House Church Talk - Re: New Testament era literacy rate

[jim pierceall]

I believe this is an astute observation...   a word being a picture, what picture do we have concerning activity w/ "synagogue"...  When was the synagogue approved and appointed by God?  What was it's origin?  What was the activity there?  I don't see synagogue as a bad thing - in and of itself - after all our Lord had a custom of going there, and even picked up the scroll of Isaiah and read...  From that setting came the rocket shot to the hearing - "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing!"  Interesting to me - that Paul would go among the religious of synagogue, to deliver his initial rocket shots also....

Might I add that neither were distressed or fearful of synagogue gatherings...   But neither attempted to correct, improve and modify them, but maybe used them to call potential believers to another wholly different gathering???

But choosing to select a word that was so different than what a religious word such as synagogue could have offered - what and why did He choose the "political term/picture" Ekklesia?

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Now I live in rural small town, in kentucky...  Everyone is virtually recognized as town folk citizen...  We know the citizens and also know those justapassingthrough... visitors/guests/squatters...  ha!  As in the days of old, when we experienced a trash/refuge problem...  A call went out to all "citizens", that they were requested to "come out" and "assemble" at town meeting hall, on Thursday at 7pm to discuss thoroughly ALL that concerned the citizens - concerning the trash problem.... Now while NOT exactly expressed, but certainly implied...  Everyone was called to come and All were invited to give their insights for resolution (not just complain - as complaints probably generated this meeting... ha)  By citizen participation, everyone could contribute their "takes", aimed towards - solution!  No one single Town Creaser would make degree!...   and No group of Town Elders would make a  ruling - without hearing and weighing every single suggestion...  EVERY squirrelly idea would be heard, but only those of merit would be held to, for consideration...  Now we did have a "State vise-Pope of State Law" there to tell us of State requirements - but he couldn't vote as part of the adopted solution - only because he wasn't citizen here... Sort of a traveling specialist  (though I must tell, he displayed a quality of Caesars erosion - he wanted, by degree to tell everyone the "way it was gonna be"... O;>)

And to be expected - those that choose NOT to attend - became the most vocal - the day after the meeting... with their would'a, should'a, could'a... <smile>

MikeS, is that political ecclesia?  And if it is, what is the implications for us?

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Caesar Degree - is when the Head from on high - sends down and tells you, your meetings and voice is of no consequence - it will be as He says?  You need but "comply"...

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We have this rather large Corporation here locally...  They use a participatory model of problem resolution...  They call it team participation...  No suggestion is silly ...  All are to participate for the company/fellow workers well being...  BUT a new company has bought them out... The new man-agment O;>) - uses all the right words - but their actions are more telling...  

My friend was given a project in a "think tank session" by the new Pope Brick Maker...  My friend was to reduce overhead costs by downsizing in material and reapplication of workers...  Oh how he struggled in coming to suggested decisions... for two/three weeks he traveled w/in the affected depts., and burned the mid-night oil - trying real hard to come to meaningful consensus, as to NOT disrupt fellow workers company profits and flow...

The day he was to present his findings (remember - he had actually lost sleep in worry and concern) - he filed into the meeting, laid the "book of proposals" on the table and waited until called on to present.  Finally the Pope Brick Maker called on him, and when presenting the "book", the new PBM - shoved it aside w/out even opening it.. then proceeds to tell everyone the way it is gonna be!

When my friend came to me - telling me of how the new management is actually gonna be..  I know the IC he attends - I gently asked - how does that differs from when the Pastor calls his Elders to board session...  and basically tells them his vision and "how it is gonna be"?

JimP - kentucky

pS:  <<"A net of highly cohesive details reveals the truth.">>

MikeS, it was this, the ekklesia of wickliffe, was after in the town-meeting format...



Thank God I need never vote for new leadership again... It is forever settled w/ me!  \O/




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Sangrey" > 
> I guess I'll mention one other thing.  The people of the first century
> had a perfectly good word for "religious meeting."  They used it all the
> time.  The Jews used it; the Romans used it.  They all used it to refer
> to their religious meetings.  And it, as Dan G. pointed out, was NOT
> EKKLESIA.
> 
> It was SYNAGOGE.
> 
> Now...so not only did they choose to use a common political word, but
> they chose NOT to use a common religious word.
> 
> Interesting, eh?
> -- 
> Mike Sangrey
> msangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
> Landisburg, Pa.
>                         "The first one last wins."
>             "A net of highly cohesive details reveals the truth."
>