The Church will survive
 

On another forum someone expressed concern about some of the elders going on to their reward and what will happen after they leave.

A couple of weeks ago I visited a church a little less than an hour from here and signed a young man's application for credentials with The Church of Jesus Christ. He had on a clergy collar. I personally don't wear one of these but have no problem with someone who does. He read his Scriptures from an iPad. I have no problem with this. I wish I had one. It is the Word of God whatever the medium. He preached a good message, quoting from the Word and using applications/examples from the Bible.

I believe God's Church is alive and well. He is building up His Church just like He said He would do. It's His Church and He'll take care of it.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Someone said, "When an elder dies it is like a library has been burned to the ground."

Re: The Church will survive
 

Yes, Sam, I agree... God's Church will survive because it is His Body - "...the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" - (Ephesians 1:22-23).

With that being said, there remains yet something of extreme importance that God will do with regards to the preparation of meeting with His Bride, the Church, and it is that which the apostle Paul tells us that He will do:

"...Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. - (Ephesians 5:25-27)

By the very fact Paul has explicitly asserted that He will sanctify (i.e., make holy, or purify) the Church before He receives it to Himself at the time of His return, alerts us to the fact that, at present, it is not entirely as free of those things which blemish or tarnish it's purity as it ought to be! In other words, there are yet certain elements of false doctrines being proclaimed in its midst which must be identified and eradicated! That is the most pressing order of business we must be about the task of doing, but I am not persuaded that we are doing that! Woe unto us if we don't, and He must do it instead!

Re: The Church will survive
 

Even that is changing; as that knowledge is now much more accessible--the Bible is becoming more transparent every day. Sites like biblecc are powerful engines for parsing the Bible, and I have followed the church from the Baptist pulpits to...well, to here, and other, unorthodox places, via people's hearts. The Vine cannot be fatally poisoned, and the true Church will only overcome.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Two songs that seem to demonstrate what I believe about the church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE5sz78r3kI

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swfB-9nLuLs

Re: The Church will survive
 

Amen to that. If you'll allow me, Armaggedon (or a type) is a war being fought right now, for the center of you, in everyone (on the hill where the Believers gather, from the waters); and you can feel a battle forming, right now. The current world unrest is just the material manifestation of it.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Yup; nice. Not my kind of music, but yay! lyrics I can get behind.
(I'm more of a "Talking Heads" guy, for my spiritual music : )

Re: The Church will survive
 

make that above the waters; why can't I edit?

Re: The Church will survive
 

I see a simultaneous Awakening to meet it...you can be the voice of a revolution.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Re: The Church will survive
 

Ha-I love non-sequitur, and can usually parse it, but just can't fit it in here. I'd love to know who you envisioned as the "you," here.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Change the word "church" to "I" in the title of this thread and I hear the tune in my head. :) It's just the way my mind works sometimes.....

Re: The Church will survive
 

and then Randy spins and turns into Wonder Woman

Re: The Church will survive
 

Ha, you are quick with a jab! But non-sequitur occurs for spiritual reasons, IMO...

Re: The Church will survive
 

it was a ref to Family Guy.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Ha, I remem now.

Re: The Church will survive
 

I also agree that the Church will survive, and I have been told that I am too young to be such a stick in the mud, but seeing that I have been that way since I was a teenager, I see no reason to change now. I really dislike watching people reading the Bible off of their phones in church, I do not approve of using the computer to read the text when preaching, I am frustrated when I see the passage shown on the wall (make that when anything is put on the wall), and several other things. However, I will confess that I have a bias, and that there is nothing sinful in any of these things. I just really do not like these things.

I do however love those that do them.

Re: The Church will survive
 

You make an excellent point about where we disagree (which is likely in areas that still produce fruit, just not fruit that we like--i have a few of these, myself; much weirder than yours) and Where We Agree, which is the very bottom part. After initial, strong resistance to the use of pc's in Bible study, I am now a convert. Actually, I'm coming to believe that the pc was invented so that the Biblical manuscripts may come to light more completely...

Re: The Church will survive
 

I do not disagree that computers are good for Bible study. I use one for my own private study and use it as an aid when performing research for messages. However, I am not inclined at all to support its use on the platform or behind the pulpit. I am however, more than a little old fashioned in this regard and know it.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Ah; I actually just got my first taste of that this morning. It was mildly unsettling, I admit. Good message, tho, nice illumination of Scripture...but with an iPad? Lol

Re: The Church will survive
 

Although it pains me to admit it, I mostly agree with you. I have been a geek since the early 80's and am the IT guy at a private school here in Paradise Valley, AZ -so I am NOT against technology, but I still prefer to go 'old school' when it comes to church. I like old style musical instruments (IF skillfully played), and hate the move toward PowerPoint style lyrics displayed on the screen for everyone to sing along with.

Re: The Church will survive
 

I do not mind an electic bass guitar and on occasion a keyboard (the front of our sanctuary is so small that is the best that we can do) but I felt that the move to nothing but electric music was a mistake, especially the electric drum set (that was just pathetic).

Re: The Church will survive
 

WE were never allowed to have a drum set period! LOL

I actually really like electronic music and some of my favorites fit into the "new age" category. However as I get older I am learning to appreciate a certain solemness and reverence when I enter a church. Before joining the UPC we were catholic and honestly there is something I miss about the atmosphere you feel when stepping into a huge grand looking catholic church building.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Ooooohhhhh. Our church has one, but right now it is more decorative than functional. Although our electric keyboard and bass have the same problems.

Re: The Church will survive
 

Many churches up here in the clouds are kind of...post new-age? music-wise; often just "hand instruments." It took a little getting used to, but it's def more...communal? Which I think is kind of the point...

Re: The Church will survive
 

As long as a minister preaches under the Anointing,and preaches the Word of GOD,i have no problem with the style.Though i perfer the old fashion way.As for singing as long as they sing from the heart unto GOD,and play unto GOD,then i believe GOD will bless it.And YES the CHURCH is still Alive,and it will never die.

Re: The Church will survive
 

The church is in us, and not a "building" or even a group of people. As long as the Spirit of Christ abides in our hearts, the church is alive and well. Elijah thought he and his servant were the only ones but when God opened their eyes, they saw 7000 other prophets they didn't know about. I believe it is the same today. We cannot see the "REAL" church with our visible eye, but as long as the Spirit of Jesus is present in this world, there is a church, living inside of us.

Re: The Church will survive
 

As a young adult, I had never been in any other church than a RCC church. Everything is quiet and only organ music plays.

So imagine my surprise when all of a sudden the service starts up and the singer belts out a worship song...complete with organ, piano, guitar, drums and tambourines?

....and I actually liked it.

Re: The Church will survive
 

I have never met a Christian in my life that believed the Church would not survive. Having said that Christ foretold that most would fall away. The remnant will survive.

Re: The Church will survive
 

It may not survive in it's current state, but it will survive none the less. It will adapt and grow to fit the surroundings it finds itself in.