Amen Paster.
I suppose Church could have different meanings for people. I have always been taught the Church is the body of Christ, and I certainly love my fellow Christians. They are easy to distinguish from the rest of the flock, even via this keyboard and little screen :)
Your explanation of Charity however I have never heard before, I do know Charity to others; both of the body of Christ and without has always been returned to me in abundance. It's really an amazing blessing to experience.
I suppose the Lord guides us where he needs us to be..
Thanks for your efforts here at Steemit my friend, you are a blessing :)
Hello Brother
1 Corinthians uses a unique rendering of agape. It is agapeo. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that this word is not found in any Greek literature prior to 1 Corinthians 8 and is believed to be coined by the Apostle Paul to speak specifically of the Christians love for his church.
The common understanding of the church is an invisible, universal body of Christ. But that understanding is derived from Catholic doctrine. The word Catholic literally means universal. Almost every time the word church is found in the New Testament, it is in reference to a local, visible congregation of baptized believers. The very few times it does not specifically reference a local congregation, it could easily be interpreted according to the common usage throughout the New Testament.
Sure appreciate your thoughts.
God bless
Wow, that is very interesting. I am surprised that teaching crept into our local Baptist Church when I was a kid. Thank you very much for clarifying it for me :)
I reckon that is why I assumed it had different meanings for different folks, I guess it does.... So much false teaching in this world..
Blessings.
An interesting study is made by comparing the Baptist statement of faith composed around 1640 with the one composed around 1680. Many of the Baptists in England changed their doctrines to make them more tolerable with the Protestant theology that was accepted in their day.