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From the Ministries of Greg & Jean Allison
Through Their
Ministries of Grace
 Christ's church
One of the questions that keeps coming to mind is just what is Christ's
church supposed to be. How do we define it?
Over the years I have heard many definitions. Here are just a few.
Any two or more gathered together with Christ in their midst is a church.
Any assembly with Christ at it's head is a church.
Any congregation gathered to worship and sing praise to God is a church.
Any assembly of people that are true believers in the risen Christ is a
church.
Any congregation gathered together in fellowship with God is a church.
Each of these paraphrased definitions as well as many others seem to
be loosely supported by scripture in some way. This of course depends
on which version of the Bible you may be using at the time.
Today we are a multi denominational society with conflicting doctrines.
By years end 1994 there were some 216 plus, recognized religious denomination, this number is still growing, each with their own mission
statement and doctrine. Ritualistic dogma is so varied in these religious
orders that many slip into what this author calls cultic ritualism.
God asks for obedience not ritual.
This may seem like a very harsh statement, but the fact remains that
many denominations of today not to mention yesterday were then and
are still today practicing rituals that were frowned upon by our Lord.
Somehow I don't think that this is exactly what Christ had in mind when
he told Peter that "on this rock I will build my church".
I believe that our Lord had a very clear concept of assembly for the
purpose worshiping the father and had carefully structured what his
church would be then and now. All of this and more was outlined during
his ministry.
If we look at as many of the variant readings as we can of The Gospels of
Matthew and John we begin to see Christ's Church take shape. I suggest
more than one or two versions of the Bible because somewhere in the
gray, the truth of Christ's ministry will shine brightly. You will begin to
see his church come together before your very eyes. He brought the
New Covenant and pleaded for the cessation of meaningless Jewish
ritual and the pagan rites of the Gentiles. Matthew is first in the New
covenant writings because it establishes the foundation on which
Christ's ministry and church is built. Then John because he fills in the
areas where Matthew was remiss concerning the ministry and the
establishment of the church.
We have to understand that over the centuries we have lost many of
the Hebrew and Greek word meanings. Most specifically those words
that we might call description words or descriptors. Biblical language
scholars along with Biblical archeologists have for the most part been
able to reconstruct many of these descriptors and compile an adequate
though still flawed list of transliterated Old and New Testament word
meanings.
This has only been possible due to the archeological discoveries of the
last two centuries. Much of this knowledge has not been applied to the
Bible as we know it yet. Many Theologians and modern church leaders
might possibly condemn such efforts to apply this new found knowledge
as heresy, Even though the new understanding of these words and what
they actually describe might clarify what is today perceived to be
scribal error or textual corruption. If we were to do a complete exegesis
of Matthew today, with word translation errors corrected, textual
criticisms provided and as many as possible, the archeological issues
resolved, we might find a slightly different reading of Matthew and John.
Especially if we could remove without prejudice all political influence
pertaining to God's word.
I am not going to go into a full exegetical study of Matthew, however,
I will point out briefly where Christ himself outlines the criteria for his
church.
In Matthew Christ starts with a series of praises in chapter five. I won't
go into the meaning of these now because it would take a lot of time
and we don't want to loose sight of the defined ministry.
Keep in mind also that when you read these verses in your Bible,
whenever you encounter the word "righteousness" try substituting
the actual meaning of the word in these places. They are "just, Justice
and Judgment" as in Just cause, fair and equal justice and good
Judgment poor Judgment.
In Mt. 5.17-20 our Lord establishes why he is here.
In 5. 21-26 his rules of order and reconciliation. Verses 27-32 we see
Christ giving testimony to things that for the most part would seem to be
contrary to his ministry.
He uses metaphors to describe things he wanted to emphasize, and
adultery was not a word in the first century vocabulary. Literally
transliterated it means "to gaze with desire after anything", Man women
or beast In other words a licentious person, Meaning "one lacking
moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct".
Hence we have the rules for setting one aside. (Divorce) after this Christ
sets the rules for oaths, prayer, Getting along with others, giving to the
poor, Where and when to pray, personal wealth with respect to God's
kingdom, Judging others and hypocrisy. He tells you "beware the False
prophets who will come and describes the wise and foolish builders.
In ch. 7 verse 29, Christ had fished speaking with authority to his first
assembly wherein he was describing his church with respect to and of
the Father. Matthew 28. 18- 28 brings us to the end of Christ's Earthly
ministry and the continuation of his church by his own instructions to
the eleven remaining disciples. Read your own Bible for whatever variant
reading it may have, but allow me if you will to translate literally into
English as though Christ was speaking to us to day.
Matthew 28. 18- 20
And Yeshu'a (to mean his help in the Hebrew) or Jehoshua, (he who saves)
came and spoke to them saying, All authority is given to me in heaven
and on earth.
(20)
Go, all of you and teach all nations, making them wet in my words in the name of the father, and of the son and of the spirit holy:
(21)
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded (taught) you,
and behold I am with you always to the end of the world, truly I say.
I deliberately omitted Mark and Luke because these where students of
Peter and Paul respectively and had little direct knowledge of Christ's
ministry. Mark seems to address the Romans by describing the actions
of Christ, and how he offended religious leaders of the day. Luke on the
other hand dedicates his work to Theophilus, meaning lover of God and
who was probably a Greek or Roman official. Luke also stressed the
prominence of women in Christ's ministry.
John reenforces Matthew
Still Under Construction
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