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Originally Posted by Evangelical
Re: Abyssinian Orthodox church - no where in the Bible do the churches feel the need to name themselves after their nationality. .
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The Abyssinians (Ethiopians) are a people. The Bible says, "every people (Gk: ethnos) tribe and tongue." (cf Rev 7:9)
The record in Acts plainly states that Philip delivered the gospel message to an Ethiopian, without recording the city of destination. By so little you dismiss God's children?
The "testimony of Jesus" is not the church, the Body, the ministry, the present truth (so-called), the central lane of God's economy (so-called), or the local church posited by Nee or Lee. The testimony of Jesus is the declaration of faith that Jesus is Lord; delivered by individual mouths and collective assemblies (Gk: ekklesia). Meetings. Gatherings. It's all so much simpler than your ground of locality, which ensnares, entangles, and ultimately defrauds the believers of their birthright.
With the heart we believe and with the mouth we confess: of Jesus and His saving power, the Father's sending love, and the Holy Spirit's revelation. Don't be led astray to organizational formulations and ecclesiastical programmes. They're works of men, however carefully concocted and assiduously presented. I meet with the church (ekklesia). My allegiance is to Jesus. The elders in my church are aware of my "affiliation" and they're fine with that. No chance of that kind of understanding in the LC.