When did church become a place to convert non-believers?

Question

Isn't the church a place for fellowship of already like minded and saved individuals?

Sorry, this question was really directed toward Christians who feel Sunday morning should be an evangelistic outreach and not a time of appropriate worship of God.
I understand the concept of missional charter, the issue is not missions. We are told to go! Not to bring them in to preach from the pulpit conversion.
The problem with sitting and waiting or actively bringing potential converts to the church service is that we are told by God through Paul to "Have nothing to do with unbelievers!" 2 Corinthians 6:11-18.
Once in, if not brought to faith by conviction of the sin, the unbeliever will act as yeast in the loaf.
It's bad enough having to deal with what has already become an apathetic church body making the Sunday service a place to be seen "doing the right thing", it's another when Christians try to defend biblically their position. The gathering is for the believer. The unbeliever who "mistakenly" stumbles into a meeting should be slain by the holiness of the spirit there.

Answer 1

who said it was?

Answer 2

THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD "CHURCH"

With the inclination toward the construction of buildings for the worship of God, it is little wonder that the translators of the King James Version of the Bible chose to translate the Greek word ekklesia by using the English word "church." A deeper look at the etymology of the word "church" is quite revealing.

Moving backwards into time, the word "church" was derived from the Old English word cirice which is related to the Norwegian/Scandinavian word kirkja. These were derived from the Germanic word kirka; which was derived from the late Greek word Kyrite; which was derived from the Greek word kurios which means "ruler," "lord," "master." In the Greek, Kuriake oika means "lord's house." Thus, the word church came to mean "a building set apart or consecrated for public worship." 3 {1}

Though the word "church" does not have its root in the Greek term ekklesia; it is used to translate ekklesia. Ekklesia is the formation of two Greek words: ek which means "out of" and kaleo which means "to call." Combined, the word literally means "to call out of." Ekklesia was commonly used among the Greeks in reference to a body of citizens who "gathered" to discuss the affairs of state. 3 {2} A correct and quite appropriate translation of ekklesia is "called-out-ones" although there are times when the context demands that "assembly" or "gathering-of-called-out-ones" be used. The word has to do with a people who are called-out to be gathered together.

Perhaps the translators of the King James version of the Bible had in mind that the body of Christ could be thought of as a spiritual kuriake oika (Lord's house) since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 3:16. Perhaps. But, from that time to this, the word church is used to refer to more than people. Its use has been so adulterated that we ought never to use it when we are referring to the body of Christ. It is appropriate to use the word "church" when we are actually talking about a building but not when we are talking about the body of Christ. What we call church is a Thing. The ekklesia is a people.

From:
The Harlot Church System - Charles Elliott Newbold, Jr.
http://www.meatindueseason.org/newbold/or/harlot/harlot3.html

Answer 3

I found this definition in the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
church
Pronunciation: \ˈchərch\
Function: noun
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; akin to Sanskrit śūra hero, warrior
Date: before 12th century
1: a building for public and especially Christian worship
2: the clergy or officialdom of a religious body
3often capitalized : a body or organization of religious believers: as a: the whole body of Christians b: denomination c: congregation
4: a public divine worship
5: the clerical profession

As you can see there are several different meanings for the word CHURCH.
Part of the church year, and as I recall it's right around now, church members are asked to re-dedicate themselves not only to the local mission of their church but to the outreach missions as well.
This includes the idea that Christians are to "witness" for non-beleivers and mis-educated folks whom only know half the story of what being a Christian is all about.
The witnessing is done in many forums, one being right there in church.
As far as being offered to like-minded and "saved" individuals, well, that would be a matter of opinion, not fact.

Answer 4

From the very beginning.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit."

The mission of the Church is to proclaim and establish the Kingdom of God begun by Jesus Christ among all peoples.

The Church constitutes on earth the seed and beginning of this saving Kingdom.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 767-769: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9.htm#767

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Since A.D. 30.

"Mat 28:18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. "

The primary function of the church IS mission. Fellowship is secondary.

Answer 6

It is a place for an "interchange of ecouragement."(Romans 1:12)

But Jesus also gave a commission to his followers before ascending to heaven: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

Answer 7

st paul wrote that church members should prophesy, so that unbelievers would be given a reason to believe.

Answer 8

Its a house of worship, so anyone can pray there. So people try to convert people. If you went to a peta protest to see what it was like without being veg, they would let you in but would try to change you.

Answer 9

Next will you be asking if hospitals run by religious organizations should take in only their church's true believers. It's not an exclusive club, all are welcome.

Answer 10

It's a lot of things. Both of the above and more.