Church, the Word - Removing The Fog of Religion

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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.  
Send comments and quesitons to -- dan@servantsofyahshua.com
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