrect substitution.

[Neighbor]

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

The Swedish chef, fun guy that he is, might toss a little salt into the pot to both enhance the flavor and preserve the contents of the pot too.  And then throw some over his shoulder just for kicks .

[enoob57]

understood...

[Vine Abider]

4 hours ago, BibleStudent100 said:

In secular parlance, "church" in the minds of most Americans means the actual building, but Bible students understand it to mean the "congregation" or the people who meet or assemble together.  

And there wouldn't be that misconception if . . .

[Neighbor]

This thread took me on a fun little sidetrip that I posted at Biblical videos: Churches  Temples  Angel Moroni - Cross,  a little three minute video.

[Neighbor]

17 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

And there wouldn't be that misconception if . . .

But but but the "true" church, it meets at only particular branded buildings.

[Marathoner]

Our concept of "church" speaks of our own experiences. I'm confident that insiders would find my outsider's perspective either impossible to understand, or even offensive. I'll sum it up this way:

Church has always been strange and foreign to me. I came to the Lord far removed from churches; churches had nothing to do with me coming to Him.

The way of life I witnessed in churches was just as foreign to me. There were fathers, mothers, and their children all together; I did everything I could to escape my father and mother whenever that was feasible. My love of the wilderness found its roots during my childhood because of a need to escape from their sight.

The structure of services in a church struck me as pointless. Why all of this standing up, sitting down, standing up, and enforced solemnity? It didn't make sense. The Lord never required such things of me. I knew that He despises ritual and enforced servitude. 

Subjecting myself to religious men who do not know me, nor are involved in my life or relationship to the Lord, is absurd. I had experience with men like that. The Lord delivered me from their power. Listening to others berate me for not doing as they do only emphasizes how they do not speak for the Lord. The Lord speaks and I hear Him; whatever He tells me to do, I do it. 

This offends some.