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Skrevet af Jørn Nielsen   
Mandag, 23. oktober 2017 08:08


 - the popular vs. biblical sense of the word "church" -

  Yesterday,  "the Lord´s Day", was a day of severe contrasts when it comes to practicing "church".  Let me explain:

Before noon we went for very special reasons to a romantic village church, which is part of our national, state controlled church set-up.

In the afternoon we went to a private home independent of any state legislation, our basis being Mt. 18:20, "Where two or three are gathered in (literally: to) my name, there am I in the midst of them."

The village church has a romantic setting and a centuries old history with its "church things", a costly altarpiece and pulpit reserved for the gown dressed minister, and many rituals by law to be obeyed to the letter.

The setting was "perfect" and stylish, and its members seemed to be comfortable about it, and yet I dare say, a tragic spiritual death prevailed.

What about our afternoon gathering without "church things", pulpit,  rituals, altarpiece and other  "pieces", but just a simple acting on Mt. 18:20?  The children had their funny whims, but the word of God had its free course untied by any religious straitjacket.  And the Lord was there.

I´m challenging you now, was our afternoon assembly a church in the New Testament sense of the word?  Or were we just a bunch of sectarians?  Make your own study in the Bible about that word (Greek:  ekklesia) and see for yourself how it was practiced.

I have no fear of contact with "churches" neither in Denmark nor in the U.S.  if it serves a God pleasing purpose.  Born again Christians are to me never "Baptists",  "Lutherans", "Pentecostals", etc. but are just members of His body, for there´s only "one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph.4) so those we lead to Christ are added to that one body (Act 2:41) and not to many "bodies".  And the glorious centre in that one body is our glorified Lord Christ Jesus.

Oct. 23, 2017 - jn

 
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