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I don't have a church, or I should say, no denomination unless Christian can be considered a denomination and no building with a cross, as it was put earlier in the thread.

Not saying that's the way to go for everyone but I will say, just being part of the body of Christ means I am part of a Church....I think that's how it works anyway. "Don't forsake the gathering of yourselves together"? Well, here I am and here you are too, Seeking2015.

I have no desire at this point to change anything on the way I worship my God and yes, that could change but for now....

That said, I think you may be in a good place now, Seeking2015.....probably wouldn't hurt some of us to cut out the middle man altogether every now and then and just go with God and his word until we can figure out where we are at. And that's not to say we can't do that even with a regular Church...I'd guess many do. Man's way/teachings can really mess things up sometimes. No, that's not always the case, but I bet few would argue, it can and does happen. That's why I often step back and look closely at what man teaches, then make sure it goes along with the teachings of God. Sometimes making that determination is easy and sometimes it isn't easy at all.

I don't mean to say to always leave man out of the equation, far from it. At times, his is the only perspective I can relate to as God can get a little complicated. That's why I come to places like this, like you are doing, or just do a general Google search when I get stumped...lots of opinions on different subjects out there but somehow the ones that ring true seem to jump out at me.

"Be still and know that I am God"
 
Man did not set the church hierarchy God did..
Staying away from the foundations He laid ... for extended times... does not seem Biblical .

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
 
Reba, how do you mean the term, "Church"? As in Baptist? Catholic? Unitarian? just to name a few.

Or do you mean the term more in it's original sense..as in, The body of Christ as the Church?

Even the 7 Churches spoken of in Revelation, the ones similar to what some refer to as Church today, all but one had serious problems. So to step away from any of those (not including the basic Church of Christ) for a time or even forever if they refused over time, to up their standards or hang on to them, I still believe may not be a bad idea.

Always be joined to the body of Christ/Gods word but nothing man made is beyond reproach...at least in my view.
 
The entire book of Acts talks about how Christians gathered together in fellowship not holding up in their own homes. I believe this is what we are to do. Will we as sinful, corrupt, fallible humans gather in perfect harmony? Of course not but to avoid each other is un-Biblical in my opinion.
 
reba said:
I mean the Body of Christ..
As for churches like RCC or baptist the would be great but they are full of people :missyou like me .
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Yes'm, the Church of the Christ ain't, and I do mean ain't, any one of those beautiful buildings and it ain't found in a County Church Building either. The Church, and others, gather there a few times a week. And if a Christian can, they, absolutely, should be in attendance and in service in the Church, again, not the building.
 
reba said:
I mean the Body of Christ..
As for churches like RCC or baptist the would be great but they are full of people :missyou like me .
Click to expand...

We're on the same page and the others? If they are full of people like you, they may be a good church to consider as long as they teach the truth. :)

I don't think I said it but if it was taken by anyone that way... I don't mean to say there aren't good conventional churches out there or no one should go to those churches... but there are some that teach something completely contrary to the word of God or are full of some of the most insincere people on the planet....so bad that I'd rather hang out at a bar on the Sabbath...at least they're honest about where they're at. Actually the list is long on ways a church can be bad but I won't go into all that.

WIP said:
The entire book of Acts talks about how Christians gathered together in fellowship not holding up in their own homes. I believe this is what we are to do. Will we as sinful, corrupt, fallible humans gather in perfect harmony? Of course not but to avoid each other is un-Biblical in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Consider this, holding up in ones home AND being able to have fellowship at the same time was not possible back then, while it is now. May not be the perfect solution in the view of some but some might say it is the perfect solution. For me personally, I'd love to have a good conventional Church that I could go to but, I'm not going to concern myself if I don't have that for whatever reason.

But I agree with you on some things, however, I do need to call you on indicating I said we should avoid each other. I simply did not , not that I know of. For instance, we aren't doing that now. You got a good church that teaches the basic truth, stick with it and actually, I'd hold tight to something like that. As far as the people themselves not being perfect... if they were, what would be the point of the church in the first place? It's not imperfect people I'm talking about...it's untruth being taught to the people. ...dangerous untruth.

If one is in a situation they are not comfortable with/undecided on where they should be, being without an actual "building" church is not a bad thing in my view and in some circumstances, even the extreme of being without church people at all for a time can be good. The OP seemed concerned about where they were at and I'm suggesting that they may be in a good place now to find where they should be. Just stick with the basics for awhile, stay away from any confusion, don't worry about what anyone thinks of the way you do what you are doing.. stick close to God...pray and hopefully the rest will fall into place. If that eventually means church in a building....fine, if it means Gathering on the net for instance until things fall into place, fine. See, the OP is already seeking to "Gather together",. that's why they are here and that in itself can certainly be considered "Church".

I don't think I'm back peddling here either, that is all I meant from the start.

Again, just what is going on here now, is Church the "gathering of ourselves together". And when I think about it, in some ways it's better than a conventional Church and a Conventional Church is better in some ways than this...it's good to be around people you can see/hug...see the expression on their faces as they speak and so on. But how many conventional church services allow for just what we are doing here...getting down to the heart of a matter at hand with out some hassle. Sure there are ways to reach that same goal in a Church but, there are other ways too. The net is easy, readily available and might get someone talking to the right people when they otherwise would not. I could go on about the good sides to both ways but it's all still "church". Besides, for instance, I can speak my mind here and no one can get to me to ring my neck. :biggrin...

I should add that I personally have a mildly unusual circumstance. Not that big a deal but it puts me on a fixed income and I have chosen to not have a car so I can better meet my financial needs. I do just fine without that expense. I was recently invited to the church of the person whom I pay to take me on errands, real nice, sincere couple but the church teaches something I don't feel is the truth so, it just won't work for me. But that's just me, there are as many different circumstances as there are people out there.

Can someone please tell me how to stop the italics after setting up a quote? I tried selecting my text after the quote and unitalisizing it with the button, but it didn't work.

OK, an edit got rid of the italics for me but it would be nice to know how to stop them while posting the first time.


reba removed the italics
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Kenny_ms said:
We're on the same page and the others? If they are full of people like you, they may be a good church to consider as long as they teach the truth. :)
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There are members of this forum who have stated that this is their church. :) This fellowship is the closest I now come to a church like environment.
In the synagogue the scriptures were read but we know that different people would stand and speak. Not just one man, doing all the talking. Church leadership changed that early on. Now we seem to try to accommodated that by church services and Bible studies. It seems rather a shame to me seeing that not all people attend Bible studies and often men and women are totally separated, as well. Although I do believe that there should be studies available that are gender and age specific.
 
Eugene said:
Dear Seeking 2015, having been in the Catholic church I knew nothing of God, but plenty of ritual. Circumstances of job loss sent me to another area to seek employment, I found it for three years and was offered another job I finally retired from. Now I would ask why God didn’t just give me the job I needed in my home town. I certainly don’t know if it was influence of others that would inhibit me coming to know Christ personally as my Savior, but I do know I was led to a man that asked me one day if I was saved at my new job. I really didn't know what he was talking about.

I’ll just give a basic introduction and see if this makes sense to you.
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Confronted with such scripture as these I went to my priest and never did receive a satisfying answer. Hopefully this gives you a start to seeking the truth. I do not believe you’re here by accident as it appears God is working in you to know Him. Now this is not to say all Catholics are lost; I've known those that came to know the LORD personally.
Blessings in Christ Jesus. :wave2
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nothing much to add.other than i suggest you get your bible read it look up the scriptures given john and romans is very good books to read. john --GOD so loved ROMANS LAYS IT ALL OUT you need a relationship with Christ not some pomp circumstances ceremony. make you a altar where you are speak to GOD tell him what you want. then listen and respond back :amen:readbible
 
Reba, thanks for the help with the italics

Deborah13 said:
There are members of this forum who have stated that this is their church. :) This fellowship is the closest I now come to a church like environment.
In the synagogue the scriptures were read but we know that different people would stand and speak. Not just one man, doing all the talking. Church leadership changed that early on. Now we seem to try to accommodated that by church services and Bible studies. It seems rather a shame to me seeing that not all people attend Bible studies and often men and women are totally separated, as well. Although I do believe that there should be studies available that are gender and age specific.
Click to expand...

And it's probably a good idea to have more than one. Also, never thought of it till now but I agree about the separation. Groups could be set up if a separation seems necessary but a general separation seems odd...we live together, why not study together. I'd like to think, "many do it, must be a good reason" but that doesn't always pan out.

So many things have changed over time. I'm now pondering if the synagogues held services on the Sabbath like we do today.

I know what the commandment says but I see no mention of Church in the commandment and this isn't me trying to make the point church isn't necessary but only how things may have changed...that is if it isn't stated elsewhere church was attended on the Sabbath. Maybe someone will set me straight on that.
 
Kenny_ms said:
Reba, thanks for the help with the italics



And it's probably a good idea to have more than one. Also, never thought of it till now but I agree about the separation. Groups could be set up if a separation seems necessary but a general separation seems odd...we live together, why not study together. I'd like to think, "many do it, must be a good reason" but that doesn't always pan out.

So many things have changed over time. I'm now pondering if the synagogues held services on the Sabbath like we do today.

I know what the commandment says but I see no mention of Church in the commandment and this isn't me trying to make the point church isn't necessary but only how things may have changed...that is if it isn't stated elsewhere church was attended on the Sabbath. Maybe someone will set me straight on that.
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If you do a 'search forums' you will find some good threads about the sabbath in the OT and NT. You could revive one of those, too.
 
Thanks, Deborah, think I'll do that, as well as some google searches...might prove interesting
 
Kenny_ms said:
Reba, how do you mean the term, "Church"? As in Baptist? Catholic? Unitarian? just to name a few.

Or do you mean the term more in it's original sense..as in, The body of Christ as the Church?

Even the 7 Churches spoken of in Revelation, the ones similar to what some refer to as Church today, all but one had serious problems. So to step away from any of those (not including the basic Church of Christ) for a time or even forever if they refused over time, to up their standards or hang on to them, I still believe may not be a bad idea.

Always be joined to the body of Christ/Gods word but nothing man made is beyond reproach...at least in my view.
Click to expand...
Dear Brother Kenny_ms, 1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. All believers in Christ are a part of the one church, though we are located in different towns or whatever. Notice the address below to the one church, or body of believers in certain towns.

Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church IN Smyrna write; These things saith the first
and the last, which was dead, and is alive.
Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church IN Pergamos . .

Since that time men have assigned different names to qualify their doctrines which I think is much like we read in
1 Cor 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
My thoughts.
 
Brother Kenny_ms, the article by David Guzik brought to mind the scripture I quote different times, and that is three qualities of the will of God we might attain unto under God’s work in our lives, and our submission to it.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that GOOD, and ACCEPTABLE, and PERFECT, will of God.
 
I like that...it shows God accepts different levels of our striving to get it right.

Oh, to be just on the bottom end of acceptable and have God actually tell us we are there :)

But if he did that, we might tend to relax a bit too much...
 
Kenny_ms said:
I like that...it shows God accepts different levels of our striving to get it right.

Oh, to be just on the bottom end of acceptable and have God actually tell us we are there :)

But if he did that, we might tend to relax a bit too much...
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I think of the goal of Paul where he wrote:
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Paul was as eternally saved as he would ever be, but there was indeed purpose to be gained in being selected to be in the bride of Christ versus the great multitude.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
 
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