Meaning of the word church
“The significance of the term ekklesia is often understated by modern researchers and modern Christians alike. Within today’s Christian church, the ekklesia is often translated simply as “church.” While the term church is derived from ekklesia, it is not a direct translation. Translating to church results in the term ekklesia losing much of its significance. This watered-down translation de-emphasizes the responsibilities of the ekklesia and the call of the body of believers to contribute to the common good and be active in all areas of their world…
The idea of seeking the common good is the key underlying theme found within both historical Greek and biblical usage of the term ekklesia. Both definitions contain an inherent common good obligation, but this theme is de-emphasized in modern usage. The significance of promoting the common good cannot be over-stated. The common good is an idea woven throughout history. The Greek democracy was established for the common good. One of the United States Constitution’s objectives is to promote the common good (or general welfare). The Bible is based on the common good as it spreads the message of the gospel to all nations in order that man might benefit from the highest good, to know Christ as savior. It should come as no surprise that the church, the ekklesia, is intended to contribute to the common good.” Liberty University: The Ekklesia as an Assembly That Invokes Response
ἐκκλησία ekklēsía, ek-klay-see’-ah; from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, i.e. (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.
an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted [that it was really He]. 18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man guide [another] blind man? Will they not both fall into a hole in the ground? 40 A student is not superior to his teacher; but everyone, after he has been completely trained, will be like his teacher.
13 “You are the [a]salt of the earth; but if the salt has [b]lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].
Footnote [a] salt of the earth
In ancient times, salt was often used as a preservative and a spice. Similarly, followers of Christ are to preserve both the gospel message and Christian values in a secular world.
When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice;
But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.
Legal Resources
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The Separation of Church and State
“Thomas Jefferson had no intention of allowing the government to limit, restrict, regulate, or interfere with public religious practices. He believed, along with the other Founders, that the First Amendment had been enacted only to prevent the federal establishment of a national denomination – a fact he made clear in a letter to fellow-signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush”
Historical Resources
Historical Perspective on the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic
A Historical and Constitutional Perspective On The COVID Crisis, Part 1 – David Barton At The ProFamily Legislators Conference
ProFamily Legislature Conference-David Barton On The COVID Crisis Part 1 – The COVID crisis is now undeniably a huge part of our lives. We need the right perspective to combat the false narrative around us.
Are governors and legislators obligated to uphold the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? If we were to define grievances against our government today, what would they be?
History of Hospitals
The world’s first hospital was founded by a Christian in what is now modern
Turkey.
The Basiliad, was founded near Cappadocia by a priest named Basil. The Basiliad derives its name from its founder, the Christian priest (and later bishop) Basil.
“We now have sufficient evidence to piece together the history of the Basiliad. From the dating of the famine, it appears that some facility (at least a soup kitchen of sorts) existed in 369. By 372 it had professional medical personnel; and by 373 it was sufficiently complete that he could invite fellow leaders to visit. We know that this “new city” housed lepers (based on Gregory’s eulogy)11, as well as other sick, the travelers, and strangers. It was staffed both by professional physicians, as well as by clergy in the adjoining church (not unlike later Christian hospitals). And we know, based on Gregory’s reference to the “common treasury of the wealthy”, that the poor were financed by donations from the rich. Finally, it is possible that the Basiliad also housed orphans, based on Basil’s recommendation for monks to take in orphans;12 likely these orphans were among those who received tradeschooling. In sum, the Basiliad was an impressive social endeavor.” Reconstructing the world’s first hospital: the Basiliad
More on the history of St. Basil and the Basiliad is available from the Christian History Institute
Here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Methodist, Presbyterian, St. Paul, and Baylor hospitals are the best-known names in faith-based hospital care.
Christian Scientific Leadership
This incomplete list of scientists was not included to impress anyone but to dispel any notion that faith in Jesus Christ and genuine scientific progress are in opposition to one another.
Christian scientists prominent throughout history beginning with Copernicus (1473-1543), continuing with Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Robert Boyle (1627-1691), Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794), Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), Michael Faraday (1791-1867), James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), Arthur Compton (1892-1962), Ronald Fisher (1890-1962), Bernhard Riemann (1826-1866), Georges Lemaître (1894-1966), Isaac Newton (1643-1727), Charles Townes (1915-2015), Mary Anning (1799-1847), Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), John Dalton (1766-1844), Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855), Charles Barkla (1877-1944), George Washington Carver (1864-1943), Ernest Walton (1903-1995), Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), J. J. Thomson (1856-1940), Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) (1824-1907), Charles Babbage (1791-1871), Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976), Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777), Nicolas Steno (1638-1686), Humphry Davy (1778-1829), Arthur Eddington (1882-1944), John Ambrose Fleming (1849-1945), Samuel Morse (1791-1872), John Eccles (1903-1997), Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Max Plank (1858-1947), Edwin Hubble (1889-1953), and Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)—these giants of science have affected and continue to affect the lives of every living soul on earth.
Why is Albert Einstein considered the most famous scientist in all history? His Theory of Relativity stands on the foundational work of two Christian scientists, Issac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell.
Associated Posts
- Introduction: Pandemics are the PROBLEM — Church LEADERSHIP is the SOLUTION
- Pandemic Action Plan
- Managing Indoor Air Quality to Keep America Open
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 