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| Why I don't "belong to a Church." |
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Why I don't belong to a Church
After looking at my profile, Mike asked me about my not belonging to a Church. I belong to Jesus. When He added me to His body when I repented and was baptized, He never told me to join anything else.
If I belong to a Church, I would not be following His plan for my life. If I belong to a Church I would be engulfed in an institution, and I don't want to be/do that.
That is why I don't belong to a Church.:-)
Thanks to all who respond to me. I don't know how to respond to a response so I just started a new message.
Nelta |
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| To add a comment to "Why I don't "belong to a Church."" |
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| February 12, 2007 |
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| Dear Nelta,
To respond, just scroll down to the bottom of your blog and, if you are logged in, you should see a box that says "Leave a comment" with two buttons underneath, "Submit" and "Preview." Enter your response in the box and click "Submit." Or preview it first.
Concerning not being a "member" of any church (institution), are you at least attending one? The Bible generally discourages that, for spiritual and practical reasons. I'm sure someone will be delighted to give you some specifics, but right now I've gotta run. My kids are calling me! ~God bless, mike |
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| February 12, 2007 |
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| Thanks, Mike.
Actually the Bible never mentions attending Church.. It does, however, talk about our getting with other Christians as much as we can for encouragement and edification, but not to have group worship.
Nelta |
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| February 12, 2007 |
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| Nelta,
Most would probably say the burden of proof is on those who say group worship is unscriptural. But I took a little time to write down some thoughts as well as grab a couple of scripture references from Biblegateway.com. I invite you to show me as well where scripture says church meetings (incl worship) is discouraged.
After leaving Egypt, God instituted the tent of meeting (tabernacle), which was at the center of the Israelite camp, and therefore symbolic of God at the center of their life, and community. Eventually the tabernacle was replaced by the temple, originally build by Solomon. After Christ came, the church began meeting together, not in the temple but in homes, and eventually other, larger meeting places as the church eventually grew. Today a lot of Church plants still start out in homes, like ours did!
The New Testament is pretty full of references to the meetings Christians had. We have no reason to assume the Christians didn’t worship together, as well as read scripture, teach, partake Communion, etc. when they met.
Furthermore, the Christians of the NT also became well organized, largely for practical reasons such as to take better care of the poor, orphans, widows, etc. They appointed deacons, elders, and other church officers. This would obviously be further support for the modern day practice of Christians to organize into formally established churches.
Here are a couple of NT scriptural references to the meetings we would associate with church services today:
Acts 2
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
James 2
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
1 Corinthians 14
26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
That’s all I have time to dig up, but there’s plenty more. But don’t trust me, read through the New Testament, starting with Acts. Christians were always getting together! Today we would call most of those meetings church services! ~Love in Christ, mike
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| February 12, 2007 |
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| Hi Mike,
First I have read through the N.T. many times.:-) I'm on a car trip and will return home in the next couple of days. More then.
One thought though. We don't go to the scriptures to find out what is wrong with something, but what is right about things. We can't prove negatives. Therefore, instead of trying to prove where the scriptures tell us there shouldn't be/can't be group worship, we look at what is taught that the Christians were told to do.
More when I get home (back to Amarillo, Texas.)
Nelta |
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| February 12, 2007 |
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| Hellooo!
I look forward to hearing upon your return -- I'll say a prayer for your safe trip.
Regarding your statement "we don't go to the scriptures to find out what is wrong with something," how about these:
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
And many more in the NT, including:
"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse..."
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."
"...friendship with the world is hatred toward God"
So it isn't that unreasonable to ask for negative proofs. But I believe I know what you meant. Ok, talk to ya later! ~mike |
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