Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Are we sure that the Bible teaches that God's "church" is a visible organization, and not an invisible number of scattered believers?
The only times we read that Jesus mentioned His "church" were twice--Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. He used the word ecclesia, which means "called out," a people designated and separated from the world, defined and denominated in a form that the world could recognize as an entity.
The apostles called ancient Israel a "church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38, New King James Version), and we read that Israel was a visible organization that the world could see as God's denominated people. In Matthew 18 Jesus outlined what should be done if a member in the church disgraces its name--he should be disciplined. Unless the church is organized, this cannot be done.
Paul thought of a beautiful illustration of what the church is--it's a "body." "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually ... in the church" (1 Cor. 12:12-28).
Perhaps the reason for our question is the problem of apostasy and worldliness in the church, which is discouraging to a thoughtful, sincere Christian. Please think about Jesus: He is even more pained by this than you are. Be joined to Him by faith, share His heart burden for His church. It's the great crisis of the ages. He wants to lead her to repentance, not to ruin.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 25, 2005.
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