THE ECUMENICAL, MYSTICAL, INVISIBLE, BODY/CHURCH MONSTROCITY
Unfortunately, non-denominational, interdenominational, Bible Church folks, evangelists, books, and even some Baptists believe in the mystical, invisible, ethereal, nebulous, universal body/church of all saved believers, past, present, and future, in heaven and on earth. Some even try to get the Old Testament Jewish saints into the N.T. church (even beyond those in the gospels), not seeing a dispensational difference between those who have received Christ in the N.T. and those saints that existed before Christ in the O.T. The strange part is that many of them do not like having the church in Matthew 10 and Luke 9 to begin before Pentecost. Why are Christians divided over this church issue? One reason is that many invisible churchers are following and parroting the writings of interdenominational and over--dispensational writers such as Scofield, Larkin, and even hyper dispensational writers like Stam, O’Hair, and Bullinger. They see the church or body as synonymous with the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven and/or the Family of God in the Scriptures. The other reason is that invisible churchers cannot distinguish between symbolic metaphors and real entities or between the generic synecdoche(s) and real tangible entities.
The Bible Usage of the Synecdoche, Singular, and Generic terms Used for Plurals
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? – Jer. 17:9
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God . . . every man praying . . . every woman that prayeth . . . For if the woman be not covered . . . For A man indeed ought not to cover his head . . . but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman is it comely that A woman pray unto God uncovered? -- 1 Cor. 11:3 -13
The light of the body is the eye . . . Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life . . . Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? – Matthew 6:22, 25
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. – Matthew 10:28
The light of the body is the eye . . . – Luke 11:34
. . . Be not afraid of them that kill the body . . . Take no thought for . . . for the body . . . The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. – Luke 12:4, 22, 23
And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. – Luke 17:37
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. – Rom. 6:6
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. – Rom 8:10
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. –Rom. 8:13
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. – 1 Cor. 3:17
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. – 1 Cor. 6:13
. . . whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord . . . We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. – 2 Cor. 5:6, 8
. . . Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 1 Pet. 2:13, 17
The local church and body is both “THE” generic church body and “A” particular church body. The generic “THE” represents EACH and EVERY church body. The church and body are generic and actual, depending on the passage and its context. This nuance of English is just like “THE” husband and “THE” wife are “A” husband and “A” wife and are generic for EVERY husband and wife. The church is defined as the church and the church as the body in scripture. The difference is that the “BODY” like the flock or the temple or the house or the building are also metaphors for the church. One must perceive how the generic “THE” descends to the less specific “A” and ascends to “EVERY” church just like “THE” man and “THE” woman do. The absurdity of a huge mystical, universal, invisible man and/or woman or husband and/or wife or a huge mystical, universal, invisible belly, eye, heart, king, human body, human flesh, or life should be obvious. The generic singular use of certain words (the synecdoche), in the Bible, are used to describe the plural forms of those words and is apparent in these verses. To take advantage of such a nuance in English or other languages, by using the definite article “THE,” to force invisible universal entities into the Bible is a doctrine by innuendo, suggestion, and inference. The huge invisible, universal church or body of ALL believers is just as absurd as the other generic usage of the Bible.
Generic Church and Metaphoric Generic Usage in the Bible
Then tidings . . . came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem . . . -- Acts 11:22
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said . . . Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood . . . grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. – Acts 20: 17, 18, 28-30
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, [bread] and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19) – 1 Cor. 11:24
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. – 1 Cor. 3:16, 17
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them . . . . – 2 Cor. 6:16
In whom ALL the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord . . . -- Eph. 2:21
But he spake of the temple of his body. – John 2:21
The church of Jerusalem did not literally have ears except with their PLURAL members. The generic church of Acts 20 was a metaphoric FLOCK that each overseer/elder was placed over by the Holy Ghost. The Lord’s Supper’s bread is a representative metaphor for the Lord’s broken physical body. The temple is used metaphorically for collective gathering of Christians in a particular local church just like a collective local church is a metaphoric building or house, just as the local church is a body and flock. Jesus used this temple METAPHOR of His body BEFORE his body was destroyed or slain.
The Head of What Kind of Church?
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; . . . So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man . . . be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. -- Eph. 5:22-25, 29-32
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; -- 1 Cor. 11:3
And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. – Col. 2:19
Notice the mingling and interchangeability of the singulars, the plurals, and the generic in these passages! Although Christ is the head of every man, whether saved or lost, whether together or not together. He is also the head of each local church that are differentiated by their togetherness. Still, in the context of local church headship, Christ can only be the metaphoric Head of a metaphoric, local church body as opposed to any universal, mystical invisible church of all believers or churches that is never together. Christ is the Metaphorical Head of each local church as He is also their actual Head. The generic man or husband is not the metaphoric head of the generic woman or wife but is rather only the actual Head of every wife and woman.
The Generic Usage of the Local O.T. and N.T. Church, Synagogue, and Temple
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai. . . – Acts 7:38
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. – Matt. 18:17
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. – John 18:20
And great fear came upon all the church, AND upon as many as heard these things . . . there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad . . . except the apostles . . . As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. – Acts 5:11; 8:1, 3
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. – Acts 11:26
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. – Acts 14:27
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. – Acts 12:5 And being brought on their way by the church . . . And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, AND of the apostles and elders . . . – Acts 15:3, 4
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. – 1 Cor. 6:4
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it . . . What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? – 1 Cor. 11:18, 22
And God hath set some in the church, FIRST apostles [in the gospels], secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments . . . 1 Cor. 12:28
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church . . . greater is he that prophesieth . . . that the church may receive edifying . . . seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church . . . it is a shame for women to speak in the church. I persecuted the church of God. -- 1 Cor. 14:4, 5, 12, 35; 15:9
I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: -- Gal. 1:13
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. – Phil 3:6
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) . . . But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. – 1 Tim 3:5, 15
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. – 1 Tim. 5:16
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: -- James 5:14
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. [the church I prophecy] – Psalm 22:22
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Mar 14:26
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. [the prophecy being fulfilled] -- Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. [The church/congregation in prophecy, having been prophecied and fulfilled] – Heb. 2:12
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well . . . 1 John 1:6
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not . . . -- 1 John 1:9
. . . neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. -- 3 John 1: 10
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. – Col. 2:19