What
is the Church and what it Is Not
Biblical definition of the term
"Church"
The Church is the People of God, not
an institution!
PURPOSE
It is not only time to call a Spade, SPADE; it is time to Biblically
define the
term!
The purpose of this document is to illustrate to the
misEvangelized faithful what is the true and only definition of the
word "church". The sooner the Elect fully understands and accepts this reality,
the less suffering they will have to endure (Pain is the megaphone that God uses for
the deaf to hear Him (1))
when the final deception – the
manifestation of the falsified Christ/Messiah (2) – is sprung upon
humanity.
BACKGROUND
The power brokers at the Vatican have been manipulating the term
"Church" as a means to
subjugate further – not Evangelize as they were suppose to – the
Faithful who have been entrapped by their
snares.
The most heard and dangerous Vatican mantra is "Mother Church this wants this" or "Mother Church says that".
Even the valiant act by Paul VI – an act not supported by many of the
purpled clerics – of officially proclaiming the Virgin Mary the Mother
of the Church, did not stop them from referring to the Church as the
Mother of the Faithful.
For all Christians the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ.
Christians are those who strive to live what Jesus Christ taught and
not those who "signed up" in Christianity because it was "the thing to
do". A movement which started when Constantine made Christianity the
official faith of the Roman Empire. Most, if not all, of those who
"signed up" (allegedly "converted") to Christianity at that time
did so as a matter of being part of the "in crowd"; i.e. "the thing to
do".
In time, those hollow Christians overpowered the true Christians who
proved – to the extent of giving up their lives – to be worthy
disciples of Christ. Therefore, most of today's Christians are
descendants of those "Christians by convenience" just like the Jews at
the time of Jesus were "Jews by convenience". For more on "the Jews at
the time of Jesus were 'Jews by convenience'" visit our document (3) wherein we explain why
the Passover celebration of Jesus and His Apostles did not coincide
with
the official Passover as dictated by the Temple Masters. Those Temple
Masters were the equivalent of today's Roman Catholic Administrators –
The Vatican.
INTRODUCTION
The final arbiter of any matter associated with God and religion are
the Holy
Scriptures and not an
institution. An institution is set up to help man
to understand – to the extent he/she is able to – God and what God
expects of him/her. However, whichever is the
institution and/or its leadership, its purpose is to serve man by
assisting him/her in his/her journey in Time and not
to supplant God.
Just as Jesus said: The sabbath was
made for man, and not man for the sabbath. [Mark 2:27], a religious
institution was made for man, and not man for the religious
institution; man was made for God, and only God.
As we have also explained elsewhere (4), there is Salvation
outside the Roman Catholic Church, although we have also clearly stated
(5) that the
Catholic Faith is the faith which contains the greatest number of
revealed truths. This concentration of truths and the Sacraments
associated with them contribute, when not infected with
institutionalized lies, to a smoother journey through Time.
Unfortunately, most of those who have placed the Roman Catholic Church
institution and its man-made traditions over the clear teachings of the
only Word of God – Jesus
Christ – instead of using it as a source of enriching Sacraments, will
constitute the bulk of those who will be ensnared by the falsification
of the Second Coming of Christ.
DETAILS
What we have done is a computerized search of an on-line Bible (6) – searching for verses
which contained the word "church", then we have analyzed each
church-containing verse to determine what the word "church" meant,
i.e., the context in which it was being used.
In most cases the context were: "the faithful", "the congregation",
"the people of God" and the like. Following the reader will be able to
review all the quotes which we gathered through the computerized
search. Where the usage may appear to
have indicated an institution, we
will comment upon it using bold
blue script.
From the
Old Testament
Numbers
If
any man be not
expiated after this rite, his soul shall perish
out of the midst of the church:
because he hath profaned the
sanctuary of the Lord, and was not sprinkled with
the water of purification. [Num. 19:20]
Why
have you brought out the church
of the Lord into the wilderness, that both we and our cattle should die?
[Num. 20:4]
Deuteronomy
An
eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall
not enter into the church of
the Lord. [Deut. 23:1]
A mamzer, that is to say, one born of
a prostitute, shall not enter into the church
of the Lord, until the tenth generation. [Deut.
23:2]
The Ammonite and the Moabite, even
after the tenth generation shall not enter into the church of the Lord for ever: [Deut.
23:3]
They that are born of them, in the
third generation shall enter into the church
of the Lord. [Deut. 23:8]
2 Esdras (Nehemiah)
And
on that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the
people: and therein was found written, that the Ammonites and the
Moabites should not come in to the church
of God for ever: [2 Esd. 13:1]
Judith
And
afterwards all the people were called together, and they prayed all the
night long within the church,
desiring help of the God of Israel. [Jth 6:21]
Psalms
I
will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.
[Psalm 21:23]
With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the
sight of them that fear him. [Psalm 21:26]
I will give thanks to thee in a great
church; I will praise thee in a
strong people. [Psalm 34:18]
I have declared thy justice in a
great church, lo, I will not
restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it. [Psalm 39:10]
The heavens shall confess thy
wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church
of the saints. [Psalm 88:6]
And let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise him
in the chair of the ancients. [Psalm 106:32]
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle:
let his praise be in the church
of the saints. [Psalm 149:1]
Proverbs
I
have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of the congregation.
[Prov. 5:14]
–
In
here the Jewsih
Tanakh clarifies for us that "the church and of the congregation" means
"an assembly of the faithful".
Ecclesiasticus
The
sons of wisdom are the church
of the just: and their generation, obedience and love. [Ecclus.
3:1]
And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and
shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall
clothe him with a robe of glory. [Ecclus. 15:5]
The mouth of the prudent is sought
after in the church, and they
will think upon his words in their hearts. [Ecclus.
21:20]
Therefore are his goods established
in the Lord, and all the church
of the saints shall declare his alms. [Ecclus. 31:11]
Hear me, ye great men, and all ye
people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the church. [Ecclus.
33:19]
–
In This verse of the Old Testament a clear difference is made from the
gathering of the faithful - the church - and its rulers - what we call
Administrators.
Nations shall declare his wisdom, and
the church shall shew forth
his praise. [Ecclus. 39:14
Let the people shew forth their
wisdom, and the church declare
their praise. [Ecclus. 44:15]
Lamentations
Jod.
The enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things: for she
hath seen the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, of whom thou gavest
commandment that they should not enter into thy church. [Lam. 1:10]
–
In this case "thy church" means community and not institution as
clearly defined by the Jewish Tanakh
Joel
Gather
together the people, sanctify the church,
assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that
suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the
bride out of her bride chamber. [Joel 2:16]
1 Machabees
And
Judas, and his brethren, and all the church
of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should
be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five
and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.
[1 Macc. 4:59]
From the
New Testament
Matthew
And I
say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. [Mt.
16:18]
And if he will not hear them: tell
the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as
the heathen and publican. [Mt. 18:17]
Acts Of Apostles
And
there came great fear upon the whole church,
and upon all that heard these things. [Acts 5:11]
This is he that was in the church in the wilderness, with the
angel who spoke to him on mount Sina, and with our fathers; who
received the words of life to give unto us. [Acts 7:38]
And at that time there was raised a
great persecution against the church
which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the
countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles. [Acts
8:1]
But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to
house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.
[Acts 8:3]
Now the church had peace throughout all
Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear
of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.
[Acts 9:31]
And the tidings came to the ears of
the church that was at
Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as
Antioch. [Acts 11:22]
And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught
a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named
Christians. [Acts 11:26]
–
"conversed here in the church" means interacted with the local faithful.
And at the same time, Herod the king
stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. [Acts 12:1]
Peter therefore was kept in prison.
But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him. [Acts
12:5]
Now there were in the church which was at Antioch,
prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas, and Simon who was called
Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [Acts 13:1]
And when they had ordained to them
priests in every church, and
had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they
believed. [Acts 14:22]
And when they were come, and had
assembled the church, they
related what great things God had done with them, and how he had opened
the door of faith to the Gentiles. [Acts 14:26]
They therefore being brought on their
way by the church, passed
through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles;
and they caused great joy to all the brethren. [Acts
15:3]
–
"brought on their way by the church" means "sent on their way by the
local faithful".
And when they were come to Jerusalem,
they were received by the church,
and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had
done with them. [Acts 15:4]
Then it pleased the apostles and
ancients, with the whole church,
to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul
and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas,
chief men among the brethren. [Acts 15:22]
–
Here we see the clear distinction between the Administration (apostles
and ancients) and the faithful (the whole church).
And going down to Caesarea, he went
up to Jerusalem, and saluted the church,
and so came down to Antioch. [Acts 18:22]
And sending from Miletus to Ephesus,
he called the ancients of the church.
[Acts 20:17]
Take heed to yourselves, and to the
whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule
the church of God, which he
hath purchased with his own blood. [Acts 20:28]
–
Again we see the clear distinction between the Administration (bishops)
and the faithful (the church of God).
Romans
And I
commend to you Phebe, our sister, who is in the ministry of the church, that is in Cenchrae: [Rom.
16:1]
And the church which is in their house.
Salute Epenetus, my beloved: who is the firstfruits of Asia in Christ. [Rom. 16:5]
Caius, my host, and the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus, the
treasurer of the city, saluteth you, and Quartus, a brother. [Rom.
16:23]
1 Corinthians
To
the church of God that is at
Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be
saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in
every place of theirs and ours. [1 Cor. 1:2]
For this cause have I sent to you
Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord; who will put
you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus; as I teach
everywhere in every church.
[1 Cor. 4:17]
If therefore you have judgments of
things pertaining to this world, set them to judge, who are the most
despised in the church.
[1 Cor. 6:4]
Be without offence to the Jews, and
to the Gentiles, and to the church
of God: [1 Cor. 10:32]
–
Here the "church of God" means the faithful of that particular location.
But if any man seem to be
contentious, we have no such custom, nor the church of God. [1
Cor. 11:16]
–
The correct translation is "...nor the churches of God" - plural, not
singular.
For first of all I hear that when you
come together in the church,
there are schisms among you; and in part I believe it. [1
Cor. 11:18]
–
"...come together in the church," means "a gathering of the faithful".
What, have you not houses to eat and
to drink in? Or despise ye the church
of God; and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you?
Do I praise you? In this I praise you not. [1 Cor. 11:22]
And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly
prophets, thirdly doctors; after that miracles; then the graces of
healing, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of
speeches. [1 Cor. 12:28]
He that speaketh in a tongue,
edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church. [1 Cor. 14:4]
And I would have you all to speak
with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that
prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he
interpret, that the church may
receive edification. [1 Cor. 14:5]
So you also, forasmuch as you are
zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church. [1 Cor. 14:12]
But in the church I had rather speak five words
with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten
thousand words in a tongue. [1 Cor. 14:19]
If therefore the whole church come together into one place,
and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or
infidels, will they not say that you are mad? [1 Cor.
14:23]
But if there be no interpreter, let
him hold his peace in the church,
and speak to himself and to God. [1 Cor. 14:28]
–
"...hold his peace in the church," refers to "...hold his peace when
gathered with the rest of the faithful..."
But if they would learn any thing,
let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to
speak in the church. [1
Cor. 14:35]
For I am the least of the apostles,
who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [1
Cor. 15:9]
The churches
of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord,
with the church that is in
their house, with whom I also lodge. [1 Cor. 16:19]
2 Corinthians
Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother:
to the church of God that is
at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia: [2
Cor. 1:1]
Galatians
For
you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion:
how that, beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.
[Gal. 1:13]
Ephesians
And
he hath subjected all things under his feet, and hath made him head
over all the church, which is
his body, and the fulness of him who is filled all in all. [Eph.
1:22-23]
–
A crystal clear statement that Jesus Christ is the Head of all of the
faithful (the church) which constitutes His Body.
That the manifold wisdom of God may
be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places
through the church, [Eph.
3:10]
To him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus unto all
generations, world without end. Amen. [Eph. 3:21]
Because the husband is the head of
the wife, as Christ is the head of the church.
He is the saviour of his body. [Eph. 5:23]
Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also
let the wives be to their husbands in all things. [Eph.
5:24]
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ
also loved the church, and
delivered himself up for it: [Eph. 5:25]
–
"...loved the church" means "...loved the faithful" present and future.
That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having
spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and
without blemish. [Eph. 5:27]
For no man ever hated his own flesh;
but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church: [Eph. 5:29]
This is a great sacrament; but I
speak in Christ and in the church.
[Eph. 5:32]
Philippians
According
to zeal, persecuting the church
of God; according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without
blame. [Phil. 3:6]
And you also know, O Philippians,
that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no
church communicated with me as
concerning giving and receiving, but you only: [Phil.
4:15]
Colossians
And
he is the head of the body, the church,
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he may hold the primacy: [Col. 1:18]
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for
you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of
Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church: [Col. 1:24]
Salute the brethren who are at
Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church
that is in his house. [Col. 4:15]
And when this epistle shall have been
read with you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that
you read that which is of the Laodiceans. [Col. 4:16]
1 Thessalonians
Paul
and Sylvanus and Timothy: to the church
of the Thessalonians, in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
[1 Thess. 1:1]
2 Thessalonians
Paul,
and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the church
of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[2 Thess. 1:1]
1 Timothy
But
if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of
the church of God? [1
Tim. 3:5]
–
"...take care of the church of God" refers to "the faithful under his
particular care"
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest
know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is
the church of the living God,
the pillar and ground of the truth. [1 Tim. 3:15]
–
"...behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the
living God" means "...behave thyself when the faithful of the living
God are gathered (in prayer, etc.)"
If any of the faithful have widows,
let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be
sufficient for them that are widows indeed. [1 Tim. 5:16]
–
"...and let not the church be charged" refers to that particular
congregation of the faithful.
Philemon
And
to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and
to the church which is in thy
house: [Phm. 1:2]
–
"...the church which is in thy house" refers to the group of faithful
who regularly gather "in thy house"
Hebrews
I
will declare thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the church will I praise thee. [Heb.
2:12]
And to the church of the firstborn, who are
written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits
of the just made perfect, [Heb. 12:23]
James
Is
any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [James
5:14]
1 Peter
The church that is in Babylon, elected
together with you, saluteth you: and so doth my son Mark. [1
Pet. 5:13]
3 John
Who
have given testimony to thy charity in the sight of the church: whom thou shalt do well to
bring forward on their way in a manner worthy of God. [3
Jn. 1:6]
I had written perhaps to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth
to have the pre-eminence among them, doth not receive us. [3
Jn. 1:9]
For this cause, if I come, I will
advertise his works which he doth, with malicious words prating against
us. And as if these things were not enough for him, neither doth he
himself receive the brethren, and them that do receive them he
forbiddeth, and casteth out of the church.
[3 Jn. 1:10]
Apocalypse (Revelation)
Unto
the angel of the church of
Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in
his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks: [Rev. 2:1]
And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things
saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive: [Rev.
2:8]
And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These
things, saith he, that hath the sharp two edged sword: [Rev.
2:12]
And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These
things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire,
and his feet like to fine brass. [Rev. 2:18]
And to the angel of the church of Sardis, write: These
things saith he, that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven
stars: I know thy works, that thou hast the name of being alive: and
thou art dead. [Rev. 3:1]
And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia, write: These
things saith the Holy One and the true one, he that hath the key of
David; he that openeth, and no man shutteth; shutteth, and no man
openeth: [Rev. 3:7]
And to the angel of the church of Laodicea, write: These
things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the
beginning of the creation of God: [Rev. 3:14]
CONCLUSION
It does not matter what the Vatican may claim with the intent of
manipulate the masses – They are not
the Church. The Church, the
Mystical Body of Christ, is composed by the souls who strive to do the
Will of God.
And, the only spiritual Mother that we have is Mary, period!
When Jesus said that the "gates of
hell shall not prevail against" His church (7) He meant that the gates
of hell shall not prevail against those who strive to do the Will of
the Father – those composing the Mystical Body of Christ: He was
NOT referring to any Christian faith institution, whether Roman
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, a variety of Protestant churches, etc.
NOTES
(1) Pain is the megaphone that God
uses for the deaf to hear Him
(2) The
Manifestation of the False Christ
(2) The Timing of
Jesus' Last Passover Meal
(3) There
IS Salvation outside
the Roman Catholic Church
(4) The
Catholic Faith is the
most complete of all faiths available to man
(5) Douay-Rheims Bible
(6) The
Gates of Hell shall not
prevail
En Español: Qué es y qué no es la Iglesia -
Definición bíblica del término 'Iglesia'
Published on July 13th, 2013 -
In honor of Mary, Mystical Rose (Rosa
Mystica) and Revelation
of the Secret of Fátima
© Copyright title image (left
part) by Howard
Lyon
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