Part Six: Fellowship = Interaction
From SaveTheWorld - a project of The Partnership Machine, Inc. (Sponsor: Family Music Center)
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The εκκλεσιαν that Jesus promised to build profoundly differs from today’s churches not only in that it did not leave politics in the Darkness, but in that it was a body of God’s people who met together to reason with each other, as equals, not just to hear one or two people give “messages”.
The Greek word Jesus chose to describe His “church” (KJV) was εκκλεσιαν, which referred to a Greek assembly with a primarily political function and only a secondary religious function. But more importantly, it was an assembly in which all had a voice. This is implied by the fact that all had an equal vote, and their city’s business was conducted by weekly meetings where everyone voted. The fact that everyone’s voice was welcome in the εκκλεσιαν which Jesus built is clear in 1 Corinthians 14, the Bible’s most detailed format of a church service. Seven verses in that chapter make “all” welcome to speak. One of those seven promises that when all do, God will speak through each other. Another promises that when all do, visitors will become believers and will acknowledge that God is among us.