Subject: Churchianity to be answered: |
Bible Note: Dear Joe! I take from the above post that you believe the denominational system is the safeguard mechanism to protect us from 'rouge pastors.' That organization is the balancing factor to keep us from the vagaries of unorthodoxy. I take issue that 'assembly' means extra-church organization. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." Matthew 18:20 NASB. 'gathered together' is the same as 'assemble.' It is enough to be considered holy fellowship. 'The more the merrier' is true in a human sense. The more gathered, the potential for straying from the Spirit is multiplied. (Even though a moderation factor exists, so also a dilution factor is evident.) For instance, could this Scripture be extrapolated to say, "For where two or three thousand have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." I would say NOT! After a certain point (depending on the shepherd), A human organization dilutes the moving of the Spirit. Though some may grouse, I quote from a hymn, "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand." Joe, some human orgaization may lend stability, but man tends to depend on it like a drug. You may be immune to this dependency, but most are not. Rather than 'living stones' in the structure of the church, they become dead bricks, mortared together by man's authority rather than the bonding of the Spirit of God. Blessings in Jesus' name, charis |