The Body of Christ: The True Purpose of the Church

[APuritanMindset]

I wrote this article a while back and thought I'd share it here and get some feedback.

The Body of Christ: The True Purpose of the Church

 

[Brother Ian]

Some quick feedback. The color you selected for the article cannot be read against the background.

Sorry.

 

[APuritanMindset]

I'll have to fix that. Click the link again, and it will be readable. Sorry about that. I changed the background and stuff after writing that so that is probably why that happened.

 

[Artimaeus]

I would never argue with scripture...I would, however, argue with you.

Overall, the article was pretty good and the crude reference to the difference between men and women was totally unnecessary. I will respond to this one other point though.

From the article:

Who are we to argue with Scripture? Jesus died for the church. He didn't give Himself up for every individual person on the face of the earth to make redemption possible for all; He gave Himself up for the sake of His bride.

Person "A" is lost and then gets saved.
Person "B" is lost and never gets saved.

Christ died for "A" and "B". Christ died for the lost (both start out that way). Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. "A", however, is the only one to recieve the benefits of that death. Christ did indeed die for "A" (the church). Christ died for ALL to have the possibility and no excuse. The verse you quoted did not say that Christ did NOT die for the lost, it said that He DID die for the saved. It does not say that He ONLY died for the church. One does not rule out the other.

 

[Roguelet]

Sorry, I can't read it. the background is yellow and the words green. I think it hasn't been changed yet. I would love to read it but can't guess I could copy and paste to word. i'll try that tomorrow.

I'm sure there has to be some positive feedback Art.

I was always taught, try and find the truth in what soneone says and bring that out when discussing things you may not agree about. Find the positve or you will just turn others off. they will learn real fast there input or opinions are not worth your scruteny. ( I know I'm not the greatest speller sorry )

also try and sandwich a negative response with something positive same principle I think.

Not always easy to do but sure worth striving for.

 

[Artimaeus]

Originally posted by Roguelet:
I'm sure there has to be some positive feedback Art.

Point taken.

pardon the crudeness of this analogy

I didn't. It set a tone of uncareingness that permiated the rest of the article which I had to make an effort to overlook and it was unnecessary.

There are differences between men and women that need to be acknowledged.

Viva la differance. Acknowledging psychological differences is VERY politically incorrect but they are there and indeed should be addressed.

The husband is supposed to do something to see to it that his wife will be obedient to him willfully.

This is a major point that I think nearly everyone misses. I do not TELL my wife anything. I am not her boss. It is not my job to MAKE her do anything. It is really NONE of my business to police her obedience. That is her responsibility and mine is to help her if she wants it.

the husband is to love his wife in such a way that it models Christ's love for the church.

This tells us two very important things. First, it tells us who Jesus died for; and, secondly, it tells us why He died for them. Let's take a moment and look at these two issues.

Here is the problem. If I reject your first point, it tends to make your second point less compelling. I do, however, agree with your second point.

The modern American idea of the church is that it exists for the sake of getting unsaved people in the doors to get them saved.

I have never heard anyone even remotely say this. I have heard unlearned church members who seem to act like this is a significant part of what they do. It isn't taught in any church that I know of.

We have taken some of the commands here and institutionalized them and made them to be done only by ordained ministers.

Very true. Regular members do tend to shirk their responsibilities and this needs to be addressed frequently.

And if we are members of the body of Christ, than why do we continuously bring in deadly diseases into Him?

This makes it sound as though people are trying to get LOST people to be members. I think they are trying to get lost people to hear the message, get saved, and THEN become members.

are opting, instead, to give people their 7 steps to living a good life

Good point.

The purpose of the church is not to draw in lost people and get them saved.

Not directly but, indirectly.

The purpose of the church is to live out boldly and proudly the fact that it is the bride and body of Christ.

"proudly"? - I'm thinking, no.

The purpose of the church is also to edify the members thereof. All that we do in the church should be to build up.

Now THIS seems to be the purpose of the church.

(Is that better feedback. )

 

[2BHizown]

Originally posted by APuritanMindset:
I wrote this article a while back and thought I'd share it here and get some feedback.

The Body of Christ: The True Purpose of the Church

After the analogy used I could never put any value of anything else you had to say. This is a christian forum and you should know what is appropriate and what is not! That was not!

 

[APuritanMindset]

Originally posted by 2BHizown:
After the analogy used I could never put any value of anything else you had to say. This is a christian forum and you should know what is appropriate and what is not! That was not!

I don't know that it was that crude though. Since when is it wrong to speak about issues relating to sex and the parts used? Leviticus talks about wet dreams and the like. I will give, though, it wasn't the best analogy that I could have used. Then again, what more obvious difference is there between men and women?

Artimaeus, you said,

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />The modern American idea of the church is that it exists for the sake of getting unsaved people in the doors to get them saved.

I have never heard anyone even remotely say this. I have heard unlearned church members who seem to act like this is a significant part of what they do. It isn't taught in any church that I know of.</font>[/QUOTE]I have on more than one occaision heard preachers say things like this. It's sad. It is also kinda what The Purpose Driven Church teaches and most church growth models as well.