Church as we know it, or church as God's word says for it to be?
by Manasseh Zerubbabel Freemen on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 8:56am
It is a fundamental error in organized Christianity, to think of "church" as a gathering of different people, some committed to Christ, and some not.
No. The church, is the people who are already surrendered to Christ.
As the church gathers together privately, the things of God are communicated/ shared with each other; and we are encouraged, edified, instructed, and blessed spending time with each other in a foreign and hostile world.
Church gatherings are private meetings of aliens getting together on earth. That's a big reason why it's not advertised, and it is generally in our homes. (Romans 16:5, and 1Corinthians 16:19, and Colossians 4:15, and Philemon 1:1-2, and Act 16:13, and Acts 2:46, and Acts 5:42)
And yes, there are times when outsiders may be invited; but the church's assembling together, is not an evangelizing venture. It is for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
The early church confessed their faults to one another, read the Bible, worshipped , prayed, partook of the Lord's supper, and fellowshipped together constantly. They also reproved each other, and basically spent their lives associating with one another, sharing everything they owned.
Those are the things that were important in the first church; and the Bible tells us to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. So those are also the things that should be important to us now.
The devil has performed a great work of tricking many Christians out of Biblical fellowship. Instead, they have settled for a formal public meeting where music performances and preaching take place. That meeting happens in a "church" building, with a set order of events, where most everything is pre-planned and arranged.
My friends, even if God has mercifully tolerated that "church" format, it is still not Biblical. Let's do His will, instead of just settling for less. We ought to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.
You do not see the saints buying buildngs meant for church meetings, in the Bible.
You don't find the saints making any contractual agreement with the government at all, in the Bible.
The church is not a non-profit organization, or a business at all, in the Bible.
Instead you see a "grass roots", personal, informal unity of believers, which is miraculously ordered by the Holy Spirit of God, and not by man's logic or organization. Many people don't believe that such a thing is possible.
In the Bible, the church does all get together for private gatherings, but they also continue being the church, and fellowshipping together constantly, even outside of any gatherings.
They didn't even consider their individual possesions to be their own; but instead, they shared everything amongst one another. Most of us Christians in the USA live our own Godly lives, instead of living a Godly life joined together with all others who are the body of Christ.
And in the Bible, the gatherings were consistently in the saints' houses, and they ate a meal together there. So it was very personal, as a family should be. (No overhead, No government affiliations)
Never once do you see the church register with the government, or pay for any "church" building, in the Bible!
So i ask you, What kind of church are you even trying to be? What do you consider the church to be?
Do you believe that it is something out of the Bible, or do you believe in some traditional thing made by man? There is a big difference.
Even many Christians ask the question, "What church do you go to?".
But the church of the Bible is not something you go to. I'm not telling anyone to avoid going to "church" buildings. No, that's not what i'm saying. I'm telling you, in the name of Jesus Christ: Believe the Bible's definition of church, not society's definiton of it.
Heed what God's word says, not what man has tried to make of it.
And if you are born again of the Spirit of God, then you are at liberty to go wherever you want to, even if it is an unBiblical organization; however, you NEED church how the Bible says.
Don't miss out on fellowship and the Spirit of God. You need to get built up on your most holy faith.
You need the things of God in order to do that, not the things of man.
You will not ever walk like Jesus walked, if you hold to the traditions of men.
So even if you do attend a specific "church" building, don't forsake assembling together, the Biblical way. I tell you these things for your good, so that you don't fall, in these last days.
Do you believe in church, like the Bible says?
Please take a look at the following:
Jesus Christ is not coming back for religious organizations. He's coming to get His church.
Many follow religious traditions while assuming that they're following God's word.
Please don't get rejected by Jesus Christ. Those who call Him "Lord", but don't do what He says, will be rejected by Him.
"the light of the world" Matt 5:14, John 8:12, and
No. The church, is the people who are already surrendered to Christ.
As the church gathers together privately, the things of God are communicated/ shared with each other; and we are encouraged, edified, instructed, and blessed spending time with each other in a foreign and hostile world.
Church gatherings are private meetings of aliens getting together on earth. That's a big reason why it's not advertised, and it is generally in our homes. (Romans 16:5, and 1Corinthians 16:19, and Colossians 4:15, and Philemon 1:1-2, and Act 16:13, and Acts 2:46, and Acts 5:42)
And yes, there are times when outsiders may be invited; but the church's assembling together, is not an evangelizing venture. It is for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
The early church confessed their faults to one another, read the Bible, worshipped , prayed, partook of the Lord's supper, and fellowshipped together constantly. They also reproved each other, and basically spent their lives associating with one another, sharing everything they owned.
Those are the things that were important in the first church; and the Bible tells us to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. So those are also the things that should be important to us now.
The devil has performed a great work of tricking many Christians out of Biblical fellowship. Instead, they have settled for a formal public meeting where music performances and preaching take place. That meeting happens in a "church" building, with a set order of events, where most everything is pre-planned and arranged.
My friends, even if God has mercifully tolerated that "church" format, it is still not Biblical. Let's do His will, instead of just settling for less. We ought to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.
You do not see the saints buying buildngs meant for church meetings, in the Bible.
You don't find the saints making any contractual agreement with the government at all, in the Bible.
The church is not a non-profit organization, or a business at all, in the Bible.
Instead you see a "grass roots", personal, informal unity of believers, which is miraculously ordered by the Holy Spirit of God, and not by man's logic or organization. Many people don't believe that such a thing is possible.
In the Bible, the church does all get together for private gatherings, but they also continue being the church, and fellowshipping together constantly, even outside of any gatherings.
They didn't even consider their individual possesions to be their own; but instead, they shared everything amongst one another. Most of us Christians in the USA live our own Godly lives, instead of living a Godly life joined together with all others who are the body of Christ.
And in the Bible, the gatherings were consistently in the saints' houses, and they ate a meal together there. So it was very personal, as a family should be. (No overhead, No government affiliations)
Never once do you see the church register with the government, or pay for any "church" building, in the Bible!
So i ask you, What kind of church are you even trying to be? What do you consider the church to be?
Do you believe that it is something out of the Bible, or do you believe in some traditional thing made by man? There is a big difference.
Even many Christians ask the question, "What church do you go to?".
But the church of the Bible is not something you go to. I'm not telling anyone to avoid going to "church" buildings. No, that's not what i'm saying. I'm telling you, in the name of Jesus Christ: Believe the Bible's definition of church, not society's definiton of it.
Heed what God's word says, not what man has tried to make of it.
And if you are born again of the Spirit of God, then you are at liberty to go wherever you want to, even if it is an unBiblical organization; however, you NEED church how the Bible says.
Don't miss out on fellowship and the Spirit of God. You need to get built up on your most holy faith.
You need the things of God in order to do that, not the things of man.
You will not ever walk like Jesus walked, if you hold to the traditions of men.
So even if you do attend a specific "church" building, don't forsake assembling together, the Biblical way. I tell you these things for your good, so that you don't fall, in these last days.
Do you believe in church, like the Bible says?
Please take a look at the following:
- Hebrews 10:24-26,
- Acts 2:41-47,
- Acts 4:31-37,
- 1Peter 4:7-11,
- Ephesians 4:1-16,
- Proverbs 27:17,
- and Ephesians 5:27 & 32
[EXCERPT from a reference book about the original church]There is a great need that you read the Bible. That is how you will know what church is right, and what "church" is man's invention instead of God's.
" They did not invite friends to the church gatherings to win them to Christ. The church services were not geared for the unbelievers, but for the saints. The closest we get to evangelism when the church is gathered, is 1Corinthians 14:22-25, which reads in part, 'IF ALL PROPHESY, AND THERE COME IN ONE THAT BELIEVETH NOT, OR one UNLEARNED, HE IS CONVINCED OF ALL ... SO FALLING DOWN ON his FACE HE WILL WORSHIP GOD, AND REPORT THAT GOD IS IN YOU OF A TRUTH.' Paul never tells us to target our church services toward the unbeliever, but if one should enter they should be impressed that God is certainly among you. However, while the emphasis of the church gathered should not be on evangelism, the focus of the church scattered should be. As members of the body of Christ live out their lives in the world, they should always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. (1Peter 3:15) "
[end of EXCERPT]
Jesus Christ is not coming back for religious organizations. He's coming to get His church.
Many follow religious traditions while assuming that they're following God's word.
Please don't get rejected by Jesus Christ. Those who call Him "Lord", but don't do what He says, will be rejected by Him.
"the light of the world" Matt 5:14, John 8:12, and
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