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Church     

We use the term church quite liberally. It describes the buildings we meet in. At times, we use it to describe the people we meet with. But this word is actually a secular term. And the Holy Spirit chose it above the many Hebrew and Aramaic terms available to describe what He was about to do. He could have chosen a Hebrew word. But He didn’t. I personally believe He made this decision because the secular term was the only one that accurately described His intent.  

The word for church is the Greek word ekklesia. This is the word the Holy Spirit used to describe His people on the Earth. He used it when He said, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18). He could have used the word temple, assembly, or tabernacle. But He didn’t because there is something very powerful and uniquely hidden in the word ekklesia, revealing a primary assignment. It has been used for centuries in both the Greek and the Roman empires to refer to a secular institution operating in the marketplace in a governmental capacity. It was secular in nature and not used to describe religious gatherings.    

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Why was God going to plant His ekklesia within the surrounding systems of government and society?

BIBLE   

• Matt. 16:18