Bible Answer Man Converts to Eastern Orthodox!

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Ohio

The new believer should pray and follow the Lord. That is how the Spirit led me and countless others. Our Heavenly Father will direct his path to a congregation, part of the one true church.

It is your LC "vision" which is theoretical. Your leaders preach oneness more than any other, yet are more stubborn, proud, arrogant, and divisive than any others. They are modern day Pharisees, whose teachings are filled with leaven.

The "one true church" is the spiritual body of Christ, composed of His own children meeting in numerous places. Your vision of the "one true church" is a building with an address and a website linking them with dead ministers. When looking for the "one true church," one desires to find a living minister, One who has risen from the dead, a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God.

Why do you say that congregations are "part of" the one true church? Why not say they are the one true church?

In the bible the church was all the regenerated believers living on the Earth. It (as in the assembly of people) were practical and visible. There was no doubt an address and everyone (including the persecutors) knew where "the church" was.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Why do you say that congregations are "part of" the one true church? Why not say they are the one true church?

In the bible the church was all the regenerated believers living on the Earth. It (as in the assembly of people) were practical and visible. There was no doubt an address and everyone (including the persecutors) knew where "the church" was.

No single congregation is THE ONE TRUE CHURCH.

There was no doubt an address? To the one true church? The one seated in the heavenlies with Christ? Seriously?

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Ohio

No single congregation is THE ONE TRUE CHURCH.

There was no doubt an address? To the one true church? The one seated in the heavenlies with Christ? Seriously?

Your interpretation of single congregations being part of the one true church implies those congregations are sub-groups or sects of the one true church.

I think in the bible each church is expressed as being "the church", not "part of" it.

e.g. The church in Corinth
The church in Ephesus

I can't find anything in my bible talking about "part of the church..." in Corinth etc.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Your interpretation of single congregations being part of the one true church implies those congregations are sub-groups or sects of the one true church.

I think in the bible each church is expressed as being "the church", not "part of" it.

e.g. The church in Corinth
The church in Ephesus

I can't find anything in my bible talking about "part of the church..." in Corinth etc.

That's right.

Every evangelical congregation is the church, including some LC's (at least those in the GLA).

But you have been talking about THE ONE TRUE CHURCH, which is like Paul said, "THE CHURCH, which is His body."

Try to understand the difference

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Ohio

That's right.

Every evangelical congregation is the church, including some LC's (at least those in the GLA).

But you have been talking about THE ONE TRUE CHURCH, which is like Paul said, "THE CHURCH, which is His body."

Try to understand the difference

By saying "evangelical congregation" you exclude non-evangelicals. So you do the same thing you say we do. nice.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

By saying "evangelical congregation" you exclude non-evangelicals. So you do the same thing you say we do. nice.

I defined "evangelical congregation" as a church where the gospel of salvation was actively preached, and the leaders were born again Christians.

That's not to say that some members or attendants were not yet saved.

I exclude non-evangelicals like the Catholic church I grew up in, which during all my years there, I never heard the gospel of salvation.

And, no, I don't do the same thing you do. My heart is enlarged to receive all believers, including you. And I don't play your word games.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I defined "evangelical congregation" as a church where the gospel of salvation was actively preached, and the leaders were born again Christians.

That's not to say that some members or attendants were not yet saved.

I exclude non-evangelicals like the Catholic church I grew up in, which during all my years there, I never heard the gospel of salvation.

And, no, I don't do the same thing you do. My heart is enlarged to receive all believers, including you. And I don't play your word games.

I understand, and somewhat agree a genuine church should be like that .But you've put some conditions on the meeting that others may not agree with. For example, one could say that any gathering of Christians is the church, and we just have to accept that not all of them will preach the gospel and the leaders may not be born again Christians (tares or, wolves, as they may be). But they are still the church and we should still meet with them. In fact I used to meet like this a long time ago. Is it right to partake of communion from someone, a pastor, or priest, who is not even a born again believer. I see many issues with the way church is done, not just the denominational names, but the insistence of a single qualified person (e.g. Priest) delivering the bread and wine, who may not be born again themselves. On topic - Hank has joined this kind of church, a church where the priest who gives him the bread and wine every Sunday may not be born again himself. In fact, Orthodox don't even know who is saved and who is not. That's why I say his "rejection of the LC" was actually more of a rejection of evangelicalism itself. According to the article in the OP, this is a problem that evangelicals are pondering over. How can a 30-year evangelical just join the Orthodox church?

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

There was no doubt an address and everyone (including the persecutors) knew where "the church" was.

You presume much to say "an" address" and that everyone knew where it was. You forget about "greet so-and-so and the church that meets in their house." If "church" meant what you think it does, then that statement could not exist in any of Paul's letters.