Folks -- this is NOT a church group -- this is a Forum. Big difference. Sounds like our interaction Here is being compared to being at church.
And, yes, we All need growth and maturity.
But Talk Jesus is Not a church group -- we come from a variety of religious backgrounds as do lots of people going to church.
Dear Sue
The ekklesia, the church, the only one in scripture, is the born again souls, living souls and saints in heaven are the ekklesia.
So when two or three or more come together, who are born again from above, washed and regenerated by the Holy Spirit, they are, the church, the ekklesia. That is accordinary to scripture and is not anyone's opinion.
Now the two or three or more saved souls that come together in Jesus Name, can be, any age, male or female, regardless of skin colour or, tongue or denomination.They can also come together in any place or building; a house, a cow shed, a hall, a tent, a flat, a barn, any building, any where, even on a forum. BUT, the Church the ekklesia, is ONLY the born again Spirit regenerated souls.
This is according to God's Holy Word, The Bible.
Over the years the building came to be called the church, as stated previously, this was done by the RCC, they introduces the word, kuriakon for the word church, you will not find this anywhere in scripture, it is not there, so it is wrong to call the church building a church, unless you want to agree with a RCC introduced error!
Next the congregation, it is only a church, an ekklesia, if there are two or more born again from above, regenerated souls, the ekklesia is only saved souls. To call a congregation of saved and unsaved souls a church is wrong and is against the scriptures.
To sum up...
A BUILDING of any description is not a church, the church in scripture, is the ekklesia. To call a building a church is against scripture, it is misleading others by following tradition, note tradition introduced by the RCC not by Jesus. What is the answer, simple, don't call a building a church, it is a place of worship, a place of fellowship.
A CONGREGATION is as we know a group of people coming together, but they are not all the church, only the born again, regenerated souls, are the church, the ekklesia. What is the answer, carry on meeting together as before just preach the Truth, don't mislead lost souls in thinking they are the ekklesia because they will think they are saved.
A CHURCH one final consideration. We cannot say, My Church, come to my church, welcome people to our church. WHY? Because we do not have a church!
There is only one word for church in scripture it is ekklesia. The ekklesia is the Body of Christ, saved souls, worldwide, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, of which Christ is its Head.
To some not saying my church is a big issue, saying go to church is a big issue, because it has become what people do and say today, not what Jesus said. The difference we are discussing is not huge, but is scripture based we are to just understand and accept what scripture says is a church, we need to adjust our thinking to what is right according to The Word and not mislead others. We are right in the way we come together, in fellowship, in prayer, in rejoicing and giving thanks. We are wrong in the understanding of the church, the ekklesia, if we call the church building a church, and or call a congregation of saved and lost souls a church.
The church, is our Lord's, we are just spiritual stones of the ekklesis, the born again from above believers.
In His Love.