the church because it defines who they are as Christians? because it is their only source of spiritual thought? because it is the thought of being without a church is to them the same thing as being without Christ?
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How many would be lost without..
- Thread starter visionary
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Jakihe
A Light in the Darkness
Good thread, visionary.
If you are talking about the church building, leaders and congregation, yes, I used to be there.
It was my crutch, as a Christian.
I feel closer to God right now without a building and a particular denomination. It is the 'body of Christ' I need; others like myself who love God, follow Christ and want to follow the word in scripture. This is where true edification comes from, in my opinion, and I have found a truer, closer walk in Christ.
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You poll says 'a church', then your OP says 'the church', then you repeat 'a church'. Please clarify as there is an important difference between the two.
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Keep the definition of the "church" broad to be inclusive of any group to which one affiliates themselves with for their faith. This thread is not concerned with who you associate with, but more interested in the relationship and importance of the role the "church" plays in one's spiritual life.
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JacktheCatholic
Praise be to Jesus Christ. Now and forever.
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christianmomof3
pursuing Christ
The poll seems to ask a different question than the op question.
The second question has many different qualifiers that sound negative.
And the last choice on the poll is worded in a negative way.
So, you have two different questions and 3 available choices on the poll.
For the first question - Can someone be a believer without a church?
The answer would probably be yes. It is certainly possible.
Of course, you really should define what you mean by "believer".
For the op question - lets break it down into it's basic questions:
"How many people would be lost without the church?"
Then you have to define what you mean by "lost" as well as what you mean by "the church".
Then you have "Does the church define who you are as a Christian?"
That is an interesting question.
I would have to say both yes and no to that one.
Your next question is:
"Is the church your only source of spiritual thought? "
My answer to that is definitely "no". I read this message board for one thing and do a lot of my own reading of the Bible and minsitry books and other christian books.
Then you asked:
"Is the thought of being without a church is to you the same thing as being without Christ? "
The church is the Body of Christ and without it, we are merely individual Christians cut off from the Body. That is not what the Lord desires.
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christianmomof3
pursuing Christ
I suppose that could be a standard pat church answer, but it is also the truth.
The truth is that the church is the Body of Christ.
The Lord is way to big, wonderful, magnificant, fantastic, incredible etc... for one mere person to experience all of Him. But the entire Body does experience all of Him and when we are with the Body, we share in the experience of the Body and our enjoyment of Christ is much much much much much etc... higher than it could ever be on our own. That is my experience and what my soul and spirit declare.
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You can qualify your answer as to how you perceive what the question is asking and we will go from there.
Qualifiers would make the question very long. Will have to qualify as we work our way through them one by one.
It was for those who had not considered where their faith truly relies on
Never said I was good at making polls
You got through the first hurdle.
I didn't want get into denomination definitions so for lack of better terminology I chose "believer" in Christ.
It is a descriptive feeling that some posters here on CF used to describe how they "feel" without the "church".
Then your answer is telling me that you find that parts of your faith are outside the box what your particular group declare.
And then your next answer explains why you can say both yes and no. Which is a good sign that you study and search out, seeking God through all and probably more than what you just mentioned in this answer.
I suppose the next question should be, what is your definition of the body of Christ?
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cobweb
Cranky octogenarian at heart
We can pray anywhere. Christians prayed in the arenas of Rome and Carthage. They prayed in Piteşti prison. They prayed in Dachau. One of the most touching and beautiful prayers that I have read was penned by a priest awaiting death in a Siberian work camp.
Questions like this make me a little sad. Would I be lost without my parish? Yes. We are all very close and they are like my family. Isn't that the way it is supposed to be?
Questions like this make me a little sad. Would I be lost without my parish? Yes. We are all very close and they are like my family. Isn't that the way it is supposed to be?
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christianmomof3
pursuing Christ
All redeemed and regenerated believers are members of the Body of Christ. We have Him living in us and thus have His life in us. He is the Head and we are the Body. The Body of Christ is not a religious group or organization of man, but a living organism that is composed of all those who have Christ as our life and life-supply.
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Eucharisted
Well-Known Member
Everyone who claims the Church is a clutch admits that they had a problem walking spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, socially, or other, because a crutch is used to help those who have a problem walking.
Everyone who claims they enjoy the Body of Christ, yet not the Church, are ignorant of the Scriptures, for God tells us the Body of His Son is the Church. How? Matrimony, wherein two become one.
Yet many Christians deny this, claiming it to be but the opinion of some men, as they are ignorant of Tradition, just as many Jews are ignorant of Jewish Tradition, claiming it to be but some opinion.
Without the Church, Christians would not be members of the Body of Christ, for Christ would have no Bride, and so no children to produce; yet as He is God in the flesh and from His Side has come the New Eve, so we have the Church, and she is necessary for Christianity.
But those who reject doctrine unravel the doctrines of Christ, peeling off the layers of God. For example, when it comes to the doctrine of the Church being Christ's New Eve, they call it but a pious opinion; and from there, later on when they discover Christ had wed Himself to the Church, though they consider her not His Bride, they seek another explanation, such as saying the New Eve is Eve reincarnated or that the Church is two women.
Everyone who claims they enjoy the Body of Christ, yet not the Church, are ignorant of the Scriptures, for God tells us the Body of His Son is the Church. How? Matrimony, wherein two become one.
Yet many Christians deny this, claiming it to be but the opinion of some men, as they are ignorant of Tradition, just as many Jews are ignorant of Jewish Tradition, claiming it to be but some opinion.
Without the Church, Christians would not be members of the Body of Christ, for Christ would have no Bride, and so no children to produce; yet as He is God in the flesh and from His Side has come the New Eve, so we have the Church, and she is necessary for Christianity.
But those who reject doctrine unravel the doctrines of Christ, peeling off the layers of God. For example, when it comes to the doctrine of the Church being Christ's New Eve, they call it but a pious opinion; and from there, later on when they discover Christ had wed Himself to the Church, though they consider her not His Bride, they seek another explanation, such as saying the New Eve is Eve reincarnated or that the Church is two women.
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The church as an organization has been the body of believers with a message to the world. Since God has more than one message, He has many different body parts and each has a responsibility to Him and to those around them.
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Yes, and I have heard the kinship some see the church to the hospital setting where this is where you go for healing. Just is some have developed a hypochondriac condition in order to stay... Is that spiritually healthy?
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Now here is one who would be lost without the church. Could you at least vote No on the poll for us.?
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