Did you know that the word 'CHURCH' doesn't appear in the original language that the Bible was written in?
'Who cares Mr Mansfield?'
Hey. Who said that?
Well it's very interesting. Let me tell you why.
Many, many churches around the world have got the Biblical idea of 'church' VERY wrong. This is obvious. I mean you've all heard of churches that do really really weird things that are neither biblical nor... well human.
However, going to church is an absolutely critical part of living as a Christian.
The word translated 'church' in the New Testament is usually the word 'ecclesia' which means to gather or gathering. (How smart do I sound!)
Let me give you an example of when the word 'ecclesia' is translated into it's better form.
Hebrews 10:25 'Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.'
This idea of meeting together or gathering is the EMPHASIS that the New Testament writers place on the idea of church.
There is hardly a mention in the New Testament of what a 'church building' should look like, but on what a 'group of Christians who gather together' should look like.
So... I hope you're still with me.
What does this mean? What is significant about this? If the Bible doesn't really have a lot of specific instructions for church Eg 'Thou should have big screens and powerpoint presentations and ministers should wear cool clothes', then how do we know what we should be doing at church?
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i think many churches need to sort out their priorities. a church isn't the building, it's the people who go to the church to worship God and fellowship together.
ReplyDeleteis it just me or does anyone else find churches like St. Johns? to be very intimidating.
ReplyDeletesensless banter, i know, but i thought i'd just drop that in there.
anyway, i dont think that we really have that answer right just yet. I think that a church should be a place of worship and learning of Gods word, but mostly its covered up in money-grabbing leaders
We should know what we should be doing at church because of what the Bible says. The Word lays out clear instructions for the church (by church I'm meaning the body of Christ, not the BUILDING church) The Bible also says that when two or more are gathered in God's name, he is present there. The significance of this is that people in today's society have been blinded by the thought of church being a PLACE of worship, not actual WORSHIP. Know what I mean? People think church is a building, with big posters and cool projectors and lights and fog machines and AWESOME black man preachers like Reggie Dabbs. Until Mr. Mansfield brought this up today, I honestly didn't realise how much not just society's view, but my own view, on church, is messed up. Church is a gathering of God's people, not a fancy building. Church is a group of God's people who want to give to the community and SERVE, not give to themselves by building big cathedrals and stained glass windows etc etc.
ReplyDeletePhewww.
-Beck.overandout
i agree with chrissy... a church is the people andit doesn't matter where you meet you are there to worship and fellowship.
ReplyDeletebut i think we're getting caught up in the early ideas of the church, around the eighteen hundreds. i dont know.
ReplyDeletei think this is signififcant as my church doesn't have a church building either and we have two "gatherings" (thats what we call them) and the one in the morning is at my house and the one in the afternoon is held at a school hall too. so we don't call it a church its called a gathering. if any of that made sense
ReplyDeleteHannah Powell
hehe i agree with beck. :)
ReplyDeleteand also God is everywhere, and you can worship God anywhere. not just in a church building.
I agree fully with chrissy. some churches might only care about the outside. if the church doesnt look inviting them maybe no one will want to come and and go to a service. this is soooo wrong. the apprearance of a church doesnt make anyone, its what they believe and worship about god that counts.
ReplyDelete- Alannah
well to me church means interacting with god...i go to church to be with god and to learn his word! i never picture a church with a cross when it comes to church!
ReplyDeletemy church is realy small so we dont realy have an actual church. we have our church at a small hall. we dont put a cross in the hall to make it fell like a realy church! we just have church! lol...(:
maryane
<3.;
I think that some people have some pretty messed up ideas on what church should be, and yes it dosn't say in the bible how the church should etc. BUT what if these thngs get people to come, like if you have a power point thing in your church and someone comes to see it then that day they come they get saved? then isnt this doing what God wants? Isn't this bringing people to him to make God kingdom? So i think that people are doing it for the right reasons but maybe they're getting lost in all this materialistic stuff.. So it's kind of a boarder line.
ReplyDeleteoh and Second life is probably the same thing. like yeah if this helps people to come to church then thats great but I still think they are brainwashing. People are coming into this world as a different person for a chance to have a "new" life and this time they can make their life however THEY want not really how GOD wants it. but yeah it isnt real and people are getting addicted to it when there's no need for it.
Just some thoughts
-Jo Nelson
i believe a church should be based on what the bible says the building and resouces are just added bonus that help people come to church and worship there. but some churches do have a problem with thier priotrities
ReplyDeleteyes.
ReplyDeletei mean i know the churches should look appealing to try and encourage non christians to come, but they shouldn'e be intimidating, just small warm and friendly, if there is any set place at all.
I have been to many Churchs... and I think that they all did preach the word of God, but I think that the Church I most enjoyed going to was a little Church where there wasn't many people.. I think that it just had a 'homely' feel to it, and being able to worship God just made it better... btw, the small Church didn't have a lot of fancy electronics..
ReplyDeletejust my thoughts,
Heidi :)
Well if they just read the bible they whould know what you should do at church and how to act because it clearly says in the bible how the church should be from the guidelines given in the bible.
ReplyDeleteSince the bible doesnt say what a church is meant to look like, i reckon all the 'triditional' churches are just conforming to the 1800's type of style.
ReplyDeleteNow correct me if im mistaken, but churches aren't really for the purpose of looks. I mean, who really cares what a church looks like?!
sure, the stain glass windows are pretty n' all but wouldn't that money be better off somewhere else?!!
*vents anger by slamming head on keyboard*
Wow. I'm really impressed by the insightful and mature comments here!
ReplyDeleteI love how most, if not all of you, are able to identify:
1. That there are lots and lots of dodgy churches 'out there'.
2. That a church needs to follow the 'ideas' in the Bible (we'll look at what those are soon).
3. That a church is not 'the building', but 'the people'.
The question that seems to be on everyone's lips though is...
Is it wrong to have a 'cool' church; one with powerpoint and a flash building, and loud music etc?
What do you think?
Mansfield
i think that there are lots of dodgy churches, but which one is the right one?
ReplyDeleteI would like to know what the correct church is and why.