Why the Very Premise of Church is a Lie
In our new book, “The Church Lie,” Andy Young and I might have fallen a little short with closing all the points in chapter one. I wish I would have read the article I read today before finishing our book because the article supplied the missing finishing touch that I couldn’t put my finger on. Before I share what I read in the article, let me add that the article is an argument for traditional church, so the point made in the article that I want to use is from a pro-church position.
The point that the article made for me follows: family is not a place, it’s a state of being; church is a place, not a family. Hence, church was never a part of the 1st century ekklesia. Your family is a family no matter where any member of the family is located at any given time. Location is irrelevant to anything that defines family. Not so with church; as the article points out well, location, and what is done at that location defines church. The true body of Christ is defined by being God’s literal family produced by the new birth. Therefore, functioning as a literal family is also a doctrinal statement. We are defined as a family, and function like a family.
In said article, the author is bemoaning online church. Why? Because it’s not church. In the article, church is defined by people gathering at a church, and partaking in sacraments and “communion.” Truly being a part of God’s body, according to the article, requires that you attend a designated place for specific purposes.
Sunday services at most protestant churches already revolve around the pastor’s sermon (often being projected on a screen), void of any sacraments or liturgy that involve the congregations participation…This should not need to be said but here it is: a church is a group of Christians who gather together in a physical space to participate in shared, embodied practices. It’s a lot more than that, too, but it’s not less. Church is inherently physical, tangible, and embodied. In How (Not) to Be Secular, James KA Smith defines the church as a “community of humans in communion.”
“Salvation is only effected by, one might say, our being in communion with God through the community of humans in communion, viz., the church. To depersonalize God is to deny the importance of communion and the community of communion that is the church, home to that meal that is called ‘Communion.’”
Temple worship as a means of obtaining a progressive salvation requires the following: a designated location for partaking in sacraments that atone for ongoing condemnation.
That’s church.
paul
The Church Lie: The 11 Theses Review #23
Today 3/11/19 @ 1:30 to 2:30
#20, 21, 22, and including today, deal with the basics of ekklesia living, or sanctification. It begins with properly understanding the new birth. We have discussed the definition of sin and how it operates with law. We will continue in discussing how the new birth operates with law and how it effects ekklesia living.
Weekdays Monday – Friday when posted.
As I see what is trending in Churchland of late, I find myself interrupting my busy schedule to write an article or post a video because it oftentimes is just too rich to pass up. However, in every case, in the back of my mind, I am saying, “That’s chapter…in the book.” The book is meant to be very comprehensive, and what we missed will be included in the next addition. Meanwhile, I will be conducting a reading with commentary on our new book and how what’s trending in the church connects to the points made in the book. Hope you can join me.
LIVE LINK Scheduled to broadcast 3/11/19 @ 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Archives: The Church Lie 11 Theses Channel
Read The Church Lie online for free.
Topics
Be Happy by Fighting; War is a State of Being, and Helping Stubborn People
We often think happiness and wellbeing are the absence of warfare and strife. However, the reality of this life follows: war is always with us, and the avoidance of it is not a virtue, but rather denial and ignorance. We must know the enemy, and if the enemy can be made a friend, that is a worthy goal, but if the enemy cannot be reasoned with, that enemy must be destroyed. In the overall context, that isn’t always speaking of some sort of violence, but rather bloodless murder in which, whatever it is—is cut out of our lives.
A side note in regard to the, We don’t forgive others for them, we forgive them for us and we have to forgive others the way we were forgiven bla, bla, bla…CRAZE. There is a huge difference in loving our enemies and forgiveness. First of all, if wisdom calls for us to forgive everyone, how can we have any enemies to love? Why would Christ tell us to love our enemies? What enemies? Secondly, being compelled to forgive is no less bondage than so-called “bitterness.” Thirdly, true forgiveness requires fellowship; you can pretty much do the metaphysical math on that idea for yourself. Fourthly, treating an enemy as your friend is putting bad stuff in the body. Fifthly, withholding forgiveness holds the individual accountable until they repent which leads to the true gaining of a friend. Sixthly, blank check forgiveness is NOT love and is often enabling that often leads to the death of the offenders by giving them enough rope to hang themselves.
In regard to some of us, our lives are good and we are thankful. But that will not last if we aren’t on a war footing. Something is always out to destroy us on many different fronts. If you consider the least common denominator, it is death and life. Even if your life is presently good, this does not mean death has declared a ceasefire. This reality transcends all of life from private personal thoughts to statecraft on a worldwide level and everything in-between.
These thoughts occurred to me while studying physiology for school. Good health requires the body to have a good internal balance. This is called “homeostasis.” But often unknown to us, this homeostasis boils down to one thing and one thing only: the war within that is constantly raging is being won by the good guys. And the good guys are not very virtuous looking; they are merciless creatures who take no prisoners.
Homeostasis is the work of the central nervous system and the endocrine system working together. One is electricity and the other is chemicals. The liaison between the two is the hypothalamus, but this article is about the immune system that is part of the endocrine system army. Let me introduce the subjects that are involved in this vicious war.
Specific immunity is the body’s reaction to a certain threat [known threats].
Non-specific immunity is the body’s reaction to anything it does not recognize as a normal body substance [shoot first and ask questions later].
Antibodies are normal body substances that recognize abnormal or unwanted substances. They attack and destroy such substances [search and destroy].
Antigens are abnormal or unwanted substances. An antigen causes the body to produce antibodies. The antibodies attack and destroy the antigens.
Phagocytes are white blood cells that digest and destroy microorganisms and other unwanted substances [they eat the enemy. It is unclear as to whether or not they are nourished by eating the organism ].
Lymphocytes are white blood cells that produce antibodies. Lymphocyte production increases as the body responds to an infection.
B lymphocytes (B cells) cause the production of antibodies that circulate in the plasma. The antibodies react to specific antigens.
T lymphocytes (T cells) destroy invading cells. Known as “killer T cells,” they produce poisons near the invading cells [chemical warfare]. They also call on other cells to then do mopping up operations [probably via cannibalism].
Every day that we feel great is due to the good guys winning the violent war within that involves innumerable troops. The death toll in one person, and in one day, far surpasses the casualties of all wars together in human history. When discussing cells, we are not talking about small numbers. A single person has about 100 trillion cells, and about ten times more of micro-organisms.
However, though this war is automatically fought by intelligent cells apart from our knowledge altogether, we can aid the internal army by making good choices. These choices that properly equip our army involves the following: knowing what brings life and death, and knowing that the rules cannot be changed. These choices range from what we eat and drink, to what we think which leads to what we believe. For example, if we believe the wrong things, especially things that can cause fear, the central nervous system starts partaking in a fools errand and wasting other resources.
Stubborn people don’t know who or what their friends and enemies are, they are unwise in regard to what brings life and death, and they don’t understand how the world works; they think they can change the rules. Where would we begin to cite examples from the big picture of statecraft politics to the homeless drug addict?
Much could be discussed here, but the Bible states that internal misguided desires compel people to choose death instead of life while thinking they can change the rules of how the world works. Or, sadly, the misguided desire has gained so much power in their lives that they are willing to choose death to have said desire for one more moment. That’s a bad idea.
And for the rest of us, we fall into the ignorant idea that happiness means that death has agreed to a ceasefire.
paul
The Church Lie: The 11 Theses Review #22
Today 3/8/19 @ 1:30 to 2:30
#20 and 21, including today, deal with the basics of ekklesia living, or sanctification. It begins with properly understanding the new birth. We have discussed the definition of sin and how it operates with law. We will continue in discussing how the new birth operates with law and how it effects ekklesia living.
Weekdays Monday – Friday when posted.
As I see what is trending in Churchland of late, I find myself interrupting my busy schedule to write an article or post a video because it oftentimes is just too rich to pass up. However, in every case, in the back of my mind, I am saying, “That’s chapter…in the book.” The book is meant to be very comprehensive, and what we missed will be included in the next addition. Meanwhile, I will be conducting a reading with commentary on our new book and how what’s trending in the church connects to the points made in the book. Hope you can join me.
LIVE LINK Scheduled to broadcast 3/8/19 1:30pm – 3/8/19 2:30pm
Archives: The Church Lie 11 Theses Channel
Read The Church Lie online for free.
Topics
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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