Is Corporate Worship Important or Necessary?

[pjt]

I know Sister. But the advantage of the forums is that we can get many points of view from all different denominations and try to work out what is the truth between us. It's very exciting to have all denominations together I think. Very edifying for the Body as a whole.

Plus not being grouped together face to face means that we don't feel bound to please or agree with eachother on all issues of the faith. A great way to debate.

My point is if you can enjoy a VERY unorthodox setting like this, you might be surprised by actually enjoying a more orthodox setting of a Bible based church. It has been my experience living in Asia when you can actually gather enough foreign Believers together they generally all come from all different denominations from all over the world so the churches are usually called "international churches" because there simply is not one predominant denomination or church culture represented in the group. So you sort of get an experience like this minus the atheists and muslims. However, I understand there is no church around you so it is useless to push you to go to church when there is literally no where to go. I just wanted to point out that you might enjoy the experince more than you think if an opportunity were to present itself.

 

[pjt]

Why do you guys beat up on these forums so much? Christ gave this technology for us for a reason.

.

I think the technology is wonderful too and I also believe it is a great way to stay connected with Brothers and Sisters all over the world. The computer has opened a door like we have never had before so I don`t knock that at all. And I don`t knock the idea of fellowship in a forum. In fact, I understand very well what it can provide. For example, in the country where I reside I am part of a little email group of Christian women. It is open to all Christian women in our country, but only has 8 members throughout the entire country. On the other hand there is a secular group for foreign women that started about the same time as our Christian group & it has thousands of members. This can give people an idea of the interest level of Christianty by foreigners in Asia. Anyway, over the years I have gotten to know these women quite well. We`ve gone through the ups and downs of child rearing, education, dealing with our Asian mother-in-laws, neighbors, husbands, etc from a Christian perspective. I know these women better than I know most of the people in church. One woman, like yourself, calls our little group her church. It is all she has because her mother-in-law forbids her from attending church. Another woman does attend a local church but over the years she has complained about always being an outsider in her church. Because she is not a native she is not even allowed to be on the cleaning roster, but the teaching there is excellent so she continues going. Plus, it is the only church in her area. One Sunday after being disturbed by not being allowed to fit in, she had a dream of our little email group of women all gloriously singing praises to God together in a choir. Even though we have never met each other, she realized then that our group is her fellowship. So no I do not knock an online fellowship because when living in a nonChristian land, a forum like this opens the door to a form of fellowship and outreach to other Christians when otherwise one might be isolated from all Christian contact. We have to be thankful for this technology but we also have to realize it can be taken from us too so in such a case it is good to seek other Christians in our area to have the best of both worlds.

 

[pjt]

Nick captured my thoughts best when he said "you are missing out". I would agree that you are not missing out on a lot of the problems that are going on in churches. In fact, the majority of churches in my area I would not go to at all because they compromise the faith too much. But when you find another true sincere Christian, it is a great blessing to spend face to face time with that person. The best way I can compare it is say your son grows up and moves overseas, which is better getting an email from him or him coming home in the flesh, face to face to see you? There is a true warmth and joy in spending time in person with likeminded people of our faith. So unlike others, my wish for you to find other male Believers is simply so you can experience that warmth, support, and joy of Christian brotherhood and friendship which I think you would find is different than the online experience. I would just like for you to have some Christian friends you and your family could enjoy and grow together with. I think it would be a blessing to you and your family`s life. I understand at this point it is just wishful thinking, but don`t you think it would be nice if your family went to the beach and your son grow up and played with another Christian boy(s) so they could be as iron sharpening iron as they met the challenges they will inevitably face growing up in a nonChristian land? And your wife could have another Christian woman to encourage and support her as a wife, mother, and woman? So no it is not the physical attention, it is the attention that a body of Believers should give to one another. Of course, not all Believers do that but that is what I hope you can find!

 

[Mike]

Okay, this is long overdue, IMO, but it still needs to be said. If you're asking an honest question, or honestly replying to another person on this board, that's one thing. But if you're taking shots at another person for argument sake, PLEASE exercise restraint. As we always say, and too often ignored, focus on thoughts and interpretations; not the person. No one wins when we take this approach.

Humility, humbleness, selflessness... all very good attributes of a follower of Christ. :yes

 

[Strangelove]

You are derisive and antagonistic in your approach to church membership. Until you come to understand the word of God concerning this, I don't believe you will advance far in your walk with God.

People do not grow beyond the point of their disobedience. They become stuck where they are and will not go further until they deal with it with God's help. It is about submission to Him and His word.

Did you wanna address some of my positional arguments or do you just wanna attack my character?

Most have you're posts have nothing to do with the topic and are just personal jabs at me.

 

[Strangelove]

That is not what church is[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif] about. You are enjoying a social club atmosphere, only.[/FONT]

I don't come here to socialize. Not in the slightest.

I come here to debate the meaning of God's word.

 

[Strangelove]

My point is if you can enjoy a VERY unorthodox setting like this, you might be surprised by actually enjoying a more orthodox setting of a Bible based church. It has been my experience living in Asia when you can actually gather enough foreign Believers together they generally all come from all different denominations from all over the world so the churches are usually called "international churches" because there simply is not one predominant denomination or church culture represented in the group. So you sort of get an experience like this minus the atheists and muslims. However, I understand there is no church around you so it is useless to push you to go to church when there is literally no where to go. I just wanted to point out that you might enjoy the experince more than you think if an opportunity were to present itself.

I'm sure I would absolutely LOVE to go to a church that is well grounded in scripture and is Gospel centred delivering a pure and simple message in the company of like minded believers. With a servant pastor.

You dont know how much I have dreamed of being in a place like that. It's just impossible here though. And I've talked to people who says its near enough impossible in their areas in developed Christian countries too.

Oh well. Lucky its not a salvation issue.

 

[Strangelove]

I think the technology is wonderful too and I also believe it is a great way to stay connected with Brothers and Sisters all over the world. The computer has opened a door like we have never had before so I don`t knock that at all. And I don`t knock the idea of fellowship in a forum. In fact, I understand very well what it can provide. For example, in the country where I reside I am part of a little email group of Christian women. It is open to all Christian women in our country, but only has 8 members throughout the entire country. On the other hand there is a secular group for foreign women that started about the same time as our Christian group & it has thousands of members. This can give people an idea of the interest level of Christianty by foreigners in Asia. Anyway, over the years I have gotten to know these women quite well. We`ve gone through the ups and downs of child rearing, education, dealing with our Asian mother-in-laws, neighbors, husbands, etc from a Christian perspective. I know these women better than I know most of the people in church. One woman, like yourself, calls our little group her church. It is all she has because her mother-in-law forbids her from attending church. Another woman does attend a local church but over the years she has complained about always being an outsider in her church. Because she is not a native she is not even allowed to be on the cleaning roster, but the teaching there is excellent so she continues going. Plus, it is the only church in her area. One Sunday after being disturbed by not being allowed to fit in, she had a dream of our little email group of women all gloriously singing praises to God together in a choir. Even though we have never met each other, she realized then that our group is her fellowship. So no I do not knock an online fellowship because when living in a nonChristian land, a forum like this opens the door to a form of fellowship and outreach to other Christians when otherwise one might be isolated from all Christian contact. We have to be thankful for this technology but we also have to realize it can be taken from us too so in such a case it is good to seek other Christians in our area to have the best of both worlds.

Plus this method of assembling may be our only choice once the serious apostacy sets in. In fact I'd say you can bet on it.

 

[Strangelove]

Nick captured my thoughts best when he said "you are missing out". I would agree that you are not missing out on a lot of the problems that are going on in churches. In fact, the majority of churches in my area I would not go to at all because they compromise the faith too much. But when you find another true sincere Christian, it is a great blessing to spend face to face time with that person. The best way I can compare it is say your son grows up and moves overseas, which is better getting an email from him or him coming home in the flesh, face to face to see you? There is a true warmth and joy in spending time in person with likeminded people of our faith. So unlike others, my wish for you to find other male Believers is simply so you can experience that warmth, support, and joy of Christian brotherhood and friendship which I think you would find is different than the online experience. I would just like for you to have some Christian friends you and your family could enjoy and grow together with. I think it would be a blessing to you and your family`s life. I understand at this point it is just wishful thinking, but don`t you think it would be nice if your family went to the beach and your son grow up and played with another Christian boy(s) so they could be as iron sharpening iron as they met the challenges they will inevitably face growing up in a nonChristian land? And your wife could have another Christian woman to encourage and support her as a wife, mother, and woman? So no it is not the physical attention, it is the attention that a body of Believers should give to one another. Of course, not all Believers do that but that is what I hope you can find!

Thats nice PJ. But lets not forget that the outlook for the future and abundance of true Christians is very, very bleak. We're gonna have to get used to alternative methods of assembling with the remnant and hanging out with ourselves and Christ.

 

[Strangelove]

Okay, this is long overdue, IMO, but it still needs to be said. If you're asking an honest question, or honestly replying to another person on this board, that's one thing. But if you're taking shots at another person for argument sake, PLEASE exercise restraint. As we always say, and too often ignored, focus on thoughts and interpretations; not the person. No one wins when we take this approach.

Humility, humbleness, selflessness... all very good attributes of a follower of Christ. :yes

Uhm.....my thoughts exactly.

 

[pjt]

I'm sure I would absolutely LOVE to go to a church that is well grounded in scripture and is Gospel centred delivering a pure and simple message in the company of like minded believers. With a servant pastor.

You dont know how much I have dreamed of being in a place like that. It's just impossible here though. And I've talked to people who says its near enough impossible in their areas in developed Christian countries too.

Oh well. Lucky its not a salvation issue.

I know it is tough and I will pray, but in the meantime please enjoy the forum!

 

[pjt]

Plus this method of assembling may be our only choice once the serious apostacy sets in. In fact I'd say you can bet on it.

That may be the case unless internet use becomes restricted by governments throughout the world but if that happens, I am sure God`s people will get creative and find other ways to open doors. We just have to use the tools we have on hand and do our best with them.

 

[Strangelove]

That may be the case unless internet use becomes restricted by governments throughout the world but if that happens, I am sure God`s people will get creative and find other ways to open doors. We just have to use the tools we have on hand and do our best with them.

Shock Horror!

We might actually have to go back to writing letters and using couriers.

How horribly Bilblical! ;)

 

[Elijah674]

I'm sure I would absolutely LOVE to go to a church that is well grounded in scripture and is Gospel centred delivering a pure and simple message in the company of like minded believers. With a servant pastor.

You dont know how much I have dreamed of being in a place like that. It's just impossible here though. And I've talked to people who says its near enough impossible in their areas in developed Christian countries too.

Oh well. Lucky its not a salvation issue.

I see the problem as 'doctrinal'. And it is a Salvation issue as 'i' see it. (Rev. 18:4) What church has not a 'captive' audience? The forum here is not a church, and one can see a good type of class study so far with freedom of worship + liberty of free speech. (so far at least, although there are a real large list of moderators) And one can be certain that this will not much longer be the case in good old ex/protestant USA. Acts 5:27-29 with 666.

--Elijah

 

[pjt]

Shock Horror!

We might actually have to go back to writing letters and using couriers.

How horribly Bilblical! ;)

Or maybe we will use another form of technology like teleconferencing on video phones!

 

[farouk]

Or maybe we will use another form of technology like teleconferencing on video phones!

pjt:

Well, I think that nothing can really replace being in a congregation with the Word of God being taught to those sitting (and praying) before the person speaking.

Other means can be useful, of course, in making the service more widely known and remembered.

 

[pjt]

pjt:

Well, I think that nothing can really replace being in a congregation with the Word of God being taught to those sitting (and praying) before the person speaking.

Other means can be useful, of course, in making the service more widely known and remembered.

I agree that nothing is better than congregating with other Believers in person for regular fellowship! But we were speaking of situations where people were not able to congregate so creative means to stay in touch had to be created.

 

[farouk]

I agree that nothing is better than congregating with other Believers in person for regular fellowship! But we were speaking of situations where people were not able to congregate so creative means to stay in touch had to be created.

pjt:

Yes I see what you mean.

It's maybe a different situation, right.

 

[Alabaster]

I agree that nothing is better than congregating with other Believers in person for regular fellowship! But we were speaking of situations where people were not able to congregate so creative means to stay in touch had to be created.

I am sure there are those rare situations, but the believers in those situations consistently demonstrate a LONGING for fellowship and a LONGING for good solid teaching....they don't challenge these things, and commit to research church groups in order to publically denigrate them. That is not consistent with a hungry heart.

Time is better spent NOT debating, but STUDYING the Word of God.

 

[Elijah674]

I still don't think you know what I meant.

This forum IS my church. This is the only place I fellowship with Christians.

Doc.

Elijah here:
Hey, you say that this is your CHURCH + Christians?? If so, then
where did you run off to then? You were the one that started this [EXTRA GOOD THREAD] up, right?? And we see your 'other Christian' church friends (?) still here bringing forth their debates as one call's them. (and not church lesson study??)

You see old friend, this is what Christ is all about, as Real Christian's one does not just put their tail between their legs & then run on home to mommie rome! Rev. 17:1-5 + Matt. 10:38.

And then 'just' perhaps (?) there is another thought where 'your' church has used their power to execute Christ all over again through you?? (the Heb. 6:6 repeat) If that is the case, then you are in good company.. finally! (Matt. 10:22-25)

And do remember that those ones who were doing these 'c'hristian things were the ones who in verse 5-6 finds Christ documenting were a LOST HOUSE of worship!