Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - Re-learning the ABCs (Assembly, Body, Church)

Shawn · 07-19-2008, 07:38 AM

Hey YP!

I hope you and your family are well, I am thankful for the little correspondance we had a short while ago!

In my understanding, the universal church has little impact on us, but it is how our God and Father views the church, eternal over time and space; a place we are not at yet. For us, till we are with Him in glory our practical experience of the church is local; with whatever brothers and sisters the Lord has placed beside us in our community.

There has been a recent teaching however that blurrs this distinction, that states the local aspect of the church is only a procedure; the universal church (ie. the body of Christ) is the real goal.

It is this teaching that has spawned the great division that is being witnessed among the "local churches" today, in rejecting the local aspect of the church as merely the procedure and emphasizing the universal aspect of the universal body of Christ being the final authority; as long as you remain in "the feeling of the body," as declared by the responsible brothers who believe they are God's deputy authority.

The practice of the universal church should be left in the capable hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who intercedes for her and longs to be with her as His bride; our attempts to practice the universal church usurps the One who truly is in control of her destiny and by His grace will perfect her without spot or blemish, at the coming of our lord and Saviour Jesus!

Grace to All!

FF oppps, I mean Shawn!

07-19-2008, 07:38 AM	#22
Shawn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 54	Universal VS. Local Hey YP! I hope you and your family are well, I am thankful for the little correspondance we had a short while ago! In my understanding, the universal church has little impact on us, but it is how our God and Father views the church, eternal over time and space; a place we are not at yet. For us, till we are with Him in glory our practical experience of the church is local; with whatever brothers and sisters the Lord has placed beside us in our community. There has been a recent teaching however that blurrs this distinction, that states the local aspect of the church is only a procedure; the universal church (ie. the body of Christ) is the real goal. It is this teaching that has spawned the great division that is being witnessed among the "local churches" today, in rejecting the local aspect of the church as merely the procedure and emphasizing the universal aspect of the universal body of Christ being the final authority; as long as you remain in "the feeling of the body," as declared by the responsible brothers who believe they are God's deputy authority. The practice of the universal church should be left in the capable hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who intercedes for her and longs to be with her as His bride; our attempts to practice the universal church usurps the One who truly is in control of her destiny and by His grace will perfect her without spot or blemish, at the coming of our lord and Saviour Jesus! Grace to All! FF oppps, I mean Shawn!