We need a new name.

[Rick Otto]

'Greeking' can be realy cool.
Say, does anybody have a grip on the etymology of "church"? Isn't there some darkness in there somewhere?
It's been awhile since I've read about it relating to 'circe' & 'circus'.
I'd google it myself, but I'm on a short leash @ the moment .

Somebody stop me, I'm begining to see "Ecclesia Gear" handbags, sunglasses, t-shirts & sandals... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

 

[lismore]

What about the church in the Acts? they met in houses?

Maybe homechurches could be called like the church in the ACts. Before the label 'Christians' and before denominations

 

[ZiSunka]

'Greeking' can be realy cool.
Say, does anybody have a grip on the etymology of "church"? Isn't there some darkness in there somewhere?
It's been awhile since I've read about it relating to 'circe' & 'circus'.
I'd google it myself, but I'm on a short leash @ the moment .

Somebody stop me, I'm begining to see "Ecclesia Gear" handbags, sunglasses, t-shirts & sandals... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

>>Etymology: Middle English chirche, from Old English cirice, ultimately from Late Greek kyriakon, from Greek, neuter of kyriakos of the lord, from kyrios lord, master;<<

Means "of the Master."

 

[ZiSunka]

What about the church in the Acts? they met in houses?

Maybe homechurches could be called like the church in the ACts. Before the label 'Christians' and before denominations

They called themselves, People of The Way, so even from almost the beginning, they had a label. The word "Christian" was originally used by the Romans and Jews and it was meant to be derrogatory. And even from the earliest days, the faith was divided up into factions, those who followed Paul, those who followed Apollus, those who continued circumsicion, those who didn't, those who allowed women to dress freely, those who required them to be covered, those who were vegetarians, those who at anything, and so on. There was never a time when all believers followed one way.

 

[lismore]

There was never a time when all believers followed one way.

Except maybe pentecost?

 

[TheAJKMan]

There was never a time when all believers followed one way.

I think that the book of Acts would say otherwise. It does in several places say that they were of one heart/mind/accord. They may have differed on the small stuff, but I think the larger issues of the faith they had a common consensus. I think that there will always be a variety of "flavours" in the church.

TheAJKMan

 

[GeorgeE]

I don’t need a label; that is what religion does is puts a label on everything and says there is no more and then they call it a denomination
.
There are some people who have no use for the church.
They say that God has called them out of the church. I understand what they mean, but they are wrong. I have been called out, too. Many years ago I received the distinct and powerful call to "Come out of her…that you be not partaker of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4). That is the Spirit’s unmistakable call to come out of Babylon! Babylon, among other things, is the religious system that calls itself "the church."

It is not the church! The church is the body of Christ! Babylon is an imitation, a usurper, an impostor, a harlot man-made system that masquerades as the church. Oh, yes, we have been called out of Babylon, but we are still in the body of Christ! If you have truly been called out of the church, then you are severed from Christ! I esteem the body of Christ. I honor the body of Christ. I have a great love for the body of Christ, which is the church. The Lord Jesus Himself Loved the church, and gave Himself for it, that He might Present it to Him a glorious church, not having spot Or wrinkle or any such thing.

 

[gennfamily]

I was homechurched with my family in the 90s' when we thought no one else was doing so. I have just come back to it and see that it's a phenomenon! 1Cor.3 does discuss that factions were dividing into denominations and Paul said they were merely men and servants of Christ. 1Pet.4:16 says, but if (a man suffer) as a Christian,let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. The early church was definately identified as "the household of" and "of the city/region " NOT denomination. i.e. there was the body of Christ in different towns and cities not "the church of Apollos, the Paulians" and those other guys(Christians). Everyone homechurched. There was no other kind. So why should I be denied my Scripturally ordained denominator-Christian- simply because others have chosen instead to be known by the names of men?
As for different views on certain issues like meat vs. vegetarian what did Paul say? Keep your opinion between yourself and the Lord. Period. So, I vote the name definately be Christian.

 

[TheAJKMan]

Except maybe pentecost?

And that is probably the only time the church was that united. Unfortunately

TheAJKMan

 

[Atlantians]

How bought:
The Buildingless Church?

or:
The Churchless Church?

or:
The Homeless Church?

or:
The Church without property?

or:
..... never mind, my first option was best.

 

[Count]

How bought:
The Buildingless Church?

or:
The Churchless Church?

or:
The Homeless Church?

or:
The Church without property?

or:
..... never mind, my first option was best.

How about this?:

I don&#8217;t need a label; that is what religion does is puts a label on everything and says there is no more and then they call it a denomination
.
There are some people who have no use for the church.
They say that God has called them out of the church. I understand what they mean, but they are wrong. I have been called out, too. Many years ago I received the distinct and powerful call to "Come out of her&#8230;that you be not partaker of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4). That is the Spirit&#8217;s unmistakable call to come out of Babylon! Babylon, among other things, is the religious system that calls itself "the church."

It is not the church! The church is the body of Christ! Babylon is an imitation, a usurper, an impostor, a harlot man-made system that masquerades as the church. Oh, yes, we have been called out of Babylon, but we are still in the body of Christ! If you have truly been called out of the church, then you are severed from Christ! I esteem the body of Christ. I honor the body of Christ. I have a great love for the body of Christ, which is the church. The Lord Jesus Himself Loved the church, and gave Himself for it, that He might Present it to Him a glorious church, not having spot Or wrinkle or any such thing.

 

[Atlantians]

How about this?:

You realize I was being fasicious?


I feal both extremes are wrong. The everything should be done in the traditional way we have done it without regard to alternate views, that is wrong.
The break away from general assembly buildings for this reason or that, this is also wrong.
A balance needs to be reached.
I have had deelings with non-building homechurchers, that was not very pleasant. They reffused to accept that parts of the church could meet in a building "dedicated for the purpose.

I doubt many of you are such an extreme.

I think you should just have the name be Homechurch believers or something like that.
Maybe Homefellowships and Family Fellowships would be a good name?

I am still partial to the "homeless church" and the "churchless church" though.

 

[Atlantians]

I was homechurched with my family in the 90s' when we thought no one else was doing so. I have just come back to it and see that it's a phenomenon! 1Cor.3 does discuss that factions were dividing into denominations and Paul said they were merely men and servants of Christ. 1Pet.4:16 says, but if (a man suffer) as a Christian,let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. The early church was definately identified as "the household of" and "of the city/region " NOT denomination. i.e. there was the body of Christ in different towns and cities not "the church of Apollos, the Paulians" and those other guys(Christians). Everyone homechurched. There was no other kind. So why should I be denied my Scripturally ordained denominator-Christian- simply because others have chosen instead to be known by the names of men?
As for different views on certain issues like meat vs. vegetarian what did Paul say? Keep your opinion between yourself and the Lord. Period. So, I vote the name definately be Christian.

Thats sort of how denominations started. The Church of Rome overwhelmed the other cities and asserted itself with only it, and the Orthodox Eastern, and Ethiopian Churches being seperate.

 

[hoadelphos]

What does the word of God say about who we are?

"ekklesia" isn't a name, it is a decription of a relationship; the "body of Christ", the "Bride of Christ"...all describing the relationship to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

The term "church" doesn't even actually occur in the NT...translators are instructed to leave old ecclesiastical words undisturbed by those that sponsor them..the bible publishers. That is why I only read the originals when I am doing serious study.

When someone asks me which church I go to, my reply is "the one Jesus built"...there is always follow up questions, and if I am careful to present only the NT concept of "church" I can lead them further into the light of Christ.

 

[christandisrael]

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it, because if we are in God, when all we need is his loving care. So, we do not need a name.