Subject: need for a bible-anyone |
Bible Note: You wrote: 'Why are you assuming the "Church of Christ" is the true church?' You need to re-read my posts. I am not assuming it as a belief of my own. In fact, I deny it. I said "let's assume" for the sake of argument, to show that the logical conclusion of such a statement results in nonsense. You wrote: "Where, for that matter, does God say you can choose the church of your choice?" Who said I am merely "choosing the church of my choice." The church I attend holds to what I believe to be the closest and most correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. And that is why I attend it, not because it is my favorite flavor. I hold other Christian churches to be in error on certain teachings, but not all error is damnably wrong. If that were the case, then I think we would all be in trouble, because chances are that no one is right about EVERYTHING, no matter how carefully one studies God's word. You wrote: "Why do you believe you can worship God in any manner you chose rather than worshiping as the Creator has directed?" I don't believe that at all. What I disagree with is the assessment that the Church of Christ has made regarding how the Creator is to be worshipped. I find certain prohibitions and commandments to be extrabiblical or unbiblical, along with many of their doctrines. You wrote: "Nadab and Abihu made that mistake and received the punishment for their error" Now wait a second. Are you trying to convince us that every aspect of the worship of God is mapped out to the letter like the Levitical laws regarding temple work? Yes, God has instituted the ministry of the word, and baptism and the Lord's Supper, as well as singing hymns. There are a whole host of practices that are in churches today that are dishonoring to God, I will agree. But we do not wear uniforms like the priests do. We are not commanded where to sit, when to stand, what words to say, whether to wear a suit or not, what order should be followed in engaging in worshipful activities, etc. We are certainly not forbidden the use of musical instruments. So I would disagree that worship has been clearly laid out in as uniform a pattern as the ministry of the priests in the temple. The New Testament looks very little like Leviticus, in other words. I do agree that the circus routines and rock operas that pass for "worship" in many churches today do indeed dishonor God, and anyone with any sense of God's holiness would be best to avoid such theatrics. Lastly, you wrote: "God is very explicit in how He desires to be worshiped." Yes, He is explicit in how he is to be worshiped. And much of what I have seen in this thread are commandments of men that are anything but explicitly commanded by God. --Joe! |