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"Church" or What?

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by Dr. Bob, Jan 26, 2004.

  1. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    My home based church in Liberty Baptist Church.

    Other groups in town eschew the name "church" (which is the ONLY thing Jesus built, btw) and go for "assembly", "temple", "fellowship" + many others that don't even claim to be a "church"

    What would you think of attending "Calvary Baptist Temple"? Is that just a "fad" name and it really is a church but somebody thought temple sounded kewl?

    Thoughts?
     
  2. Watchman

    Watchman New Member

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    Good question Doc.
    Perhaps the use of alternate titles was out of a feeling that the "Church" is the sum of all the believers, Christ's Body and not the building. So the building, the place of assembly, should not have that title, but something else. But, for example, in Revelation 2&3, the Lord Jesus spoke to the Seven Churches, not the seven temples. Is this a critical matter? IMHO, no. As for attending the Baptist Temple, I'd still be more interested in their statement of faith (doctrine) than the name on the sign outside.
     
  3. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Around here (in WV) we have a lot of Baptist churches that have temple in their name.
    Spencer Baptist Temple is one.
    Most are great Baptist churches. I don't know why they or anyone else would opt for temple instead of church.
    I always thought the term temple was refering to the building instead of the people.
    May be some have gotten tired of the misconception that the building is the church and not the people
    What always struck me as strange were the churches with memorial in their name.
    Does that mean they are dead? :rolleyes:
     
  4. David Mark

    David Mark New Member

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    Hi Y'all, [​IMG]

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    I don't think the phrase House of God referrs to any house built by man's hands.

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    IMO, Church = Believers. Not where they meet.

    To me, there is too much emphasis on where people meet instead of the people that meet.

    I'm not advocating just meeting in houses, I am only emphasizing that believers are the Church, not the place where they meet.

    Just my opinoin. [​IMG] :cool: [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Dave
     
  5. David Mark

    David Mark New Member

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    I don't think it's an issue either.

    IMO, the letter to the Church at Philadelphia addressed every believer in Philadelphia. Not just those who met on Sunday mornings. The letter addressed issues that believers must have been dealing with 24 x 7 x 365 no matter where they were at any given time. The least and the greatest laborers must have been included.

    I think believers can meet anywhere:
    A temple
    A shack
    A boat
    A store
    A café
    A restaurant
    A "church building"
    A house
    Maybe even a bulletin board (I don't know). Don't we even think to do what the Lord said to do, even when we are here on the Internet?

    Just thinking...

    Dave [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  6. LRL71

    LRL71 New Member

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    Hey, let's take this 'church' name argument to another silly level. How many here go to a church where 'Baptist' is not in the name?? I go to Venice Bible Church, therefore am I not a Baptist (the church doctrinal statement is clearly Baptist, I might add!)?

    Here's a name of a church I just though of:

    Larry's Memorial Bible Assembly Tablernacle Temple of God. Does that mean I am not Baptist, or even a church? Omighosh! Puh-leeeze! :rolleyes:
     
  7. GrannyGumbo

    GrannyGumbo <img src ="/Granny.gif">

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    I know of a Bible Church that is Baptist in doctrine. I am Liberty Baptist Church and we meet in our homes. Another Baptist group I know of meets in a pole-barn.
     
  8. Caretaker

    Caretaker <img src= /drew.gif>

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    GrannyGumbo:

    I know of a Bible Church that is Baptist in doctrine. I am Liberty Baptist Church and we meet in our homes. Another Baptist group I know of meets in a pole-barn .

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Would they be referred to as pole-mical Baptist? ;)

    Sister Granny I just wanted to say what a blessing it is to have you back online.

    What's in a name, for a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.


    May God so bless His precious children.


    A servant of Christ,
    Drew
     
  9. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    A lot of the "Baptist Temple"s are affiliated with the BBF of Springfield, MO. They are more popular it seems in the midwest than elsewhere though that is not a scientific opinion.

    Names are kind of faddish, IMO. Just call it a church ... that is what it is, and chances are that when anyone refers to it, they say they go to church.
     
  10. Pastor KevinR

    Pastor KevinR New Member

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    When I was a teenager, in the 70's, yikes!..I used to be a member of the Temple Baptist Church..so, a different slant, BTW, here in Brooklyn, there's a Church called "Baptist Temple" and as far as I know, they've had that name since it was founded in 1823! Calling a Church, "Temple"; "Tabernacle"; "Assembly" it doesn't bother me. I don't really care for the name, such as First Baptist Fellowship.
    Just my opinion.
     
  11. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Dr. Bob,

    You have swallowed the camel...


    Just kiddin!!!

    [​IMG]

    HankD
     
  12. Debby in Philly

    Debby in Philly Active Member

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    We are an uban church that is seeking the Lord to help us reach out to our multi-ethnic, mostly unchurched community. We have been "Baptist" since our founding over 100 years ago. Our new pastor says the first thing we should do is change the name to something that the average person in the community would say sounded like a place that they were welcome in. He wants to go the "(neighborhood name) Community Church" route.

    His argument is that labels keep people away ("I don't know what a Baptist is", I'm not a Baptist, so I would not be welcome there", etc.) Indeed, we have had strangers to us come in and asked if we could baptize their babies or toddlers.

    We would still belong to our Association, and would therefore still BE Baptists, but the name on the sign would not reflect that.

    I say the label would be HELPFUL to folks moving into the neighborhood and looking for a church. What do you folks say?
     
  13. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    It is not the name that is so important but the hearts that are changed by the ministry of the people. Name changes do nothing. It is God who uses people to reach people.

    Rick Warren never had a building until the church reached 10 thousand. They met in school buildings and then a huge tent on cold and rainy days in the winter. The text leaked some and people still came. When the people seek God he moves among them. People who have the joy of knowing God want others to know Him too.
     
  14. Debby in Philly

    Debby in Philly Active Member

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    And isn't the name of Rick Warren's church simply "Saddleback Church"? No denominational label or other words in the name that would give you any clue as to what they believe or do? I think that's the purpose of our new pastor - to intentionally make the name "fuzzy" so as not to scare anyone away.
     
  15. GrannyGumbo

    GrannyGumbo <img src ="/Granny.gif">

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    I'm all for keeping the name "Baptist" up front & honestly...it seems wrong to mislead. Also, it tells of our doctrinal stand, unlike the Bible Church, where I had to ask.

    I have no use for Rick Warren's brand.
     
  16. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    If I see "XYZ Temple" (no denomination) I think "charismatic". If they don't say church, they probably aren't my type of church.

    If I see "XYZ Baptist Temple" I think BBF and all the hylsish things I'm opposed to.

    If I see "XYZ Community Church" I think it is a denomination masquerading and hiding its doctrine to appear "open" to all. In Casper our largest church is such, but really a Church of God that denies the Trinity!

    Names and labels, like all words, have meaning.
     
  17. BrianT

    BrianT New Member

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    Some places use *both* "Temple" and "Church" in the same title: what do you make of "Temple Baptist Church"?
     
  18. Debby in Philly

    Debby in Philly Active Member

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    I think I agree with you all on the meaning various names imply to those of us who are already active in the things of the Lord, and know the differences. But what about the pastor's opinion that, in trying to reach the "unchurched," or those who only associate with a church for babies/weddings/funerals, the labels get in the way? Or are uninteligible, like in my example of the Hispanic woman who wanted her toddler baptised - I guess she thought all churches did that, maybe didn't (or couldn't) read the name anyway.

    Having never been "unchurched" myself (praise God!), I can't say that I can speak to it.
     
  19. Pastor KevinR

    Pastor KevinR New Member

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    So, GG-You are more of a Baptist, than a Bible believer? Sorry, I'm just being obnoxious! On a serious note, sometimes I think Bible Church is better, because here where I live, this term is usually NOT identified with sound doctrine, but, emotional, sensational, left-wing political-type churches. you know, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton. [​IMG] Sometimes, I think, to avoid the appearance of....well, that we should drop the title Baptist! (Didn't say I was going to, just passed through my pea brain [​IMG] )
     
  20. lizzybee

    lizzybee New Member

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    umm in the sordid pastors thread you asked about this in regard to my post and I cannot believe you even care! to tell you the truth! Good grief. If it is a "fad" our church has been following this "fad" for 150 years! It became a congregation in 1854 --was the BBF promoting this "fad" back then? for the record our church is GARB.

    OH MY WORD is all I can say
     
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