ἐκκλησία: THE CHURCH!
It always amazes me when a Bible teacher challenges two thousand years of Christian tradition by declaring a "new understanding of the Word of God!" In other words, he or she, usually with condescending sarcasm, informs the rest of us of our failure to "rightly divide the Word of Truth." And, the closer we get to our Lord's return to remove born again believers via the "Rapture," the more frequently these "skilled theologians" draw attention away from the sharing of the Gospel, to focusing on "their new revelation!" I am sure this is not true of all those who want to "correct us," but the majority seem bent on getting the "sheep" to follow them, as opposed following their local shepherds, who have been called to lead their flocks. The common characteristic that seems to motivate them is pride! There are not many, if any, of them who appear as humble servants of our Lord.
Recently, a couple of these teachers have chosen to focus upon when the Church actually began. One says it began following the stoning of Stephen, when the Lord is said to have turned the Gospel focus to the Gentiles. The other strongly suggests that the Church is the work of the Apostle Paul; that all the doctrine that is foundational to the Church comes from Romans to Philemon, and he seems pretty sure that the Book of Hebrews is Pauline as well.
To tell you the truth, I am not the least bit interested in "when the Church had its birth!" My concern is that it is failing miserably at the Lord's instructions to take the Gospel "to the ends of the earth!" While theologians argue over minute details, our world is racing toward hell at an unprecedented pace! Paul's description of humanity at the Second Coming of Christ, reads like the script of the nightly news! Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
As for when the Church began, the word appears 115 times with 24 of them in the Book of Acts: 2:47; 5:11; 7:38; 8:1-3; 9:31; 11:22-26; 12:1-5; 13:1; 14:23-27; 15:3-4, 22, 41; 16:5; 18:22; 19:37; and 20:17, 28! In fact, the first mention of the Church in Acts clearly teaches that the Church existed from the Day of Pentecost; note that all that happened in chapter two is summed up in verses 39-47:
"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
THE QUESTION IS NOT WHEN THE CHURCH BEGAN,
BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH THE LOST?
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