Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How important is your Church? | Bible general Archive 1 | Brian.g | 29322 | ||
Bob As an example, in Chapter 14, Paul speaks of prohesy in which the members of the church teach with words and actions, to other members of the church - in order to build up the church into a stronger faith community. The purpose being, each member gains a closer relationship with Jesus by the association with other Christians within the close-knit faith community. Wouldn't a person need to be actively involved within a single church, in order to do what the Bible is asking of us? I'm not sure how stopping into a random church, perdiocally, would enable a person in this task. What are your thoughts on this? Brian |
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2 | How important is your Church? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bob Y. | 29470 | ||
Hi Brian, I don't have any problem with going to the same church group regularly. I just said that taking "membership vowes" is not scriptural. I also don't really see why someone who had the gift of prophesy would have to always go to the same group. I could learn from anyone who had a gift to understand God's word and teach it, even if they just came by once in a while. On another note, I believe you said something important when you said "stronger faith community". That is probably one of the big problems with the format that the Christian church has taken. We are split up into so many denomenations, each one looking for some unimportant periphrial difference in interpretation of scripture that God's people find it difficult to get together as a body. The original reformation movement was vital to getting the true message of the Gospel to the masses and to break away from Catholic dogma. Now people have easy access to great and accurate interpretations of the Bible (like the ones available on this website) and understand that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. I believe it is time to go back to the churches of the "community" spoken of in the book of Acts. I can't see the practical use of having million dollar church buildings owning hundreds of acres of land in every corner compeating for "vowed members". We are all members of the same body with Jesus as the head. To be split up in so many directions just seems like a terrible waste and irresponsible stewardship of the resources that God has given his people. To me it seems that the corporate church becomes too much of a reflection of the corporate business. Each church (inc.) looking at their dollar bottom line along with their material assets and not at the true profit of any Christian church which is in the spiritual growth of all people within it's reach as a community. Proof of this is when we see social statistics within the church the same or worse than what is in the world. New Christians see no difference between the church and the world and become discouraged, many throwing the baby (Jesus) out with the bath water. All they can see is a street corner church anxious to build additions on to their building, high pressuring and burdening it's members for added donations and not focusing on the message of the Gospel (they can't serve two masters). Older Christians become discouraged in the direction that the church is going and long for the time when it did focus on God's word. Eventually many of them can be seen leaving and searching for new churches. I don't see why true Christians can't toss aside the denominations, meet weekly (or more) to worship and pray in small home groups and maybe monthly in a large Christian community gathering at a large hall funded by God's people in that community. This would end the battle for "vowed members" and begin a common outreach and concern for the whole community, believers and unreached alike. Too many preachers graduate from seminary looking forward to seeing their name on the lighted sign out front and the pride of having their very own church. I guess they would have to humble themselves a little in order to preach next to other enlightened preachers and teachers who may have even greater biblical understanding. Well, Brian, you asked what I thought. You probably didn't want to read all that. Your brother in Christ, Bob |
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3 | How important is your Church? | Bible general Archive 1 | Brian.g | 29526 | ||
Bob You have obviously given this some very serious thought and I sincerely appreciate your sharing it with me. You and I both know that, at best, the different denominations will respect each other and that a single Christian denomination will not occur. With that, do you feel a Christian has the responsibility to regularly and actively participate within a single local congregation - with the purpose of enriching and enhancing the relationship other church-members have with Christ. Just for clarification: your role in the local church is to gain a closer relationship with Christ, by serving your fellow church-member in enriching his. Is that a duty of a Christian? Brian |
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4 | How important is your Church? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bob Y. | 29610 | ||
I agree that a united Christian church will probably not happen soon, but if the Lord waits a while to come, I believe it will eventually happen. I don't push this concept very hard but I find many Christians I run across thinking along these same lines. These days I believe people are dividing more along the lines of traditional and contemparary music rather than strained legal interpretations. I know because the Bible says that we have a responsibility to assemble with fellow believers on a regular basis. I'm not really sure that that responsibility is to the same group all the time. I can see where it may be beneficial to fellowship with other local Christians. It seems that it would be well within Scripture to meet very regular in a home with the same small group, sharing fellowship, Christian growth and accountability but rotating your large meeting with several surrounding local churches. Maybe even some churches that are predominantly another race from your own. Christians seem to like to divide up in races (again reflecting what the world does) and this is definately not Scriptural. We have a special kind of responsibility to anyone whose faith is in Jesus Christ. The responsibility we have toward unbelievers is to show love and try to be sensitive in how the Spirit will use us to witness or plant seeds. The love and responsibility we feel toward all other (believing) Christians is a whole different perspective that shouldn't be isolated to a group within one building. We have Jesus Christ as our common bond all else is unimportant. 1Cr 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Do I feel a duty as a Christian to be loyal to one denomination? Absolutely not! 1Cr 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. Rejoice in the Lord, Bob |
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