“Going to the church” Vs “Belonging to the church”
I continue my thoughts on that "Going to/Attending a church" is our misconception of the Church (and, therefore, the local churches) which we have developed today.
Here I further substantiate my case Scripturally:
In the Gospels:
The conceptual teachings, normative practices and prescriptive narratives we see in Acts and the Epistles clearly reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ, who called His followers to live out His “Kingdom Lifestyle” as a radical counter-culture community (Sermon on the Mount (plains), “My mother and my brothers and sisters” saying). Do you think that Jesus was incompetent in leading the young rich ruler toward the Kingdom of God, when He suggested him to sell out properties and follow Him? It was the very challenge to him to become a member of the new community.
Jesus Christ did not come into this world to rejuvenate the old Judaism or to create a renovated Israelite. His life and ministry was to create the true community of believers – the true Israelites – which is the church, as His plan unfolded more clearly in Acts.
(For a fair dealing on the subject, refer “From Jesus to the Gospels,” an Encyclical Paper by Jeff Reed, BILD-International. PDF available inhttp://www.bild.org/download/summit/Jesus-to-Gospels.pdf )
Mathew consciously quotes Jesus’ identifying this new community as His Church which is His plan: “I will build my church on this rock and no gates of the Hades will overcome it.” (Mathew 16:18). The Risen Christ’s Great Commission is that His plan and purpose that should be fulfilled. Period. Our continuous going to preaching the gospel, continuous baptizing them into the Body of Believers and continuous teaching them in the church are the core process of making all people groups His disciples (Mathew 28:16-20). The phenomena of calling (gospeling ) the people out, adding (baptizing) them into the believing community, and nurturing (teaching) them in fellowship, which is the local church, are self evident in the Great Commission.
http://www.bild.org/download/summit/Jesus-to-Gospels.pdf
I continue my thoughts on that "Going to/Attending a church" is our misconception of the Church (and, therefore, the local churches) which we have developed today.
Here I further substantiate my case Scripturally:
In the Gospels:
The conceptual teachings, normative practices and prescriptive narratives we see in Acts and the Epistles clearly reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ, who called His followers to live out His “Kingdom Lifestyle” as a radical counter-culture community (Sermon on the Mount (plains), “My mother and my brothers and sisters” saying). Do you think that Jesus was incompetent in leading the young rich ruler toward the Kingdom of God, when He suggested him to sell out properties and follow Him? It was the very challenge to him to become a member of the new community.
Jesus Christ did not come into this world to rejuvenate the old Judaism or to create a renovated Israelite. His life and ministry was to create the true community of believers – the true Israelites – which is the church, as His plan unfolded more clearly in Acts.
(For a fair dealing on the subject, refer “From Jesus to the Gospels,” an Encyclical Paper by Jeff Reed, BILD-International. PDF available inhttp://www.bild.org/download/summit/Jesus-to-Gospels.pdf )
Mathew consciously quotes Jesus’ identifying this new community as His Church which is His plan: “I will build my church on this rock and no gates of the Hades will overcome it.” (Mathew 16:18). The Risen Christ’s Great Commission is that His plan and purpose that should be fulfilled. Period. Our continuous going to preaching the gospel, continuous baptizing them into the Body of Believers and continuous teaching them in the church are the core process of making all people groups His disciples (Mathew 28:16-20). The phenomena of calling (gospeling ) the people out, adding (baptizing) them into the believing community, and nurturing (teaching) them in fellowship, which is the local church, are self evident in the Great Commission.
http://www.bild.org/download/summit/Jesus-to-Gospels.pdf
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