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Why the Church Gathering Has Changed

Back to the OP...

The church gathering has changed because we are living many centuries later than the original churches. We are living in an entirely different age. Customs have greatly changed over the millennia, so church gatherings will invariably change with the times. Is this forum "a church"? It is obviously electronic, and many people participate electronically in discussions about church topics. So I would call that "church".
 
TrentonJ said:
The auto-generated email I received when I signed up just now says, "The list is long of online forums built upon the foundation of debate, mistrust, and endless disagreements. This has defined our community and countless others. We are convicted and committed to be so much more as a community in Christ." But what I see in this first post that looked interesting is a long boring and somewhat hostile argument about etymology and history that perfectly fits with what the above statement says they are trying to avoid.

I had assumed the post "Why the Church Gathering Has Changed" would discuss the modern phenomenon of the mega church. I go to a small traditional country church in an area no longer country (suburban now). Membership is slim now. To be honest I don't get much out of the traditional service. I can't/don't sing. I do like the fellowship of special occasion group meals in the fellowship hall. The church is a member of a local church association which has a food and clothing bank. I really enjoy helping out when it is open once a month. I can see the smiles on the people as they drive up to the doorway to receive a heavy bundle of food. They first meet with a minister, and several of them accept Jesus each month. This to me is Christianity in action. From observation it appears lots of people feel very pious and self-fulfilled to warm the church bench on Sunday, but I don't think God is much impressed. There doesn't seem to be a lot of focus on attending church in the Bible, but there is much to say about loving God, loving others and trying to life right. In the beginning I think they just met in each others houses. And fellowship was a very real and important component in a time without social services and insurance.
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Hi TrentonJ and welcome to CF :wave2

God's true church is not four walls with a sign out front, but is the body of Christ as Jesus being the head of the body no matter where we gather together even in Christian forums, Matthew 18:19-20; Colossians 1:16-23. We are to be the servants of God throughout the world in all humility and humbleness of heart walking in the Spirit of love towards each other and continuing in the works of Christ as we read in that of Matthew 25:31-40.

In communities like this forum there is such a diverse group of people with various understandings of the word of God. Are we to agree with each other, it would be nice, but in reality sometimes we do not and to only discuss where we differ in our understandings instead of attacking each other as sometimes those who have more Spiritual knowledge can give clearer insights to the word of God we might not have noticed before if we just take the time to listen and read the scriptures they present.

There is no place for the "I am right and you are wrong" arguments that causes division among us. Our common ground needs to be our love of Christ and loving and respecting others even in disagreements. No one could ever exhaust all the teachings within the Bible as everyday we learn something new. If everyone would take to heart the Community Message and the Terms of Service of CF that everyone agreed to before becoming a member then there would be no reason for heavy debates, mistrust and endless disagreements.

It would do all of us good to read these verses below and live like ow Christ wants and expects us to live.


Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
 
jaybo said:
Back to the OP...

The church gathering has changed because we are living many centuries later than the original churches. We are living in an entirely different age. Customs have greatly changed over the millennia, so church gatherings will invariably change with the times. Is this forum "a church"? It is obviously electronic, and many people participate electronically in discussions about church topics. So I would call that "church".
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Church (not a four walled building) needs to be a place where we go to learn and grow in the word of God as we share the scriptures with each other. I have learned more in this forum in the last ten years then I ever have sitting an hour in a four walled church with a name out front of that church. I am challenged more here to dig deeper into the hidden mysteries of the word of God as the Holy Spirit reveals that of what I need to learn working through others with a greater Spiritual knowledge then I have.

I do consider CF my church I attend for hours everyday as I am not affiliated with any denomination or non-denomination anymore. This forum and the members are a part of my Spiritual family even though we have never met face to face, but are joined together in the Spirit of God.
 
for_his_glory said:
Church (not a four walled building) needs to be a place where we go to learn and grow in the word of God as we share the scriptures with each other. I have learned more in this forum in the last ten years then I ever have sitting an hour in a four walled church with a name out front of that church. I am challenged more here to dig deeper into the hidden mysteries of the word of God as the Holy Spirit reveals that of what I need to learn working through others with a greater Spiritual knowledge then I have.

I do consider CF my church I attend for hours everyday as I am not affiliated with any denomination or non-denomination anymore. This forum and the members are a part of my Spiritual family even though we have never met face to face, but are joined together in the Spirit of God.
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Wonderful, wonderful post! Thank you for being here and sharing your heart with other Christians! FWIW, this is also my "church".
 
jerry63935 said:
i certainly dont its just a place of discussion
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All depends how one sees it to be as discussing scripture within the many wonderful topics and asking questions in my opinion is a great way to learn, but yet one needs to Spiritually discern what others are teaching that all things line up with scripture. It's up to each one of us individually to study for our self to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Timothy 2:15-16.
 
forums have discussions you can be any type person you want sitting behind a computer a forum is not a substitute for Church attendance. all through out the Bible they assembled themselves .out side inside a building . day of Pentecost they assembled themselves .


even the majority of t.v church ministries will tell you not to use them via t.v / internet to be your Church. there is very few i care to listen to and those i do i learn from.. but they are not my church
 
jerry63935 said:
forums have discussions you can be any type person you want sitting behind a computer a forum is not a substitute for Church attendance. all through out the Bible they assembled themselves .out side inside a building . day of Pentecost they assembled themselves .


even the majority of t.v church ministries will tell you not to use them via t.v / internet to be your Church. there is very few i care to listen to and those i do i learn from.. but they are not my church
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Go and make disciples and baptize them in the Name of the Father ,Son and Holy Ghost .

Kinda can't online
 
jasonc said:
Go and make disciples and baptize them in the Name of the Father ,Son and Holy Ghost .

Kinda can't online
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yes your right when peter preached and 3 thousand souls was added to the kingdom of heaven .they was assembled yes i know people who dont go to Church say they are saved.. going to Church dont make you saved.. but it sure helps even the apostle paul preached to a group assembled together. we use to listen to a certain church preacher on t.v sunday morning.. we only caught half what he said. why we was distracted getting ready for Church
 
eddif said:

What Does it Mean to “Baptize”? – Truth Magazine

www.truthmagazine.com www.truthmagazine.com

I vote for online baptism as immersion into all that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are. The love of God manifested in us all.

Mississippi online redneck
eddif
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I would love to see how one verified character and ordains online ministers and elders.i can see an outreach but but it must woo you to a physical meeting of fellowship.


Feed the poor .look yes we can get creative . But like self check outs ,robotic restaurant servers,online banking ,store purchasing .that element of in person is lost .

I have a deep desire to avoid fellowship did it occur to you that with PTSD , depression,social isolation is the worst thing .

As pastor Rupert said a Christian outside of meeting in church is like smetyl from lord of the rings .they tend to be know it alls and don't have any leeway on Bible views.i personally know one I met in person who came to my church and left over the fact we rented to a Spanish church and share communion with them ,female pastor ,we are complimentarian .

Isolated online church creates a wierd bubble . I have people here on ignore .I can't see if they are true or not and that is a problem .

I'm sure some night see me that way .in person those that care about God and hunger will seek out where they can build the church .online?

Give to the site ? What about that local homeless guy that needs a meal.hard to set up an local food bank when no one knows each other in person .
 
Water,water physical water must be used .


That's another thread on sprinkling ,immersion etc
 
jerry63935 said:
read john 3:23 much water
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Actually the didache lists

If you have the ocean use it .the river next,a lake ,use it ,flowing water is priority ,then a pond ,finally sprinkle if need be

.

Don't assume the river Jordan was always flowing it like the Nile dries up and floods .

They don't have what we have but water underground pressure maps is interesting and old Florida ones I have seen .how they find that is interesting.

Flow wells,artisan,springs , aquifers
 
jasonc said:
I would love to see how one verified character and ordains online ministers and elders.i can see an outreach but but it must woo you to a physical meeting of fellowship.


Feed the poor .look yes we can get creative . But like self check outs ,robotic restaurant servers,online banking ,store purchasing .that element of in person is lost .

I have a deep desire to avoid fellowship did it occur to you that with PTSD , depression,social isolation is the worst thing .

As pastor Rupert said a Christian outside of meeting in church is like smetyl from lord of the rings .they tend to be know it alls and don't have any leeway on Bible views.i personally know one I met in person who came to my church and left over the fact we rented to a Spanish church and share communion with them ,female pastor ,we are complimentarian .

Isolated online church creates a wierd bubble . I have people here on ignore .I can't see if they are true or not and that is a problem .

I'm sure some night see me that way .in person those that care about God and hunger will seek out where they can build the church .online?

Give to the site ? What about that local homeless guy that needs a meal.hard to set up an local food bank when no one knows each other in person .
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1 Timothy 2:18 kjv
18. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

The actual presence is a part of a relationship. However the longing is a part too.

eddif
 
eddif said:
1 Timothy 2:18 kjv
18. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

The actual presence is a part of a relationship. However the longing is a part too.

eddif
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So hiding under pseudonyms is great ?

Let alone never knowingly where you live ,meeting your family .the problem with the internet it enables the fantasy we want .

I can be a unicorn and a bunch of unicorns like me can talk to each other .

Yet not even meet each other and hide that whackiness in the real world .
 
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