Why the Church exists

[mont974x4]

We (the Church) serve three purposes:

1. exhultation of God
2. Edification of the saints
3. Evangelism to reach the lost

[Asinner]

The Church is a Hospital (Parable of the Good Samaritan), where we receive the life-giving Sacraments and are healed from our infirmities.

God Bless :)

[mont974x4]

The Church is a Hospital (Parable of the Good Samaritan), where we receive the life-giving Sacraments and are healed from our infirmities.

God Bless :)

True (the hosptial idea, I won't debate the purpose of communion or baptism in this thread) , that would be part of the edification of the saints.

[Asinner]

We (the Church) serve three purposes:

1. exhultation of God
2. Edification of the saints
3. Evangelism to reach the lost

Forgive me, but can't these be done outside of "church"? If the answer is yes, then there must be a deeper purpose for why Christ established His Church.

God Bless :)

[mont974x4]

Forgive me, but can't these be done outside of "church"? If the answer is yes, then there must be a deeper purpose for why Christ established His Church.

God Bless :)



Good question. I guess it would be dependant on how we define church. Personally, I believe when 2 or more are gathered in His name they are "having church"...regardless of location (even online). I also believe we, His children, are the church.

These three purposes I stated are very deep, indeed, and they should be done at all times.

At all times I should be in an attitude of prayer and worship as to exult God and should be living to His glory.

I should be encouraging other believers to be the people God intends them to be and they should do the same for me...to include holding accountable and encouraging eachother by remembering what we get right....all due to His work in us.

I should always be aware that people are watching me and how I act etc is a powerful form of evangelism.


I also believe that we are a royal preisthood with Christ the High Priest. This includes, but is not limited to, my ability to lead my family in communion and baptism.


In Him
Jay

[Asinner]

What about the mystery Paul speaks of in Ephesians chapter 5, concerning the Church? How are we "members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones"?

God Bless :)

[mont974x4]

You mean chapter 3?


I beleieve the body is just another term for the church, as we are also called His bride. The picture of the body would denote that there is purpose or work to be done. Keeping this in mind as we look at the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the reasons we have them we can see that there is work to be done. While many may have the same gift they may all use them in diferent venues.

These gifts are used to:
exhult God
edify the saints
evangelism

How we do that is personal, as we all have other personal gifts and personal calls.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand how this would change the three purposes I placed in the OP?

[Asinner]

Oops. Wrong scripture. :sorry:

Ephesians 5:30For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.


31"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."

32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

[mont974x4]

Thanks for clarifying.

Looking at the context I don't think that passage speaks to our purpose but more about our relationship to Him

[Asinner]

Thanks for clarifying.

Looking at the context I don't think that passage speaks to our purpose but more about our relationship to Him

Our purpose is to become Christ-like which has everything to do with our relationship to Him.

God Bless :)

[mont974x4]

Our purpose is to become Christ-like which has everything to do with our relationship to Him.

God Bless :)

That is true. However, I don't think we are just limited to that. If so we would not be given the great commision, spiritual gifts, etc.

[Asinner]

That is true. However, I don't think we are just limited to that. If so we would not be given the great commision, spiritual gifts, etc.


We aren't limited to becoming likened to Christ? :scratch:

The Son of God became man, that we might become God." St. Athanasius

God Bless :)

[mont974x4]

We aren't limited to becoming likened to Christ? :scratch:

The Son of God became man, that we might become God." St. Athanasius

God Bless :)

What I mean is we are not limited in how we become Christ-like. This brings us back to the three purposes in the OP. Simply, those are the way we become Christ-like...those are our duty and a privalige to do.


Without context it is hard to determine a fair opinion of the Athanasius quote. Initially I would say he is wrong because we do not become God. I would (hope) guess that was not his intention with that statement.

[mont974x4]

OK, let's try this.

Through exultation, edification, and evangelism we are showing that we have a true relationship with Him and these are the ways we build and strengthen that relationship.

The relationship itself is key and of the utmost importance.

[Asinner]

Without context it is hard to determine a fair opinion of the Athanasius quote. Initially I would say he is wrong because we do not become God. I would (hope) guess that was not his intention with that statement.

Perhaps this will clarify. :)

Soteriology is the doctrine of salvation. In the Orthodox Church, salvation is understood as theosis (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Theosis), the infinite process of becoming more and more like God. It is also termed deification or divinization, and its meaning is that the Christian may become more and more soaked with the divine life, becoming by grace (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Grace) what Christ is by nature (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Nature&action=edit). As St. Athanasius the Great (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Athanasius_the_Great) said, "God became man so that man might become god." By participation in the incarnation (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Incarnation), man becomes like Christ.
Salvation is a process which encompasses not only the whole earthly life of the Christian, but also the eternal life of the age to come. It is often described in terms of three stages—catharsis (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Catharsis&action=edit) (purification), theoria (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Theoria&action=edit) (illumination) and theosis (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Theosis) (divinization). Salvation is thus not only becoming sinless (purification), but it is also a progress in being filled with the divine light. Additionally, it is becoming so filled with God in union with Him that the Christian shines forth with the likeness of God, sometimes even literally becoming a bearer of the uncreated light (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Uncreated_light&action=edit). Though these terms of three stages are sometimes used, there is much overlap between them, and the whole process is often termed theosis.
It is only in and through Christ that man can be saved. Salvation cannot be earned, being a free gift from God. Its acquisition, however, requires man's cooperation with God, because God will not violate the free will of man. Thus, a life of repentance and participation in the sacraments (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Sacraments) is the means by which man cooperates with God. This cooperation is termed synergeia (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Synergeia&action=edit) (synergy).
In theosis, man becomes filled with the divine life. He takes on God's attributes, but he does not become merged with the Holy Trinity. There is union without fusion. Man can become a god by grace, not in a polytheistic sense, but rather in terms of becoming a son or daughter of the Most High by means of adoption. Thus, a classic patristic (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Fathers) image of theosis is a sword held in a flame—the sword gradually takes on the properties of the flame (light and heat), but remains a sword.
http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Christianity

[mont974x4]

ahhh, so he didn;t mean become God in the usual sense that most people consider the phrase.

Thanks for the additional information.

I beleieve we are saved when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior. The sanctification process, that which makes us set apart and Christ-like, is ongoing throughout our life and will be completed when we are called home to Heaven.


I once heard a man say we are the moon and Christ is the sun. Meaning, we should reflect His light and glory we are still not Him. Much as the moon reflects the light of the sun we can still see the craters and imperfections. It becomes a source of light reflecting the sunlight much as we are to be a source fo light reflecting the SON-light.

blessings
Jay