Scripture tells us that the body of Christ is made up of many members but is still only one body. Adding to this teaching, we see that in Gen. (and other passages) that prayers and confessions were made for the entire community not just individuals. Yet time and time again, I come across people who when it comes to their local church, only see individuals and not the church as a group.
For me personally, the issue has come to a head recently in our church. (small c for anyone wanting to try to argue the difference between the local group and the Church) It all began (well technically years ago, but most recently) on Father's Day. Father's day weekend is the weekend we lost our son in a freak accident. It is a very difficult day for my husband especially with everyone asking how his Father's Day is going. So this year, the 5th anniversary of our son's death, my husband was having an especially difficult time at church. I was him drifting off into his grief and knew that he would be okay if he didn't have to deal with anything related to our son's death. A well meaning gentleman in the church came up and began asking my husband about our daughter who is currently in Germany serving in an Army that could any day send her to help fight ISIS or Boko Haram. I knew this would send him over the deep end and so, as I watched him retreating into himself, I stepped in and answered the man, giving my husband time to deal with his emotions. My husband was very grateful, which I knew he would be, but the man accused me of running our household rather than allowing the husband to be the head, simply because that day, I answered for him.
At first, I dismissed this as individual, but over the next few weeks, 3 different men at at least four different times, all three leaders in the church have been heard making comments about how woman needing to learn their place and stop trying to take the authority of men away from the men. My husband and I both took this as a sign that it was the church not just individuals that were now believing this. So we took it to the pastor, a very dear friend, but in doing so, we agreed that I should remain silent for the moment and let my husband deal with it. (as per our understanding of scripture) Our pastor isn't taking it well, but is upset with us, not the teaching. In the past he has said he disagrees with the teaching and even said he sees me as a co minister, but this time, he says nothing (so far, we are still trying to get time to talk in depth with him) about what he believes and if he is even willing to teach on the matter.
So my question is, do you believe that the church (again small c) is ever the collective and not just individuals and if so, when/how do we know it is the collective and not just individuals and when it comes from leadership, how would you address it?
For me personally, the issue has come to a head recently in our church. (small c for anyone wanting to try to argue the difference between the local group and the Church) It all began (well technically years ago, but most recently) on Father's Day. Father's day weekend is the weekend we lost our son in a freak accident. It is a very difficult day for my husband especially with everyone asking how his Father's Day is going. So this year, the 5th anniversary of our son's death, my husband was having an especially difficult time at church. I was him drifting off into his grief and knew that he would be okay if he didn't have to deal with anything related to our son's death. A well meaning gentleman in the church came up and began asking my husband about our daughter who is currently in Germany serving in an Army that could any day send her to help fight ISIS or Boko Haram. I knew this would send him over the deep end and so, as I watched him retreating into himself, I stepped in and answered the man, giving my husband time to deal with his emotions. My husband was very grateful, which I knew he would be, but the man accused me of running our household rather than allowing the husband to be the head, simply because that day, I answered for him.
At first, I dismissed this as individual, but over the next few weeks, 3 different men at at least four different times, all three leaders in the church have been heard making comments about how woman needing to learn their place and stop trying to take the authority of men away from the men. My husband and I both took this as a sign that it was the church not just individuals that were now believing this. So we took it to the pastor, a very dear friend, but in doing so, we agreed that I should remain silent for the moment and let my husband deal with it. (as per our understanding of scripture) Our pastor isn't taking it well, but is upset with us, not the teaching. In the past he has said he disagrees with the teaching and even said he sees me as a co minister, but this time, he says nothing (so far, we are still trying to get time to talk in depth with him) about what he believes and if he is even willing to teach on the matter.
So my question is, do you believe that the church (again small c) is ever the collective and not just individuals and if so, when/how do we know it is the collective and not just individuals and when it comes from leadership, how would you address it?