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“Church” Is Our Understanding Biblical? By Rabbi Mike Murphy
What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “church.” What is interesting is that one might picture a glorious building. This seems to be common in thought when the word church is thought of. On the other hand one might think of the body of Christ. Well, lets look at this term from the Greek translation in the New Testament. The Greek word for church in the New Testament is “ekklesia” meaning “assembly.” What many seem to not realize is that this term has also been used in the Bible in reference to a secular assembly. The latter part of Acts chapter 19 makes this very clear if the Greek is studied in context of what is being said.
So what is the point I am trying to make in all this? Throughout the ages the word "church" seems to have been exalted to almost a point of deification. All the word means is assembly. Whenever the writers of the New Testament pointed out the term “ekklesia” when it was concerning the body of believers, the context is always clear that it represents the assembly of Messiah or the Christ. I myself have gotten into the habit of saying assembly more often when referring to a body of believers in Messiah. Christians have seem to put the word “church” in big lights and have exalted it way beyond its meaning. Instead of exalting it we should be exalting “Messiah” or “Christ,” Amen! By having a right understanding of this term it will first of all keep us from envisioning a mere building. And second of all it will keep us believers from exalting who we are, but rather exalt the name above every name, Yeshua Ha Mashiach or Jesus the Christ! The Rev
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