Images of the Church

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mattrose
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Images of the Church

Post by mattrose » Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:16 pm

I've been putting together a list of the different images of the church used in the New Testament. I thought some might find it useful and/or be able to add some images that I've neglected to remember. It's a work-in-progress:

.........................
The Bible provides a number of metaphors when talking about the Christian ‘ecclesia’ that help us to better understand what it means to be God’s people. While keeping in mind that no metaphor is perfect, we can learn a lot from these ‘images’ of the church.

Aliens/Foreigners
- Comparatively strange customs (1 Peter 2:11)
- Long for their true home (Philippians 3:20)

Branches of a vine/tree
- Grows to maturity (Matt 13:32)
- Meant to produce fruit (John 15:2, 8)
- Must remain connected to the vine to live (John 15:4)
- Made up of individual branches (John 15:5)
- Individual branches may be cut off (John 15:6, Romans 11:20)

Bride to be
- Belongs to the bridegroom (John 3:29)
- Pure/virgin (2 Cor. 11:2)
- Makes herself ready, in beauty (Rev. 19:7-8, 21:2)
- Wants many to come to celebration (Rev. 21:17)

Temple/Building/Stones/Pillars
- Built on foundation (Eph. 2:21)
- Owned by god (1 Cor. 6:19)
- Home to a god (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:16, Eph. 2:22)
- Will be defended by god (1 Cor. 3:17)
- Under construction, needs perpetual maintenance (Romans 15:20, 1 Peter 2:5)
- As strong as the quality of materials (1 Cor. 3:9-15)
- Has staff needing compensation (1 Cor. 9:13-14)

Sheep/Flock
- Lost w/o a shepherd (Matt 9:36, 26:31, John 21:16-18, 1 Peter 2:25, 5:2)
- Distinct from goats (Matt 25:31-33)
- Listen/Follow the shepherd (John 10:3-4)
- Cared for by shepherd (John 10:9, 11-13)
- Have predators (Acts 20:29)
- Sometimes sacrificial (Romans 8:36)

City
- Very noticeable/influential (Matt 5:14)
- Large in number (Gal. 4:26-27, Hebrews 12:22)
- Designed by architect (Hebrews 11:10)
- Targeted by enemy (Revelation 20:9)
- Defended by God (Revelation 20:9)
- Diverse population (Rev. 21:12, 14)

Priesthood
- Holy (1 Peter 2:5)
- Make sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5)
- In full-time service to God (Rev. 1:6, 5:10)

Body
- A unified whole (Rom. 12:4, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:12-13, Ephesians 2:15-16, 3:6, 4:4-6, Col. 3:15)
- Diverse parts w/different functions (Rom. 12:4-6, 1 Cor. 12:14, Eph. 4:7, )
- A complex system designed by God (1 Cor. 12:18)
- Interdependent (1 Cor. 12:22, 25-26)
- Submitted to the head (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:22-24)
- Growing to maturity (Eph. 4:12-16)
- Nurtured/Cared-for by head (Eph. 5:29)
- Must remain connected to head (Col. 2:19)
- Dead w/o the Spirit (James 2:26)

Household/Family
- Share in the persecution of the head (Matt 10:25)
- Cannot survive division (Matt 24:45)
- Care for one another (Galatians 6:10, 1 Tim 3:5)
- Unified by blood (Eph. 2:13, 19)
- Share a common name (Eph. 3:15, 1 Peter 4:16)
- Unique code of conduct (1 Tim 3:15)
- Deals with its internal problems (1 Peter 4:17)

Soldiers, Army
- Put on armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)
- Obeys commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:4)
- Endures hardship (2 Timothy 2:3)

Servants/Slaves/Workers
- Have been purchased (1 Cor. 7:23)
- Submit to the will of the authority (Romans 6:18, Eph. 6:6, Philippians 3:4-7
- Lack of freedom (1 Peter 2:16)

Kingdom/Nation/Israel
- A distinguished group of people (1 Peter 2:9)
- Distinct set of rules/laws (Galatians 6:16)
- People share a common bond (Eph. 2:11-13, 3:6)

Children/Child/Son/Adopted
- Become so by being born (John 1:13)
- Loved by parents (Ephesians 5:1)
- Realize their dependence on parents (Matt 18:3-4)
- Accept simple revelation (John 1:12, Luke 10:21)
- Imitate their parents (John 8:40, Philippians 2:15)
- Legal heirs (Romans 8:17)

Salt
- Used to preserve valuable resources (Matt 5:13)

Light/Lamp
- Makes darkness disappear (Matt 5:16)

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TK
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by TK » Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:53 pm

excellent matt!!

TK

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steve
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by steve » Tue Feb 02, 2010 4:08 pm

I agree! A well thought-out summary!

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darinhouston
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by darinhouston » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:32 am

Excellent....

I would move and rephrase 1 Cor 9:13-14 entry to Sheep/Flock since I don't see this referring necessarily to full-time staff and salary situations to "support" the church organization but merely compensation commensurate with teaching. I see it more of an obligation on the flock in proportion to the teaching commitment of the teacher and the benefit received.

Sheep/Flock
- Should compensate teachers (1 Cor. 9:13-14)

The "temple/building/stone/pillars" section would be more rightly associated with the flock than the organization or buildings today. So, I would also add these entries to that section:

Temple/Building/Stones/Pillars
- Spiritual house, made of believers as living stones (1 Peter 2:5)
- Christ is the conerstone (1 Peter 2:4)

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mattrose
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by mattrose » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:23 am

Hey Darin :)

Thanks for the feedback!
I would move and rephrase 1 Cor 9:13-14 entry to Sheep/Flock since I don't see this referring necessarily to full-time staff and salary situations to "support" the church organization but merely compensation commensurate with teaching. I see it more of an obligation on the flock in proportion to the teaching commitment of the teacher and the benefit received.
I tried to be pretty strict with my list in terms of not straying from the wording of the passages. Since 1 Cor. 9:13 speaks of temples and temple workers and then compares this to Christian ministry, I felt it belonged in the temple section. But you're right, one could make a case based on 9:7b that the same analogy works for sheep/flock. Of course, I wasn't intending my comment to demand any kind of 'salary' structure. That would be up to the sheep or the temple attendees.
Temple/Building/Stones/Pillars
- Spiritual house, made of believers as living stones (1 Peter 2:5)
- Christ is the conerstone (1 Peter 2:4)
For whatever reason I tried to keep my metaphor details generic. If you look at all my 'points,' you'll see that they are void of spiritual language. I wanted to keep the descriptions true for both sides of the metaphor.

Thanks again!

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mattrose
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by mattrose » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:31 am

I think that the Bible contains such an array of metaphors b/c they all have weaknesses when taken independently. What would you guys consider the weakness of each metaphor?

Alien/Foreigner
- So heavenly minded that you're of no earthly good?
- Possible pride issues (us vs. them mentality)

Branches of a vine/tree
- ???

Bride to be
- A bride is 1 individual, the church is many individuals
- Men might be uncomfortable with this metaphor

Temple/Building/Stones/Pillars
- Immobile, but the church should be mobile
- Not alive (Peter noticed this and so insists on calling them 'living' stones)

Sheep/Flock
- Thought of as dumb/mindless
- Lack of individual diversity

City
- Visible, but the church is in many ways invisible
- People come to a city, but the church should also 'go' out

Priesthood
- ???

Body
- Hard to picture
- Our roles might change, but feet stay feet

Household/Family
- So many families today are disfunctional (might not help people think of church in healthy way)

Soldiers/Army
- Violent connotation

Servant/Slave/Worker
- Some negative connotation

Kingdom/Nation/Israel
- People are more used to 'democracy' in our culture

Children/Child/Son/Adopted
- We should also grow up

Salt
- ???

Light
- ???

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Suzana
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by Suzana » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:21 pm

mattrose wrote:Priesthood
- ???
- in the old covenant, only men were allowed into the Priesthood
Suzana
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If a man cannot be a Christian in the place he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere. - Henry Ward Beecher

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mattrose
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by mattrose » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:26 pm

Suzana wrote:
mattrose wrote:Priesthood
- ???
- in the old covenant, only men were allowed into the Priesthood
Thanks Suzana!

Now why didn't I think of that? :)

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TK
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by TK » Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:02 pm

Salt improperly applied can do more harm than good.

Light can come on too strong- until yours eyes have a chance to adjust.

TK

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selah
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Re: Images of the Church

Post by selah » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:08 pm

mattrose wrote:Bride to be
- A bride is 1 individual, the church is many individuals
- Men might be uncomfortable with this metaphor
mattrose wrote:
Suzana wrote:
mattrose wrote:Priesthood
- ???
- in the old covenant, only men were allowed into the Priesthood
Thanks Suzana!

Now why didn't I think of that? :)
True---but in the New Covenant we are "...neither male nor female..." (Gal. 3:28) and we are "chosen" to be "a royal priesthood" (1Pet 2:9) so just as the "bride" is a metaphor for men and women alike, wouldn't the "priesthood" be a metaphor which includes both men and women too? Am I missing something?

BTW: Of course I could be wrong, but I have thought that "bride" can represent the whole body of Christ. What verses indicate it is speaking of an individual? I think it can represent individuals too, but I can't think of any scriptures to support that thought.
Jesus said, "I in them and you in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

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