What is the deal with churches? Did god ask for them?

Question

The Christian concept "Church" (Greek εκκλησία — ekklesia) is mentioned in the New Testament. Of the 114 occurrences of the term in the New Testament three are found in the Gospel accounts, all in the Gospel of Matthew are spoken by Jesus: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my ekklesia, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Mt 16:18); and "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the ekklesia; and if he refuses to listen even to the ekklesia, let him be to you as the Gentile and the tax-collector" (Mt 18:17).

The Greek term εκκλησία — ekklesia, which literally means a "convocation", was a governmental and political term, used to denote a national assembly, congregation or council of common objective. It was a team that worked together to resolve a problem faced by the wider community or society, but did not signify a "building".

So how did we end up where we are now?

Answer 1

If you are referring to the ornate, elaborate structures owned by many of the mainstream religions, these are aberrations. The Bible does say that we should gather together as Christians. Hebrews 10:24, 25 says: "And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near."

Since most of us don't have houses that can hold the over 100 people that constitute most modern-day congregations, it stands to reason that we need a place to congregate. Having said that, the Bible also says: "because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world." (1 John 2:16)

These churches who pass a collection plate to their poor members and then spend all that money on building elaborate structures are reprehensible. They make showy displays with their wealth, in their buildings and the way they dress their leaders.

Answer 2

Love the question. Even God had a temple built. More than once too. Makes you wonder why God knocked it down. What was it's purpose? The modern church is something of an off-shoot of it, I think. Back in the 1-3 centuries the modern church was persecuted and they were not allowed to meet in dedicated structures. That is unless the Christians were to be made sport of in a coliseum. Seemed to be pretty big crowds gathered for those events. So when the tide changed later on it just seems natural that they wanted to spread beyond the house meetings and into larger structures. Somehow we have come to believe that the church is the building rather than the people in the buildings in today's environment. Shame it is. But be encouraged, we know the words of Jesus and Paul so there is no worry needed about the state of the church. It will be victorious eventually.

Answer 3

Problem with Christianity is no one knows for sure. Who is right? The Catholics? Baptists? Seventh Day Adventists or maybe the snake handlers.
Also no one even knows what Jesus really wanted because no one worships the original scriptures. They have been translated and changed more times that we can count over the years.
Did you know once upon a time priests could marry and have a family? But the powers to be at the time felt they spent too much time with their families and not enough time with their congregation so they made a little adjustment here and there re translated what the versus meant and now priest and nuns have to be celibate.
In the new testament the scriptures to say "to walk on water" translated from Hebrew meant to walk on shore (beside the water).
Most people don't even know what they are worshiping because they we told a watered down version or a different interpretation of the original "word of god"
Some think in the dead sea scrolls that Jesus really did not want organized religion at all. He saw that the power of leading such a strong message would lead to corruption. (maybe he was on to something) That instead Jesus was a little more like Bill & Ted, he just wanted us to be excellent to each other and party on dudes.

Answer 4

We know that the Bible teaches that the church is actually "the body of Christ" -- namely all who have a relationship with Jesus and have trusted Him for salvation. The Holy Spirit binds all believers together in a spiritual assembly. The practice of meeting in a building started in the book of Acts when they held their assemblies in the temple or local synagogue or home. Later buildings were built as the assembly of believers grew. So the building is not "the church" (it never was)... it is merely a place which allows believers to congregate corporately. Semantics is nothing to get bent out of shape about.

Answer 5

endure in recommendations Paul's council: In a million Corinthians economic wreck 14, Paul stated concerns on the subject count of conferences of the Christian congregation. He defined what could be stated at such conferences and stated how they could be finished “save silent” seems thrice in a million Corinthians economic wreck 14. each and every time, it fairly is addressed to a diverse team indoors the congregation, yet in all situations, it fairly is given for a similar reason that “all subject concerns take place decently and via employing affiliation.”- a million Corinthians 14:40. sick bypass various those, you will probably have the skill to look them up in case you % the bible talks some 'headship affiliation' at a million Corinthians 11:3 . so it fairly is often the lads place to do the practise (a million Timothy 2:12. ) it fairly is now no longer degrading the female in any admire, it became into exhibiting that they did now no longer opt to be instructors. as this would bypass against the headship affiliation. yet in our situations, all all persons is inspired to communicate, the bible additionally says at Hebrews 10:23-25 that one and all human beings could be practise. see additionally matthew 28:19

Answer 6

The church still is what it was back then, a congregation of believers. Probably how the building name started was people calling it a "church building" and then just church for short. There is nothing wrong with nicknames but what you said was correct, the church is literally a body of believers committed to doing Gods will, not a physical building.

Answer 7

Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not the Biblical understanding of the church. The word church comes from the Greek word "Ecclesia" which is defined as "an assembly,” or “called out ones.” The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend they usually say Baptist, Methodist, or another denomination. Many times they are referring to a denomination or a building. Read Romans 16:5: "…also greet the church that is in their house..." Paul refers to the church in their house, not a church building, but a body of believers.

The church is the Body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." The Body of Christ is made up of all believers from the time of Pentecost until the Rapture. The Body of Christ is comprised of two aspects:

(1) The universal church is the church that consists of all those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." We see that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ. The true church of God is not any particular church building or denomination. The universal church of God is all those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

(2) The local church is described in Galatians 1:1-2, "Paul, an apostle…and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia." Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches - what we call a local church. A Baptist church, Lutheran church, Catholic church, etc. is not THE church, as in the universal church – but rather is a local church. The universal church is comprised of those who have trusted in Christ for salvation. These members of the universal church should seek fellowship and edification in a local church.

In summary, the church is not a building, or a denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the Body of Christ - all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). There are members of the universal church (the Body of Christ) in local churches.

Answer 8

yeah, jesus asked for them somewhere in the bible, originally means to be a spiritual concept of faithful people. Paul came up with the temple thing.

Answer 9

The answer is to be found at Acts 20:29,30