re: 3x church thread

You know, it's sentiments like these that make me scratch my head and wonder....

Maybe it's more about, oh, BEING the Church than it is about "going to church."

There are a LOT of people who sit on church pews every time the doors are open, who are gonna bust hell wide open.

On the same token, there are some -- in my experience -- who for one reason or another don't attend church every service, or even every week, but who ARE the Church, and are about the business of the Father.

Yes, we SHOULD attend regular times of fellowship, worship and edification, the legalistic notions aside. But to insist that Disciples "MUST attend" services to "be saved" or to "make the rapture"....Well, it reminds me of the story of the Good Samaritan -- and those who insist on ritual and tradition are the ones who "pass by on the other side." These are the ones to whom Jesus said, "these things ought you to do, and NOT leave the other things undone."

I don't know about others -- but I am going to concentrate on yielding to Christ and allowing His SPirit to work through me. If I do that, then I've no need to be concerned -- about God's judgment, or the judgment of others...

JDale

 

:BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

Okay, you're joking right?

JDale

 

Considering the sloppy attitudes of many of the religious populace today, it would be easy to deduct that church attendance is voluntary or possibly only for those who are very religious and extremely committed to their faith. Membership in most churches, compared to actual numbers in attendance, usually shows people's mind-set. I do not believe that church attendance is optional. The Bible teaches us that church attendance is necessary.
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
These words were written to people who were close to losing their faith in Christ. Something had to be done. Some of them were routinely forsaking the meetings of the place of worship. The Hebrew writer addressed this issue. He told them not to forsake the assembly. Look closely at the verses. Become aware of the fact that church attendance has to do with holding fast without wavering, provoking ourselves and others to love and good works, and exhorting one another. It is the familiarity of the writer of Hebrews that those who forsake the assembly demonstrate the very opposite tendencies. They falter in their faith, they provoke no one to love and good works, and they get progressively more discouraged in their faith. One cannot say he or she lives by the Word of God and willingly forsake the gathering of Christians.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church is the gathering of the Body of Believers. Note it is "the pillar and ground of the truth If you take away the church, you cannot remove the pillar and ground of the truth in your life. Collapse of faith is certain. One cannot forsake the assembly and stay strong in the truth.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
The Church leader’s responsibility is to keep watch over the souls of church members. These leaders will one day give an account for their work. Such work is hard enough when Christians assemble on a regular basis and are in contact with each other. Can you imagine the dilemma when members are seldom present? If church leaders are expected to assume responsibility for such supervision, church members should assume responsibility for habitual attendance.

 

Ok, I am afraid to tell this story because I am afraid HBSMN will call my church members brainwashed, liars, or unchristian like he did in the other thread... but I feel I need to tell it because it Glorifies God and not man....

Here goes...

This happened 3 weeks ago on a Sunday evening.
On Sundays at 6 we have Choir practice, practice until around 6:55, then church starts at 7....

One of our trustees goes outside to his car. He sees a lady that has come to visit our cemetary beside the church... He starts talking to her... and he doesn't come in until well after services began...

She has now came to church for the last 2 Sundays...
had he not took the time... (outside of worship service) to talk to her, she wouldn't be coming....
He could have said, "sorry, I can't talk right now, I have to go to church" and walked away...
But he let God lead him... and as a result, a lady is now coming to church.

That is why there are no hard and fast rules...
That is why it says "forsake not" but doesn't tell you how many times you have to miss before it is forsaking your church.

I could have jumped on my trustee for missing service, or being late... but I would have been wrong.

A pastor is not a dictator, and the church does not have to do everything the pastor says....

Remember the baptist distinctive... priesthood of the believer....
If you want to dictate become RC.... That is what they do...

BTW, rbell, the reference to the pope didn't go over my head...

 

I'm not joking! Don't you believe that the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you?

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

"True faith is not the intellctual ability to visualize unseen things to the satisfaction of our imperfect minds,; it is rather the moral power to trust Christ." --A.W.Tozer, The Divine Conquest, pg. 50

 

A going Church is a growing Church. If they are not exhorted to attend faithfully (and are not attending faithfully), they must not be growing spiritually.

Oh, we can bring the numbers in and grow in numbers, but God wants those who are faithful to Him, not those who attend just because they can come and go when they please.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...

 

But God also expects us to use common sense...
Are you saying like HBSMN that if a job keeps you from coming to church on Wednesday nights, you should quit that job?

 

And that is just what my trustee was doing... seeking the kingdom..
BTW, he is one of the most faithful men I have.
And I have seen soo much growth in him.

 

You can't be serious. That is one of the cheesiest lines I've ever heard!

So do you really equate attendance with spiritual growth?

hmmmm.....I was trying to come up with a line like yours....but couldn't.

 

Response #1: This is the same feller that claims if a church is large, then it is not following God...so which one is it???

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1003328&postcount=230

Response #2: Another justification for church-wide potty breaks.

 

People today seem to want all the blessings of God without obeying His Word.

His Word commands the gathering of His people together. Genesis 49:10b; Numbers 10:2,3; and many more.

In Numbers 10, we see that ALL the people were to assemble at the sound of the trumpet, not just those who had nothing else to do.

The author of Hebrews echoed that when he wrote that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

 

But that still doesn't prove what you are trying to say.

Nobody has denied that we should not forsake meeting together. Your points cannot and will not be proven by repeating your verses that mean something other than what you are saying.

 

Scripture has been given to show we are to assemble more now than ever. Hebrews 10:25

Scripture has been given to show that we are to obey our pastors Hebrews 13:17

If a pastor says he is having services 7 days a week and requires that you attend and you do not, you are in direct disobedience to God's Holy Word.

Enough Scripture has been given, and now, I will bid you Adieu.

1 Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

 

Boy...I'm trying hard to resist the urge....


whew. That was close.

 

So you're leaving now that I've pointed out that you still haven't proven your point?

But you don't need to remain ignorant on the issue! Just joking!

See ya later alligator! (that is the cheesiest I can come up with)

 

never mind...

 

Ummm...Jim Jones is dead and not only does he probably not appreciate the alleged loyalty, he's likely sweating profusely, is focused on finding a glass of water, is trying to kill his pesky worm, and couldn't care less about a message board topside.

Further, I believe, I've discovered a new Ad Hominem variant fit for Conversational Terrorism. If someone doesn't share your view on a topic, then compare him to a mass murdering antichrist. Good one. :thumbs:

 

I'll have to remember this...

 

Actually, the wednesday church service is not a recent innovation.

Virginia's Laws Divine, Moral and Martial, circa 1612, contained this provision:
"All Preachers or Ministers within this our Colonie, or Colonies, shall in the Forts, where they are resident, after divine Service, duly preach every Sabbath day in the forenoone, and Catechise in the afternoone, and weekely say the divine service, twice every day, and preach every Wednesday, likewise every Minister where his is resident, ..."

 

Since Acts 2 records that they met daily in the temple, and the Virginia laws record that preachers met on Sundays and Wednesdays in the 1600's, I think it is safe to say the closing of the doors on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings, or man's decision not to go when the doors were opened was not until recent times.

And to think people think it is ok to choose self over church... for shame!