Is Corporate Worship Important or Necessary?

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

Hey, that's the great thing about being Protestant isn't it? If you disagree, just go to a church that you can agree with. Hey, if you can't agree with any of them, become your own pope.

Seriously, it's not about agreeing where true edification comes from. It's about living within a community in harmony even when there are differences. If you can't do that, then I use the term weed picker because while you're picking weeds, you're gonna pull up a few heads of grain... And Jesus told us not to do that. In other words, resist your urge, and leave the weeds alone as long as the crop is growing.

The crop isn't growing...it's dying. It's called the falling away. It's prophesised. I'm not trying to save Christianity, no-one can do that...I'm just speaking the truth,,,,,do with it what you will.

Besides, edification is more than just agreeing with doctrines. When I'm in worship and I hear the voices of so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ singing with their hearts, it just edifies and resonates deep within my soul. I'm one with the Body of believers and I'm part of something bigger than myself. Jesus even said in Mt. 18 that when 2 or more come together in His name, He is present.

Sing yer heart away Stove. Sing it Brother. Me and my son love singing along to our youtube hymns too. I know the feeling you get, theres nothing like it. Nothing against that. 2 or more can come together on the phone, by instant messenger chat, in a car park, youth hostel, market place, library or internet forum. S'all good.

I sense you take issue with going to a church building and becoming a member. That's ok, I don't hold that against you, and I don't consider you any less of a Christian for it. But please, many of us are able to give praise and worship our Saviour within these settings. And even though the church isn't perfect doesn't give cause to tear her down.

I'm not tearing church institutions down.....the false teachers are. If you dont have one in church then your lucky. But I doubt it'll last much longer. All I'm saying is that going to church is not necessary....and you agree so good. I'm glad that someone will finally admit that. I'm just warning people of where the apostacy is happening. Church building s are NOT safe havens from Satan. They are his prime targets.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

You have no call to judge anything about church membership when you reject one thing that God tells us not to neglect.

God doesn't say anything about not neglecting church building membership and you know it. And the fact that you have absolutely no reply to any of the points I raised in my last post just shows that your running out of steam here.

Therefore everything you say about anything spiritual, I deem pretty much not substantive.

All we have been talking about here is social issues. and yet you turn it around and reject my spiritual positions. What an incredibly bitter thing to say to a fellow believer in Christ. We both believe in Justification through faith in Jesus. And yet you reject me becasue of my social views. Terrible.

This is how communitarianism works. It marginalises the essential message of the Gospels in favor of unimportant worldy issues and cuts off those who disagree with the new vision.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

Order and accountability are principles from God’s Word that must be set in place if the body is to accomplish its God-given purpose of proclaiming the Gospel.

And yet scripture says we are accountable to God.

But your cell group says we need to have a man that we can be accountable to and with!?

I proclaim the Gospel to people frequently and I dont have any church order above me or an accountability buddy.

 

[Alabaster]

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.

But it isn't a church at all. It is a forum. Church's purpose is not entirely for fellowship.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

God doesn't say anything about not neglecting church building membership and you know it. And the fact that you have absolutely no reply to any of the points I raised in my last post just shows that your running out of steam here.

Yes He surely does. You have a negative fixation on buildings, and you need to take that to God and ask Him for His help in freeing you of that.

I will never run out of steam. This is too important an issue. anyone who rejects the regular assembly as delineated in scripture is no more than an unbeliever, and needs to be treated as such.

All we have been talking about here is social issues. and yet you turn it around and reject my spiritual positions. What an incredibly bitter thing to say to a fellow believer in Christ. We both believe in Justification through faith in Jesus. And yet you reject me becasue of my social views. Terrible.

This is how communitarianism works. It marginalises the essential message of the Gospels in favor of unimportant worldy issues and cuts off those who disagree with the new vision.

Social issues? No, what I see is a stiff neck.

The love of Christ flowing in and through a person should actually drive him/her into a church to seek out correction, teaching, ministry, opportunities to minster, etc, etc, etc. The radical love of Christ in a person doesn't cause one to avoid church--it him them in.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

And yet scripture says we are accountable to God.

But your cell group says we need to have a man that we can be accountable to and with!?

I proclaim the Gospel to people frequently and I dont have any church order above me or an accountability buddy.

We are accountable to God foremost, and we are accountable to each other.

Don't boast in your neglect of the Body of Christ. What do you do with those you lead to salvation in Christ? You would want to meet with them regularly to disciple them. That would be the start of a church.

So, what do you teach them about what the Bible tells us about church?

Even the Israelites had to meet God in the tabernacle of meeting.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

Of course you are a 'lone ranger'. If your mentor was worth her salt, she would be teaching you how important it is to get to a house of worship and let the Lord plant you where He wants you to bloom.

Who are you to say where the Lord wants me? He doesn't specify any particular location or building and yet you think you have the right to rebuke Christians for not attending church!

Does you're accountability mentor encourage you to pressure Brethren with that particular 'vision'?

So far all I see is a little feel-good club going on...there are hard things we must go through to grow up straight in Christ. Those who reject the church tend to grow up crooked and are not equipped to lead or minister with effectiveness.

Oh are we making a generalization there Alabaster?? Wern't you over in the food thread telling people that they wern't allowed to do that? Funny how when it suits you, a broad generalization is the order of the day?

The independent spirit is a demonic spirit. We see them outside of churches and doing their darnedest to come against them and we also see them in the church, for which a church that is doing it God's way will send them out.

In fact the exact opposite is true. DEPENDENCY is demonic. We all need to be comfortable in our own faith, and not rely on anyone for our own walk. Thats a no-brainer. So whats left to be dependant about? Non-spiritual matters thats what. And that's what you are trying to enforce on the brethren. Whether or not you go to church has no effect on your faith. But it has everything to do with you're worldly social life.

I believe when Christians gather together and their focus drifts from the simple
Gospel message...to worldly matters, a DEMON is invoked. I will get into that a little bit more on the other thread I'm doing on cell /purpose driven churches after I analyze some of the language on one of their websites.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

Who are you to say where the Lord wants me? He doesn't specify any particular location or building and yet you think you have the right to rebuke Christians for not attending church!

Does you're accountability mentor encourage you to pressure Brethren with that particular 'vision'?

Opting out of the safety and security that God provides for His people--namely the church, is unwise and that attitude needs correction. Those who refuse correction opt out! It's a circular thing.

God doesn't want anyone opting out. He has provided for us a home base, the church. Spurning it and even denigrating it reveals an attitude problem. It's pretty simple.

Oh are we making a generalization there Alabaster?? Wern't you over in the food thread telling people that they wern't allowed to do that? Funny how when it suits you, a broad generalization is the order of the day?

It is a fact.

In fact the exact opposite is true. DEPENDENCY is demonic. We all need to be comfortable in our own faith, and not rely on anyone for our own walk. Thats a no-brainer. So whats left to be dependant about? Non-spiritual matters thats what. And that's what you are trying to enforce on the brethren. Whether or not you go to church has no effect on your faith. But it has everything to do with you're worldly social life.

I believe when Christians gather together and their focus drifts from the simple
Gospel message...to worldly matters, a DEMON is invoked. I will get into that a little bit more on the other thread I'm doing on cell /purpose driven churches after I analyze some of the language on one of their websites.

You don't know what you are saying. I will leave you to your false beliefs.

Lack of a good church affiliation does affect one's walk with Christ, for one is disobedient and acting independently.

I don't think you have the right or any expertise to do any writing on the cell church, as you yourself have said that you have never attended a church.

Stick to what you know first-hand.

 

[Strangelove]

But it isn't a church at all. It is a forum. Church's purpose is not entirely for fellowship.

Again I agree with you. This isn't a church. It's much better than that because it lacks those things that are present in modern chruches.

 

[Chris]

you know strange love if you feel its your calling not to attend church that is cool, we all have different paths. I forget that myself sometimes that we are all different in our journey but similar in our beliefs. God will lead you where he wants you to go. We are not in control unless we separate from god. As long as we seek his will it will all be good. Dont stress about church, there might come a day it wil be the right time for you to go.


bless ya

LOVE & LIGHT

 

[Nick]

Re: What is your church like?

I've never been to church in my life. Pre or post Salvation.

You're not really in a good position here.
Here we have Strangelove criticising the church, the way it is run and all the problems within church. This same Strangelove has never been inside a church in his entire life.

 

[Chris]

Re: What is your church like?

change of plan

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

Yes He surely does. You have a negative fixation on buildings, and you need to take that to God and ask Him for His help in freeing you of that.

No its you who has a negative and constrictive fixation on buildings. Why dont you take it to God and ask Him to free you of that. And while your at, ask Him to free you of the fixation of rebuking brethren and pressuring them over non-spiritual matters.

I will never run out of steam. This is too important an issue. anyone who rejects the regular assembly as delineated in scripture is no more than an unbeliever, and needs to be treated as such.

And yet you have not a single verse of scripture that supports a church building as being a regular assembly of believers.

And now you are calling me an unbeliever. You are saying that I do not believe in Jesus Christ becasue I dont go to church. This is an unwarranted personal attack. Condemning me to eternal hell for not attending a church building. Staggering. You are losing it. But I will forgive you if you admit you're sin.

Social issues? No, what I see is a stiff neck.

The love of Christ flowing in and through a person should actually drive him/her into a church to seek out correction, teaching, ministry, opportunities to minster, etc, etc, etc. The radical love of Christ in a person doesn't cause one to avoid church--it him them in.

The love of Christ has nothing to do with the location or method to do those things. But Satan desperately wants to bunch Christians up together so that group-think and peer pressure has maximum effect for the falling away.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

We are accountable to God foremost, and we are accountable to each other.

Don't boast in your neglect of the Body of Christ. What do you do with those you lead to salvation in Christ? You would want to meet with them regularly to disciple them. That would be the start of a church.

I evangelize the Gospels and then let the Holy Spirit take care of the rest. Thats my idea of 'disciple making'. If they decide to seek fellowship after than to grow in their walk then they will seek it out without any man-made help. It's not our job to work on a particular person from start to finish of their walk. The very idea is absurd. Anything can happen in life.

I dont neglect the Body of Christ...I'm right here attending to it. What are you doing here? Condemning people to eternal hell over their social lives?

So, what do you teach them about what the Bible tells us about church?

I teach them that as long as they have faith in Christ and walk in Love for God and others then they are firmly set in the Church.

And you teach that a particular building must be attended and you must be under the authority of a leader which is completely anti-scriptural. You are in grievous error.

 

[Alabaster]

Again I agree with you. This isn't a church. It's much better than that because it lacks those things that are present in modern chruches.

That's for sure! It lacks all the benefits of a real good church!

 

[Alabaster]

you know strange love if you feel its your calling not to attend church that is cool, we all have different paths. I forget that myself sometimes that we are all different in our journey but similar in our beliefs. God will lead you where he wants you to go. We are not in control unless we separate from god. As long as we seek his will it will all be good. Dont stress about church, there might come a day it wil be the right time for you to go.


bless ya

LOVE & LIGHT

It is never God's calling to move out of church. Every believer needs to be planted by God somewhere where he will grow and flourish and be fruitful. God is not going to call someone out of the fertile places where He lives and moves among His people.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

No its you who has a negative and constrictive fixation on buildings. Why dont you take it to God and ask Him to free you of that. And while your at, ask Him to free you of the fixation of rebuking brethren and pressuring them over non-spiritual matters.

Actually, this is a most basic of spiritual matters. There is something within you that is rebelling. I will pray for you to discover what it is and that between you and Jesus, it will be dealt with.

And yet you have not a single verse of scripture that supports a church building as being a regular assembly of believers.

The building is not the issue. The assembly is. We only have buildings so that we don't get wet in the rain and so that we don't freeze in the winter!

I give scriptural support here: http://www.christianforums.net/f17/why-do-we-need-local-church-32341/

And now you are calling me an unbeliever. You are saying that I do not believe in Jesus Christ becasue I dont go to church. This is an unwarranted personal attack. Condemning me to eternal hell for not attending a church building. Staggering. You are losing it. But I will forgive you if you admit you're sin.

I condemn no one. If you reject the church, you reject Christians as a whole, so where does that leave you but outside looking in on what God is doing in His family?

The love of Christ has nothing to do with the location or method to do those things. But Satan desperately wants to bunch Christians up together so that group-think and peer pressure has maximum effect for the falling away.

You really cannot know what you are talking about. Obviously you don't know about the Holy Spirit and how He gifts every single believer with strong gifts and callings that help them work together as ONE BODY, in harmony and with great power and success.

Satan wants people to reject the coming together so that there will be odds and ends out there being buffeted by worldly pressure and barely making it, and not able to focus on what God is really wanting them to be doing.

 

[Chris]

It is never God's calling to move out of church. Every believer needs to be planted by God somewhere where he will grow and flourish and be fruitful. God is not going to call someone out of the fertile places where He lives and moves among His people.

you know what made me write that? i was thinking about it all this evening then the thought of that missionary David Livingstone who went into Africa he probably spent more time dodging spears than going to church. I think its ok not to be in church if your doing something god wils you to do to further the kingdom by spreading the gospel to non believers. but only for a time. Dropping into fellowship at church does encourage you and makes you feel better when you can.
church its a great place to receive prayer back up.

 

[jasoncran]

Re: What is your church like?

You're not really in a good position here.
Here we have Strangelove criticising the church, the way it is run and all the problems within church. This same Strangelove has never been inside a church in his entire life.

kinda like criticising a certain beverage yet never has tasted it.

 

[Elijah674]

Here are a few verses from Jer. the Prophet of God. (Jer. 15) See if you understand what was going on with his church & why he was not attending? Also see if you can find what God COMMANDED from him?? --Elijah (and be sure to ask God about His Inspired verse of Eccl. 3:15!)

[16] Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

[17] I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced;I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

[18] Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

[19] Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, [then will I bring thee again,] and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

[20] And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

[21] And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

And who were Christ's [wicked] enemies? John 1:11 And you'ins do not see the same Rev. 17:1-5 last day repeat required????? Rev. 18:4