Hello. :-) Allright, So I will say my point.
Your article you posted from what I can gather does not forbid the church building; unless I missed it?
I guess I am viewing your opinions that having a "denominational" building is wrong. That some how is unbiblical?
_________________Samuel
Brother I get what you are saying, I hope you are understanding where I am coming from. The most important thing we can do is Love the Lord, grow in the knowledge of His splendor, and share the good news.Thanks for listening PhilGod bless youMike
reformer wrote:Quote:LittleGift wrote:[u][b]My personal experience[/b][/u]:In the early 1980's I became involved in a small prayer group of those from different denominational backgrounds. The Lord brought each of us out of the denomination we were in. Among other things, the Lord gave us such a vision of what the Church that we were spiritually "moved", and this led to a physical move.Then one prayed "Lord, what do we do now? Where do we go?" and the answer came, "[b]Go wherever God's people gather[/b]".So the vision didn't cause isolation, but freedom to fellowship wherever He sent us. That doesn't mean "church-hopping" but remaining in that [i]spiritual[/i] place with the Lord where He has put me, and to the physical place where He sends.I have since met others in the same place spiritually, and fellowship with them is richer than with any in the local church where the Lord has me...We must never go on feelings, God does not give new revelation that is contrary to HIS word. Christ died for the church, EPh.5:27 says that he wants to present her a holy and blameless.We know that we should not forsake the assembly with others. Meeting in a house to have fellowship is great, but that would be more like a bible study or just fellowship. It should not replace coming together in a local assembly to equip one another, to serve, to be a blessing to to others. Understand we can do those things with others privately. I don't agree with not going to church and staying home. Its not biblical and foundational. The church doesn't save us, and we can't isolate ourselves from the church.But that is my view, not a popular one on SI. REformer
LittleGift wrote:[u][b]My personal experience[/b][/u]:In the early 1980's I became involved in a small prayer group of those from different denominational backgrounds. The Lord brought each of us out of the denomination we were in. Among other things, the Lord gave us such a vision of what the Church that we were spiritually "moved", and this led to a physical move.Then one prayed "Lord, what do we do now? Where do we go?" and the answer came, "[b]Go wherever God's people gather[/b]".So the vision didn't cause isolation, but freedom to fellowship wherever He sent us. That doesn't mean "church-hopping" but remaining in that [i]spiritual[/i] place with the Lord where He has put me, and to the physical place where He sends.I have since met others in the same place spiritually, and fellowship with them is richer than with any in the local church where the Lord has me...
We must never go on feelings, God does not give new revelation that is contrary to HIS word. Christ died for the church, EPh.5:27 says that he wants to present her a holy and blameless
To LiveforGodThanks for the (long) article you posted. Looks interesting. I have cut and pasted it into Word for reading later (it's 1am here and I'm working early in the morning!)Blessings and good nightJeannette
The way I read it was that you had a vision to leave the church you were attending and gather where ever GOds people gather. I construed it as a revelation from God to leave the fellowhip and just wander from place to place. I may have read it to fast and not fully understood it all. thats why I said what i said.If I misunderstood you...sorry.Mike :-)
brothers and sisters it has been good discussion and learned from all your input. 8-) I hope you got something as well. I will move on to another subject and I am sure I will run into you all again.BlessingsMike :-D
Todays evangelical "church system" is largely antichrist and it is almost impossible to develope a NT style body of believers in the system. For this reason many ON FIRE & PERSONALLY REVIVED believers are being called out of the system as they were during the days of John Wesley to home fellowships that more closely resemble true NT christianity such as we see in Acts.
I long to see a Church radiant with the light of the gospel shining, a Church set apart for the cause of the cross and the kingdom of God, a Church filled with a people for His own possession!! :-D
_________________Martin G. Smith
reformer-The first set of scriptures you posted are all awesome (as all scripture is), along with the esword expounding of the words, but they actually hinder your point. Mainly because you are starting with a false supposition that church = going to a building on Sunday morning, singing a few songs, listening to a man speak for 45 minutes then going home and are isogetically interpreting the scriptures to fit your preconceived conclusions. (thanks sscott for pointing out that this is found nowhere in the bible)
And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at HOME; for it is shameful for women to speak IN CHURCH(is the home and church two different places)
I agree that the church is not a building but it is a body of believers. You can't compare your in laws with everyone else. It is unfortunate that people do have a misconception of CHURCH. But, where I disagree with you is your reasoning behind in not going to a local assembly or "building".
David wilkersons church Paul Washer Leanord Ravenhill sat under went to one of cementaries(semenaries) I don't believe these men will ever tell someone to leave a local fellowship, just because they feel it is part of the babylon system. These men you mentioned have been equipping and feeding saints for many years. The have done more the cause of Christ than you and I could hope for. Could you imagine them just meeting with a few in a house of where ever they felt like?
Thats one of the many benefits that come from being part of a local fellowship. To love others as Christ commands. We can't love those only who we feel agree with our way of thinking, what does that profit us?
Can you imagine how large some places where to hold the brethren just to read the letters(Epistles)
When people leave church because they feel it is a whore or it is a babylon system, they are decieved, because when you say that or anyone else they are talking about the church(believers) Christ died for. 1 John 3:10 "By yhis children of GOD and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness in not of GOd, nor the one who does not love his brother." Loving your brother is not those just in your proximity, but all of them. ( I know I touched on this already)
Going to a building on Sunday and Wednesday w/ occasional pot luck dinner= local fellowship
If you dont do the above you dont love as Christ commands