Can church be considered a hospital? I've heard that sentiment a lot, and I'm thinking that it all depends on the context. So what say ye?

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Ben Castaneda
member of Faith Presbyterian Church (PCA)
San Antonio, TX
MDiv student at WSC
Escondido, CA

"Not all prison bars are made from metal, And not all prisoners walk about in chains." -Lysander from Weatherby, Earl of Gloucester

...and not a hotel for saints...

Simplistic.

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Ivan R. Schoen, B.A., M.A., M.L.I.S.
Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church (SBC)
Poplar Grove, IL, USA
http://maranatha-sbc.org

No it is more like a morgue

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

Maybe the psych ward of a hospital.

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sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

Oh, I've seen that before. Thankfully, my experience is very limited, but I've seen it.

When I've heard people refer to the church as a hospital for sinners, it's been in the context of legalism vs. grace, i.e. In legalistic settings, people are not open about their weaknesses. Rather than admit they are weak and helpless, they are constantly trying to prove to each other how holy they are. In contrast, when people begin to understand the grace of God, they realize that they need constant care, hence, the idea that the church is a hospital.

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J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

I think the church is many things.

To some extent it IS a hospital - it is a place where sinners come to hear words of life and to receive comfort for their souls.

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Ben
Chaplain, US Army
Ft. Riley, KS
TE Ohio Valley Presbytery, PCA

Thanks folks. That was what I was thinking, but I wanted to bounce around the idea first.

Of course, that doesn't mean that the church is somewhere sick folks can come to get medicine. They're dead, after all.

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

Yes, the church is a hospital (among many other things) wherein people help each other get healthier spiritually. Absolutely.

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Nate
Ruling/Teaching Elder
Non-Denominational, Independent, Reformed Church
Indiana

Yes! We're brought back to life in the ER and then we remain to complete our recovery.

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Davidius
Husband of Emily
Member of All Saints Anglican Church - Chapel Hill (AMiA / Anglican Church of North America)
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German and Classics

Not sure I'm entirely comfortable using the analogy of a hospital to describe the Church and its function.

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Joe
Member
Providence Reformed Baptist Chuch, Toledo Ohio
2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. Ezk 16:6

The saying is from .

Since the author of the quote was a RC priest, I think we all know what is implied in the saying--go to Mass, take the Sacraments and be content to remain as sick as the next guy.

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Rev. Toby L. Brown, pastor
Jefferson Center Presbyterian Church--in, but not of, the PC(USA)
Saxonburg, PA
A Classical Presbyterian
Proud member of The Westminster Fellowship

"The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which God is also highly exalted." --Jonathan Edwards

I've thought of the church as a hospital ever since 2003. Some churches do well at fixing up the injured and others seem to act like a do it yourself first aid station. The church is for christians isn't it? Plenty of christians are in need of doctorin' and good teaching on doctrine. Not everyone needs the ER of the church, but I think it should be there. It goes with all the one another verses in the Bible and bearing one anothers burdens. The "hospital" is for christians.

I don't see the church as a hospital in the area of evangelism. I don't really know what the church is supposed to do about evangelism. I get it about individuals but not the "church".

Except for the one anothers of scripture I don't have any other reason to view the church as a hospital. It's just an analogy that seems to fit.

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Life is a journey; learn to enjoy it.
shelly {approved by admins for limited information in signature}
attending a reformed church

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

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Adam J. Myer
Slated for the Jan. 10th Chaplains Basic Officer Leadership Course
Estacada Christian Church
Sandy, Oregon

Soli Deo Gloria

Archlute beat me to the keyboard

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Rich Koster
1689'er
Browns Mills NJ USA
Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
Romans 7:14-25