What is Church?

[Koey]

I think you missed the point- they were not made leaders by the people voting. Paul, for example, was made an apostle by God, while he was on the road persecuting Christians.

I totally disagree with that assessment. However, let's not continue that discussion.

On another note, I think that it's obvious that throughout Christian history, sometimes God was involved in the decision, othertimes he was left out entirely. An example might be the many, many priests/bishops who bought their office. I think the same is true today in many, many ways. For example, I cannot for the life of me imagine that many charismatic televangelists were chosen by God, some yes, most not.

 

[dayhiker]

Well, we see some voting adn some appointing by either God or the church leaders in the NT. Now I think idealy the church recognizes those who God has choosen or called and given some gift of leadership. The church doesn't always distinguish between a persons natural leadership ability and the anionting God on a person. That's when man chooses the leader over God having chosen the leader.

In General I don't see God giving commands as to how the leadership is to be chosen and how they are to spend their time. There are some scriptures that give some board ideas of leadership's responcibility, but that leaved a lot of room for variations in who the ministry is done.

Thus we see in the church the variety of God just as we see variety in all of God's creation.

dayhiker

 

[tigercub]

So, what is Church? To me, it's the bitter division, the arguing on this board, the rudeness over who's got the goods, the Pharisaic man-made rules and intolerant control freaks who try to get you to do it their way. It's also the people that God loves, and the vehicle through which the most important message in the universe is carried.

What about you?

Part of me thinks church = god. However, church seems to mean something else within our society.

Church to me is...institutionalized, organised religion. It's god-in-a-box, altered just enough to fit in with what Xtians want in the noughties.

Wherever one is communing with, praying to or otherwise considering god; are we not with god then? Does he reside only within the walls of a building, coming out during the pre-approved hours of worship?

As HuntingMan said;

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them : Mat 18:20

Why people place so much importance on things like; clergy, buildings, sound systems, stationary etc.; is beyond me.

Is it necessary for fellowship? No.
Does it bring people closer to god? Probably not.