Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Do we have to have only one pastor, one | Acts 2:42 | Hank | 174936 | ||
Dear Bereaniam - Many have found themselves in circumstances not unlike yours. I am one of them, having been a member of a church for a great number of years that slowly drifted off into apostasy. A decade ago my wife and I, after much prayer, felt led to quit this church and go to another. And never in our Christian experience have we been so richly blessed as a result of the move. ...... There are no easy answers, but I believe there is one sure answer: prayer. Pray today, pray tomorrow, and keep on praying for God's infallible guidance! Churches left and right are falling away. Cults are springing up like mushrooms, the infamous and heretical Word-of-Faith movement is injecting its venom into many congregations and their leadership, and secular humanism in a myriad of forms is manifesting itself more and more vigorously. The task of finding a church that truly believes the Bible and preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ is becoming increasingly difficult, but by no means impossible. God is sovereign! ....... Not knowing all the details that surround your situation, it would be both fatuous and presumptuous -- and utterly useless -- to attempt to suggest any specific remedy, save this one: "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:3-6). ..... And don't forget to pray! --Hank | ||||||
2 | One Pastor and one assembly? | Acts 2:42 | Bereaniam | 175057 | ||
So Hank, is your answer to my question yes or no? Is there a scripture that says we must have one pastor and attend one local assembly? Bereaniam |
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3 | One Pastor and one assembly? | Acts 2:42 | Hank | 175062 | ||
Bereaniam - No and no. But there is strong evidence from Acts and the Pauline letters that the composition of the apostolic churches was stable, i.e., that the members didn't tend to hop from Ephesus to Corinth to Galatia to Rome. Neither does the New Testament teach that each congregation is limited to one human leader, but it clearly does teach that Christ is head of the church. I believe that the corpus of New Testament evidence weighs heavily against the practice of "church hopping" unless you, like Paul, are engaging in plowing new soil by establishing new congregations, called "church planting" in the modern vernacular -- a colorful term indeed that evokes images reminiscent of 1 Corinthians 3:6: "I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase." ..... I believe that God expects us to use the brain He gave us, don't you? So let's use it to think through this church-hopping scene, and I'll supply the questions. How can we expect to be effective by flitting from one church to another? Do you not feel it is the Christian's obligation to support the work, worship and mission of the local church by his presence, his talents, and yes, his financial resources? Christian friendship and fellowship are important adjuncts to the Christian walk, are they not? And are these aspects of one's Christian life not compromised by having no church roots? Finally, let's draw an analogy from the work place. How effective would an employee be who worked at a different firm in a different location every week? ....... A "church hopper" is not altogether unlike a ship without a rudder. Ihop as descriptive of the place where one dines on pancakes is fine, but "I hop" as descriptive of where one worships is not fine. --Hank | ||||||
4 | One Pastor and one assembly? | Acts 2:42 | kalos | 175075 | ||
Hank: You have given a good answer. Also, consider this: If everyone went church hopping, there would be no churches to hop to. Also, if no one believed in joining a local church, there would be no local church. Often common sense is an uncommon virtue. Grace to you, Kalos |
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5 | One Pastor and one assembly? | Acts 2:42 | Bereaniam | 175079 | ||
Hi Kalos, I am glad you joined in this discussion...I value your input. If you read my note to Hank, you understand that I think we are too hung up on the definition of Church. What book, chapter, and verse of the bible teach us to "join a church"? When you become a Christian, you become the "church". The early church were "church hoppers" (if you only understand it in that vernacular)...they "hopped" from house to house.Acts 2:46 One of the problems we have living the Christ-life is teaching for doctrine the traditions of men, Br. Kalos. I don't want to have "common sense" when it comes to this Christ-life...I want wisdom, divine wisdom. God said He would give it to us liberally according to James, the Lord's brother. Grace and peace to you also, my brother, Bereaniam |
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6 | One Pastor and one assembly? | Acts 2:42 | kalos | 175090 | ||
Church defined [Bereaniam: Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your input and participation in the Forum. Grace and peace, Kalos] Church -- Biblical Definition 'Churches (local), Summary: A local church is an ASSEMBLY of professed believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, living for the most part in one locality, who ASSEMBLE THEMSELVES TOGETHER in His name for the breaking of bread, worship, praise, prayer, testimony, the ministry of the word, discipline, and the furtherance of the Gospel, Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 5:4,5; Philippians 4:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; Acts 13:1-4. Such a church exists where two or three are thus gathered Matthew 18:20. Every such local church has Christ in the midst, is a temple of God, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16,17. When perfected in organization a local church consists of "saints, with the bishops elders and deacons."' (Emphasis added.) ____________________ Bibliography Information Scofield, C. I. "Scofield Reference Notes on Philippians 1". "Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)". (http://www.studylight.org) 1917. |
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