Explain Matthew 18:20

[Philthy]

Not at all. What do you think it is? An organization?..

Acts 2:47 KJV
(47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The Greek for “church” is ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia; ek-klay-see’-ah) which means “a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.” -From Strongs

The Catholic Church is a group of believers gathered in Christ’s name. Therefore, it is a church. If my friends and I gather in Christ’s name, we are “at” church. A Lutheran church is a group of believers gathered in Christ’s name. They are a church. The Christian Church consists of all Christians. This is the greatest body of Christians: The Body of Christ. It contains all Christ’s people.

Hope that clarifies. God bless you.

Hi TristanCross -

Thank you for the clarification, but your explanation fails on several levels.

Here’s what you said:
TC:

A church is just that:" two or three people (or more) who gather in Christ’s name."

and here’s the verse that you used to support your claim:“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Please note that no where in this verse which you offered as alleged clarification of your claim do the words “gathered together” two or three" or “in his Name” appear anywhere. The verse simply says that people were added, and the verses that precede it have nothing to do with your claim of what a church is. The chapter begins with the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost which is followed by Peter’s proclamation of the Gospel to the Jews and concludes with the following verses:
So those who received his word(ie, repent and be baptized) were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And all who believed were together and had all things in common;… And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Please note that although it can be inferred that they “gathered together in His name”, your attempt to claim that this one aspect somehow defines what Christ’s Church is simply does not hold up. From this chapter, members of the Church are characterized by:

• Repentance
• Baptism
• Devotion to:the apostles teaching,breaking of bread, and the prayers

Your attempt to minimize all that is said in Acts 2 simply does not hold up IMHO. You left out repentance, baptism, apostolic teaching, the breaking of bread, and prayer. Some would argue that baptism is the foundational event which consummates being added to the mystical body of Christ - ie his Church. They would also point to the last thing Christ said to them just prior to the events recorded in Acts…“Go therefore and make disciples of all men baptizing them…” Matt 28. The history of the early Church bears out my assessment in this regard.

Blessings
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