Whose church is it anyway?
The more men try to define “church” and “do church right” the more elusive “church” becomes. Jesus said “I will build MY church” but fleshly men constantly get in his way. Ever since he said that, men began to try and figure it out, define it, regulate it, legislate it, assume authority over its members,…never being content just to “be” the church. Who is right? Who is wrong? Most likely, all are wrong. Here’s what Paul had to say to the Galatians who were struggling with the law:
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
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13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
I’m pretty sure this point of view will not change the course of this discussion. I just think someone needed to say it.
Nell
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