Desert Snake
Veteran Member
If you had to choose, church attendance, but no Bible reading at home or otherwise, or Bible, but no church, which would you choose?
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Church, or Bible?
- Thread starter Desert Snake
- Start date
Good thread, I congratulate you. I choose the Church
In fact....the Bible is not what makes us Christians. It is the awareness of belonging to an assembly. In Greek, church is translated "ekklisìa" which means assembly.
In all romance languages the word church comes from this word.
In fact....the Bible is not what makes us Christians. It is the awareness of belonging to an assembly. In Greek, church is translated "ekklisìa" which means assembly.
In all romance languages the word church comes from this word.
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Pegg
Jehovah our God is One
If it were not for Gods Word, we would not be able to come to know him and develop a relationship with him.
And many people have developed a relationship with God through the bible alone...so I voted Bible.
There is coming a day when religion will be gone... only the bible will remain... if people read their bible, they would know that.
And many people have developed a relationship with God through the bible alone...so I voted Bible.
There is coming a day when religion will be gone... only the bible will remain... if people read their bible, they would know that.
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The Bible is just paper if you don't put it into practice
Pegg
Jehovah our God is One
no, its never just paper... it is always Gods word.
How a person treats Gods word is what makes it just paper.
But you'll never apply it if you dont know whats in it... so reading it is imperative.
Not a valid question, IMO. The Bible commands we 'not forsake our meeting together.' (Hebrews 10:24,25) The Bible is the basis for true faith, and therefore it is necessary to read God's Word daily. (Psalm 1:2) True Christians will always find a way to meet together, and when they do, they will read and discuss the Bible. If they have no written copies of the Bible, they will discuss the Scriptures from memory.
Sleeppy
Fatalist. Christian. Pacifist.
Bible.. I've been in enough churches to know that it stagnates quickly.. Most preachers stick to the safe Bible passages, and never answer the congregations curiosity. They also aren't very efficient at solving family issues, which is of utmost importance entering into the kingdom of God. Hypocrisy is rampant as well. And dualism seems to be a major problem as well, which divides people and causes autolatry/self-righteous arrogance.
The Church. The prayers of the Divine Liturgy are basically just Scripture verses strung together. Before the New Testament existed, Christians learned the Gospel through the weekly Liturgy on Sunday. Without the Church, the Bible as we know it wouldn't even exist.
The Bible. You can always talk to other Christians outside of Church.
Desert Snake
Veteran Member
No, it is. And some Xians don't meet at churches, you seem to be implying they aren't 'real Xians'? Not even sure what your trying to say..
Desert Snake
Veteran Member
This is like the 'second part' of the question, when does church become a hinderance to faith as opposed to a positive thing.
I'm saying true Christians do meet together, if possible, whether in a building, a private home, or the forest. (Hebrews 10:24,25) And the basis for true faith is the Bible. So choosing between them is like asking a person "which leg do you want to cut off?"
Desert Snake
Veteran Member
I think it's fairly obvious that I meant the usual church (building) weekly services etc.
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dawny0826
Mother Heathen
Bible. I don't require church for instruction as the Word is living. I view church as a venue of worship and sharing as a group.
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"The Eucharist" is not mentioned in the Bible as such, and "transubstantiation" is also not a Bible teaching, IMO. Such rituals may soothe some people, but impart nothing that draws one closer to God. (Matthew 15:9)
I would choose Church, although by 'church' I do not mean a church building nor even a mass service but the mystical body of Christ composed of the clergy and laity on earth as well as the glorified in heaven. Christ did not write any books, what he did do was select his Apostles and form a series of rituals (ie Eucharist, confession, anointing etc.) along with teachings that he entrusted them with retaining and developing through the power of the Holy Spirit. These Apostles then decided to appoint bishops and priests after them to carry on their authority once the apostolic age had ended. The Apostles and disciples formed the core of the early Jesus movement and were the 'Church' in its nascent, primordial form. Clearly, because Jesus actually created the 'Church' (ie his Body of Believers with the apostolic hierarchy, rituals and ethical teachings) it clearly should rank above all. The Church existed for at least three centuries without a codified and universally agreed upon Bible, with the exception of the Old Testament and the Gospels, along some of Paul's letters. The Four Gospels themselves were not completed until the end of the first century BC, so the Church existed for decades without any written gospels. The Bible is the written Word of God only because it was authored by people who were members of the Church and because the Church recognised their work as divinely inspired, because the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles and their successors as Jesus promised.
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