Yep... I was thoroughly trained in the Spiritual Kinship Theory position while at college. BTW: Maranatha no longer teaches that myth.
However, there are a few remaining IFBrs that still deny the existence of the universal church.
This comes from a Landmark/Spiritual Kinship theory. Note what Armitage (p 121) says:
An invisible Church is a purely indefinite and mythical idea. How can we ‘hear’ the voice of an impalpable body of men? The New Testament never speaks of all Christians in all localities, as if they belonged to one outward and visible Church, which forms one corporate body. This is a pure myth existing only in the imagination.
Apparently Armitage forgot about: Matthew 16:18 "Peter, upon this rock I will build my church"
Why would people deny the universal church? Their complaint is many, but here is a couple that will suffice for discussion:
1) The local church will suffer in ministry. If our people are engaged with other believers, outside of a local church context, the local church will suffer.
2) The universal church is invisible... therefore, it is a myth.
However, there are a few remaining IFBrs that still deny the existence of the universal church.
This comes from a Landmark/Spiritual Kinship theory. Note what Armitage (p 121) says:
An invisible Church is a purely indefinite and mythical idea. How can we ‘hear’ the voice of an impalpable body of men? The New Testament never speaks of all Christians in all localities, as if they belonged to one outward and visible Church, which forms one corporate body. This is a pure myth existing only in the imagination.
Apparently Armitage forgot about: Matthew 16:18 "Peter, upon this rock I will build my church"
Why would people deny the universal church? Their complaint is many, but here is a couple that will suffice for discussion:
1) The local church will suffer in ministry. If our people are engaged with other believers, outside of a local church context, the local church will suffer.
2) The universal church is invisible... therefore, it is a myth.