Ecclessia (Part Three)
Characteristics of the Ecclessia
It is crystal clear and none would argue that church was designed to be Christ's earthly body. According to George Miley, The church then is a person. A living thing. The church is Christ. Even in the book of Acts it is clear, from the words of Christ, "Saul, why do you persecute me?". He wasn't referring to the building . Me in Greek means something similar to me in English.
I think its funny our Lord doesn't mind giving himself extremely feminine characteristics. If The Church is like a bride. So Christ is coming to marry himself? Does that mean Christ is like the bride or the bridegroom? Weird to think about. I think its possible Christ means for us to love him and approach him like you would a bride. To approach Him "gently,to honor Him, to affirm his wonderfulness, to be tender, to be patient, and to cultivate response by spending time with Him."-Miley.
In his book Loving the Church, Blessing the Nations, Miley writes that One of the most beneficial characteristics would be that the church is designed to be a community. There are numerous examples of this: the Moravian community, the Celtic community, the first church even. The church was designed to be a community of being, doing, and mission. The church sold be the fullest manifestation of Jesus on earth, they are agents of mission designed to herald the message of God's dear son among all people. The church was designed to be unique in style, spiritual gifts, and life experience.
I think we should substitute the word I for church. I am supposed to be in community being, doing, and living missionally. I was designed to be unique in my style of learning, teaching, singing, writing, etc. I am gifted with natural and spiritual gifts. I am dead though, I no longer live. So it is really Christ who has gifted me, it is really Him who is unique and talented. So it is really Him that was made to live and be in community. After all, before the world began, was he not in relationship with Himself. Not even just one, but two others.
It is crystal clear and none would argue that church was designed to be Christ's earthly body. According to George Miley, The church then is a person. A living thing. The church is Christ. Even in the book of Acts it is clear, from the words of Christ, "Saul, why do you persecute me?". He wasn't referring to the building . Me in Greek means something similar to me in English.
I think its funny our Lord doesn't mind giving himself extremely feminine characteristics. If The Church is like a bride. So Christ is coming to marry himself? Does that mean Christ is like the bride or the bridegroom? Weird to think about. I think its possible Christ means for us to love him and approach him like you would a bride. To approach Him "gently,to honor Him, to affirm his wonderfulness, to be tender, to be patient, and to cultivate response by spending time with Him."-Miley.
In his book Loving the Church, Blessing the Nations, Miley writes that One of the most beneficial characteristics would be that the church is designed to be a community. There are numerous examples of this: the Moravian community, the Celtic community, the first church even. The church was designed to be a community of being, doing, and mission. The church sold be the fullest manifestation of Jesus on earth, they are agents of mission designed to herald the message of God's dear son among all people. The church was designed to be unique in style, spiritual gifts, and life experience.
I think we should substitute the word I for church. I am supposed to be in community being, doing, and living missionally. I was designed to be unique in my style of learning, teaching, singing, writing, etc. I am gifted with natural and spiritual gifts. I am dead though, I no longer live. So it is really Christ who has gifted me, it is really Him who is unique and talented. So it is really Him that was made to live and be in community. After all, before the world began, was he not in relationship with Himself. Not even just one, but two others.
posted by K at 12:48 AM
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