Should We Use The Word ‘Church’?

Blessings Brother,

Mike, I know you are very busy and will only take a moment. As I have been led to read what the Lord had inspired you to write it has been a great blessing. The research into root words and correct translation is important to proper understanding. One thing that troubles my spirit and think it would be helpful to change is the mistranslated word church. Ecclessia does not translate to church and we should be careful not to make that mistake. We should always use the same diligence in seeking all truth and what the Spirit is conveying.

Your brother in Christ,

D​____​

Hi D​____,

Thank you for your e-mail, and your desire to get it right.

The word “church” as rendered in the New Testament comes from the Greek termekklesia, which is formed from two Greek words meaning “an assembly” and “to call out” or “called out ones.” This means the New Testament church is a body of believers who have been called out from the world by God to live as His people under the authority of Jesus Christ and His words, and not under the authority of any denomination of men.

This fact is made very clear within the writings of the iswasandwillbe.com website. All who fellowship with us are aware that the churches of this world are not “called out” of Babylon, but rather are Babylon out of which the called out ones must come.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

I received another e-mail just this week imploring me never to use the words ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ because they are both of heathen origin.

If that really mattered​,​ then Paul would never have quoted an unbelieving author in these verses:

Tit 1:10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
Tit 1:12  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Tit 1:13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

And Peter would never have used the pagan word ‘tartaroo‘ in this verse of scripture:

2Pe 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [G5020​:​ tartaroo], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

G5020
ταρταρόω
tartaroō
tar-tar-o’-o
From Τάρταρος Tartaros̄ (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: – cast down to hell.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

This is the only place in all scripture this word appears, but it is inspired of the holy spirit to express the spiritual position of those who are not being called in this age.

The words we use to refer to Christ, His Father or His body, are not nearly as important as how we live our lives. It is what we do that defines who we are. If we do what Christ says to do​,​ then we are His “disciples indeed”:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue [Greek: meno – abide] in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

How we physically verbalize Christ’s name, the name of His Father, or the name of His body, is not what matters to Christ. Here is what does matter to Christ, and this is how His name is blasphemed:

Rom 2:21  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Know​ing​ God and His Son is eternal life:

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

To “know… God” is to love Him and His doctrine:

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Maybe the words, “God, Jesus, and church” are one and all of pagan origin​, but scripturally speaking the use of those words ​is no barrier​ ​to doing what Christ tells us to do, and this is one of His inspired commandments:

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 

After asking us all, ​”​Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” Christ continued with these words with which I will conclude this e-mail:

Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

I hope you are given to receive these words in the spirit in which they are given and that you are edified to know that our merciful heavenly Father is most interested in giving us an obedient heart, rather than concerning “strifes of words”.

Your brother in Christ, Mike