Family of God: [Church_of_Christ] Re: Truth for the World

Dan,

> To Ray
>
> These called out people existed in many of the cities of the first century world. They existed because of what Jesus had done for them and the love they had one for another. They never existed because of organization. Ekklesia describes something in their heart not physical organization as many suppose.
>

I confess I do not understand the current disdain for organized religion among those who have been in it. I see a fully developed and well organized physical church in the bible. I see plenty of organization, leadership, offices, and locations listed all over the place.

This issue with the organized church seems to me similar to the 'physical worship' vs. 'spiritual worship' discussion. There's a lot of gnostic influence in all of this. By gnostic influence, I mean the separation between physical and spiritual. To separate them on ANY level and to ANY degree is gnostic.

The 'ekklesia' may be the 'called out ones', but that does not preclude being physically organized. I disagree with anyone who says that there is no 'worship service' in the bible. I disagree with anyone who says that we are not commanded to gather for worship.

It is explicit in scripture that the physical and spiritual are intertwined.

I'm rambling a bit. The point was that organization goes with being physical creatures.

Ray

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