What differentiates the two communities is the images of the Church formed within the Newer Testament. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church with the Spirit of God moving God’s people. Accordingly, the Church is the body of Christ who are dependent upon Christ for existence.
“And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
As the body, the Church must continue to develop, to nourish one another within community, and to expand by way of evangelism and social justice. Other images of Christ as the leader of the Church include: he is the vine, we are the branches; temple of the Spirit; he is the bride of Christ; and he is the ark
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This confessional creed is a re-declaration that the reconciliation of God’s world can only occur through the unity of all people. The Belhar Confession believes that Christ’s actions on the cross allowed opportunity for unity and any act or belief which works against unity is working against the Gospel. Specifically for our own denomination, the Reformed Church in America, historically, has been one of the last to adopt and adapt to our worlds ever-evolving morality. Nevertheless, the RCA was one of the very first Reformed denominations to accept the Belhar Confession. Now the primary goal of the RCA is to be kingdom-bringers who “minister to the total life of all people by preaching, teaching, and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by all Christian good works.” It is God’s intentions to put the world to rights and the purpose of the Church is to: “fulfill its call within the expectation of the reign of God as it participates in mission, in calling all persons to life in Christ, and in proclaiming God’s promise and commands to all the world.” With the Holy Spirit as their guide, the RCA desires to do share the Gospel with the entire world. With this understanding in mind, the Belhar Confession
Human nature causes a desire to run away from places and people full of love, into a life that is empty in all ways, and go running back to the open arms of loved ones once self-preservation runs out. This idea of running away and returning was used in the Bible to exemplify man running away from God with selfish ambition only to return to a God with His arms wide open, welcoming the son back home and treating him as though he had never left. In his Confessions Augustine shares his personal Prodigal Son moment, the journey that led him away from, then back to, his Creator. Such is a journey that most individuals find themselves on at one point or another, leaving and then returning to his or her Creator.
One of the most documented and honest journeys to accepting Christ is presented in St. Augustine’s book, Confessions. He embarks on a mission to find truth and explains the many barriers he had to overcome to understand the greatness of God. Throughout the book, St. Augustine lays out different significant milestones that enabled him to overcome certain barriers of thought that he originally believed. These significant milestones included him meeting Ambrose the Bishop of Milan, the learning of Neoplatonism, meeting Simplicianus and Ponticianus which lead him soon after to convert, and finally reaching the end of his journey to Catholicism when he becomes baptized. Each of these milestones presented a realization that played a significant
In the eyes of the people the church is one place you are spared from judgment and critique. It is the one place you should feel safe, to express your thoughts and opinions, pray to the higher power in which you believe and your faith resides and be free of society qualms, demands, and realism. In a part
The church or Ecclesia, as it is called in the original Greek language, regardless of size, are the called out ones who assemble to represent the Body and life of Jesus Christ. They engage in meetings of praise, worship, and listening to the Word of God, which is taken from their manual called the Holy Bible, or the Scriptures; those bringing the message are considered to be the mouthpieces for God, and are typically called preachers (KJV, Eph 5.23-32). According to the Bible, the church, which includes the preachers, is to strive to exemplify the type of life that Jesu...
Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential personalities in the entire world. In the book ‘Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life,’ Cunningham recounts the life of this humble monk who lived in the medieval times, and shaped the Christian life, which spread in Western culture throughout the rest of history. I believe Cunningham accurately accounts for the life of Francis of Assisi, and in doing so; he provides a trajectory of the Christian faith from its early and historical proponents through its fusion with western culture, and its subsequent spread throughout the world.
The relationship between entertainment and violence has always been rife with controversy. Today’s debate over violent video games, movies, and television shows is yet another manifestation of this timeless issue. In Confessions, Augustine addresses how humans consume violence as entertainment and proposes two reasons for why they do so. One is an act of pleasure seeking that uses the sight of tragedy or violence to bask in the feeling of false pity. The other is a carnal desire for excitement and adrenaline fueled by primal instincts. According to Augustine, both motivations degrade and dehumanize the viewer of violence. However, Augustine deeply valued the importance of learning from any viable source; Cicero’s Hortensius convinces him “that
The church has more than one definition. The local church, which is a body of believers that have a specific place that they gather to worship and study the Word of God. The other definition is the Body of Christ, which includes every person that has accepted Christ as personal Lord and Savior. Both of these “organisms” preach and nurture Christians, which is missions.” God birthed the church, and when the church puts God at the center of the church, the focus of the church will change from being a church centered mission to a mission centered church and God will begin to use the church as His instrument for missions. Jesus after He was raised from the dead told all of His followers to proclaim that salvation was complete through His death burial and resurrection and it was/is free to those who will receive it. (Luke 24:44-48) The church has been divinely appointed by God to get the Gospel out into the world. The work of the church and God’s message of salvation will be for nothing if the church is not obedient and follow through with the instructions that God has tasked it with. (Acts 10:36) When the church is in line with God’s intention and is Spirit led, God the Father will be preparing hearts, Christ the Son will invite “whosoever will” and the Holy Spirit will convict and draw sinners to respond. (Rev.
The Protestant would originally practice their faith in secrecy in order to avoid punishment from the majority of society that was Catholic based faith. Calvin Protestant began to publically perform ceremonies and practice their faith in front of all to see. many of the Calvin followers were nationally French and wanted to spread the Protestant Reformation in their homeland of France. More French Reformed churches began to spread out in France, which made protestant want to practice their faith more publically. This act angered the Catholic people of France even more resulting in an attack on the Protestants. Catherine de’Medici tried to ease the tension between the protestant and the Catholic by enacting a law that forbid harm to Protestant
...ty in the world that even remotely resembles it”. (p91) Going forward what is needed is for the Corinthians is to stop being self-centered and repent. The church is God’s sanctuary. Paul’s portrayal of the church expands upon the role of the “Father Son and Holy Spirit in relation to the church”(p91). Which minimizes the role of its leaders, the leaders are not to be put on a pedestal. Because all the glory goes to God the leaders are mere servants of their flock and servants of God. The growth in God’s field is caused by God not humans as for God’s building the only foundation is that of Jesus Christ, and God’s temple is where the Holy Spirit dwells. According to Romans 8:17 what is Jesus’s is ours 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Secondly, the Church can insist on its identity as an inter-generational community. It can do this structurally, by refusing to segment congregations by age, and temperamentally, by recovering a biblical respect for maturity and rejecting popular culture’s infantilism, thereby offering to children a goal of growing up. Popular culture exalts perpetual adolescence.
"He was especially concerned that everything in the church be carried out with the greatest possible dignity."
... answer is enough for Jesus. He says to Peter, “Follow me!” and Peter goes on to become the head of the Church.
When we think of the Church as followers of Christ we think of the Church of Christ. The Church which is from the Kingdom of God. That we serve in and are to minister in. It is also the same Church that Jesus told Peter that he will be the rock of His Church which He will build on. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;…” (New American Standard Bible, Matthew 16.9) Over time the Church has grown and developed many different forms of government. However, the three major forms of church government is Episcopal Government, Congregational Government and Presbyterian Government. Each government of the church has played an important role within the church and in its history.
In the Acts 2 New Testament Church, leadership was defined in terms community without hierarchy and authority, in fact, leadership rested solely with the saints instead of a singular man (Bilezikian, 2007). Leadership was hesed to the New Testament saints and apostles by Christ who fulfilled the New Covenant on the cross, and shared in community through mutual accountability (CCBS, n.d.); hence, the function of leadership was to release the potential of the community in sharing the good news of the gospel with a broken world (Bilezikian, 2007). Following the advent of congregational churches, came authoritarian leaders who often disguised servant leadership with a lust for power and control over a community in stringent rules and dogma (Bilezikian, 2007). Thus, the end results of authoritarian leadership were the destruction of community leadership potential, and violation of the New Testament Church structure with hierarchy (Bilezikian,
The church is a place in which many come to find a sense of belonging, comfort, and purpose. It's through these three qualities which have drawn and maintained many church goers throughout the years.