Can a protestant church be called a church?

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Protestants have a different understanding of what a “church” is than Catholics & Orthodox do. When the latter says “Church” this refers (in Catholicism) to the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the Pope & the Magisterium. For the Orthodox, I believe it means something similar related to the clergy. For Protestants, it refers to any true genuine born again believer who has repented of their sins, and becomes part of the larger universal “Church” of believers, who meets locally as a church body (like in Revelation Ch.2 & 3).
 
JulianN said:
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BohemianBrother:
Sorry to interrupt the flow of the debate here.
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You didn’t. Whenever a legitimate point is brought up, there is a convoluted argument about how it’s not the point of the thread. Which, of course, it is.
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Not the “original” point. None the less, I think I addressed all the drift points which were brought up.
Whenever a legitimate point is brought up
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By that, you mean a point which was legitimate in addressing a separate question, which was not originally brought up. Point one out that was brought up in one of my conversations, which I did not address. I’m pretty sure I addressed them all, but if I missed one, I’ll gladly address it now.

As for the convoluted arguments. Sometimes arguments are complicated. Just because the explanation is complicated or as you put it, convoluted, that doesn’t mean its not valid.
 
Yes they were correct and factual. The Catholic Church meets by example,definition and by Authority of it’s Founder, all the criteria that would establish it as being the only true Church that should exist today. There can only be one true Church. The others provide diversion away from man’s search for knowledge and diversity in bogus places of worship has options for his choice. All the while this creates a waste of God’s temporal time that would otherwise be spent on the work and responsibilities that are assigned to a man in his short temporal stay in this world. There exists now, and for 2000 years, a state of the world that does not allow for man to be debating which religions he should join, or which dogma he should live to. All these have been done for him. The road is clear. Now we obey that true Church and go on with our assigned tasks in obedience to Her.

http://www.radioreplies.info/

RE: Volume 1, The Truth of Catholicism, The true Church

"327 What positive proof have you that the Catholic Church is the only true Church?

The proof lies in the fact that the Catholic Church alone corresponds exactly to the exact religion established by Christ. Now the Christian religion is that religion which— (a) Was founded by Christ personally; (b) Has existed continuously since the time of Christ; (c) Is Catholic or universal, in accordance with Christ’s command to go to all the world and teach all nations; (d) Demands that all her members admit the same doctrine; (e) Exercises divine…"
 
When I look at what the term church originally meant, it is getting together with our brothers and sisters to share, worship and seek God. Church has turned into an understanding for most as a building. It has nothing to do with a building in my understanding. The Holy Spirit can be anywhere at anytime if the conditions are right or it so chooses to do so. Thoughts?
 
Here is the definition of church I posted when I first came to this board a couple of years ago. The word “Church” has different meanings depending on the context.
  • All who have placed their faith in Christ regardless of church membership, denomination and tradition they follow. (The universal church)
  • A body of believers who share the same doctrine and practices. Such as the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church and so on
  • A local community of believers that meets together for prayer, study, worship, support and encouragement.
  • The building where the church meets.
 
Yeah, this is non-sense talk. The Church, by definition of the word, are those people called out into the public from the invisible and universal body.
 
tgGodsway said:
Yeah, this is non-sense talk.
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Well, some sense is needed, but we can go too far, and even Aquinas said of his literary work (though great in our eyes), that it was “much straw”, compared I suppose to the reality of our salvation that is Christ.
 
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I like Ianman87,s answer but the word church at it’s most basic function is distinct from the concept of body of Christ, or family of God. Gods family in a sense is invisible (seated with Christ in heavenly places, Eph.2) but the church in distinction is very visible. Hence it’s Greek word meaning Called Out.
 
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mabu said:
I was giving directions to a very religious TLM catholic, and said “turn left at the church”. They corrected me, saying “the ‘so-called’ church?”. I thought this was a little bit rude / unnecessary / offputting, but that aside, were they correct? I realize that these churches are not part of “the Church”, but is the word “church” itself reserved for Catholics? Not sure where to go on this one…
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TLM is not Protestant…

Capital “C” Church refers to Apostolic Churches - Catholic, Orthodox…

Protestant by definition - impies protest… and separated from Apostolic Church brethren,
and are therefore naturally viewed by Catholicism as (in general) Christian ecclesial Communities - which share a lot in common with Catholic Christianity

‘church’ refers to buildings.

And that intent was very obvious… “Turn Left at the church (building)” wrt Driving Directions.

Rude? It’s hard to believe that such a response would be forthcoming to a total random stranger - from someone who disagrees with TLM - yet nonetheless wants to know where their church building is.
 
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Did you specify the name of the church in your directions (ie: “turn left at the United Methodist Church on the corner”)?
 
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