Church, the Word
Emails & Questions
Church? Why do you
Use that Pagan Word?
Q: Church mean a building so
why do you use it? The first followers of the Messiah were called the ecclesia
and if names are important then why us a word that means a building for his
followers? Besides, isn't that word a pagan word?
A: The word translated Church, in
the New Testament (Covenant), similar words, found in the Old Testament, like
congregation, or assembly is Ecclesia, or Ekklesia in the New Testament Greek.
Ecclesia, means, congregation or assembly, in the English. The
word Church, in the middle centuries had
this same meaning and as time progressed and the languages changed, bit by bit,
the word Church became synonymous with Building, a building or structure where
people meet to worship. Still, in a technical sense the English word,
Church, also means congregation or assembly. A Church, in
the technical sense, can and often does mean, a gathering of likeminded
people. Ecclesia, on the other hand, means only, congregation, a
gathering of called people, and because the word, Church, is derived from this
meaning, it too can have the same meaning. It is not like the word Church
meant something else in its original use, no, it changed to include the
building in which the congregation would assemble, or where the church was to
assemble or congregate.
As time progressed the word Church, became
connected more to a building than a group of people, it still holds the meaning
first intended, that of a Group of people, a Gathering, an Assembly or a
Congregation. I personally prefer using the English word, Church, with
its dual meaning for the sake of easier communication, but most of all because
the Roman Catholic Church. has taken the word, Ecclesia, for a title they
use to indicate a special body of people within their religious structure, such
as, The Ecclesiastical Order of the Roman Church, meaning an established order
within the religious order and does not have to include the membership, but is
meant for the priests of that order. The Church becomes the building, the
Ecclesia. or Ecclesiastical Order, meaning the Priests, and the lay members
their victims. All encompassed by the Roman Church, or the Mormon Church,
or the Lutheran Church, or the Methodist Church or the Pentecostal Church.
It is what the mind sees, in these modern times, as the building on the
corner where locals go to worship their god or to join as a congregation of people
to bible study and worship -- a place of worship -- sometimes loosing sight of
the fact that they are the Church, they are the Congregation, they are the
Assembly of like minded believers.
But isn't the word, Church, pagan? Everything is
pagan, every word in every language has its pagan origins. Our language
is filled with words that come to us from the pagan world of Babylon and
before. The English language is riddled with influences from other
languages like, Latin, French, German and modern Hebrew, and they all find
their sources in the pagan past as well. We have not yet received the
blessing of a Pure Language, but the day is coming, but is not yet -- Hear what
He has to say to us -- a message from then to now --
(Zep 3:8) Therefore wait you upon Me, says YaHWeH,
until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the
nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation,
even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of
My jealousy. (Revelation 16:4)
(Zep 3:9) For then will I turn to
the people a pure language, that
they may all call upon the Name of YaHWeH, to serve Him with one consent.
(Zep 3:10) From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my
suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed,
shall bring mine offering.
(Zep 3:11) In that day shall
you not be ashamed for all your doings, wherein you have transgressed against
Me: for then I will take away out of the midst of you them that rejoice in
their pride, and you shall no more be haughty because of My Holy Mountain.
(Zep 3:12) I will also leave in the midst of you an
afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the Name of YaHWeH.
(Zep 3:13) The remnant of Israel
shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be
found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make
them afraid.
This is without doubt a future time. The Context of
these few verses shout out a time still to come. Is Israel today living
without fear? NO. Is modern Israel seen as a remnant?
No. Remnant, in this verse has the Hebrew meaning, "residual,
remaining or surviving", as in a few, not many --
surviving what? Perhaps there is another captivity in Israel’s future?
And during this time, in this future time, the lips will be purified to
speak a pure language. Until then the Hebrew of today and the languages
of the world are not pure.