Showing posts with label terminology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terminology. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2008

Are Terms Important?

Was Juliet right when she said "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"? Do names/terms mean anything? Ponder with me if you will a couple of terms.

We call the buildings in which we meet "churches." Our Baptist ancestors often referred to the buildings as "meeting houses." They referred to the baptized believers, gathered to worship in Christ's name, as "churches." What is the difference? Is it right for us to refer to buildings as churches?

Also, the meetings that we hold on Sundays and Wednesdays are referred to as "services." They used to be called "gatherings." Is there a difference? Why do we call them services?