Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
In relation to the question, I am saying that a "true church" does not take a name for itself.
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And I'm asking, If this is true then why have so few believed it over the centuries? Why has God not revealed this "crucial truth" to his people?
Do you really think that the vast majority of God's people are so evil and compromised that almost none of them have realized over the years that churches cannot have names and so during the entire church age there have been, relatively speaking, almost no "true churches" on the earth?
That just makes no sense. God's sole purpose in this age is to build the Church but you are saying he has had almost no "true churches" ever? And has very few now? Really? You really believe that?
So if there are no "true churches" doesn't that imply the Church has no true presence on the earth to speak of? So the Church itself has nothing to do with all the salvations, prayers, changed lives, growth, mission works, transformations, sacrifices and even martyrdoms that have taken place? All of this is occurring outside the Church? What entity is doing the work then? And, meanwhile, where is the Church?
Like I said, what you are saying does not add up. It just doesn't make sense.
While I think the central question of this thread is acceptable for discussion, I don't think a clear and precise answer is possible. I don't think the Lord intended us to be judges of what is and isn't a valid church.
The parable of the wheat and the weeds* tells us do not presume to judge who is a real Christian or not. It seems to me the same wisdom should be generally applied to churches. There are no instances in the NT where a "false church" is identified. Although we can cite some characteristics of a church, we cannot say we know enough to declare that a church which, say, has a name or doesn't meet on the ground of locality is not a church. And I think presuming to be able to do that is HIGHLY DESTRUCTIVE**.
No offense, Evangelical, but I think the idea that little-old-you is wise enough to decide in every instance what is and isn't a church is not reasonable, to say the least. Why should I agree with you when almost no one down through history has? What makes you special?
*
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
** “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Matthew 13:24-30