Attending Church

[GeneZ]

Yes, preaching of the Word is needed for building up a Christian to maturity. But you are in error if you think that is the only way. Christians build each other up in many and varied ways and this applies as much to the new Christian as the most mature. Encouraging each other isn't just well wishing. It is walking along side each other through our struggles and grief as well as our joys. It is praying together, worshipping together, working side by side to support each other and many, many other ways.

That is true.

I am talking about finding what is needed to come to full maturity in Christ.
Not everyone wants it...

Now, please don't ask me what "full maturity" means.
All I can offer is the following.

Its something a believer will find himself craving if that's where the Lord has him situated in the Spirit.
Its a deep craving for more and more truth... Not, for a social club of believers as many churches have become.

 

[GeneZ]

I don't disagree. When I was referring to study I meant what you were talking about - listening to good teaching, etc. My apologies for not being clear.

I may listen to some classes given 20 years ago.
With the exception of certain current events covered, they could have been given yesterday.
Totally applicable to life today. Some messages were predicting exactly where we have come to.

The Word of God is eternal and timeless.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Do you believe a Christian must attend church or is it okay to watch it live at home?

Chuckle!! The question Just demonstrates HOW FAR the Church has fallen from it's beginning. The earliest church was so SINGLE MINDEDLY DEDICATED to the service of the Lord, that they sold their "Stuff" and lived communally ALL THE TIME so that they could live for each other, and carry out the Ministry they were called to. Naturally, THAT didn't last very long

In 2023, it's unusual to even find a "Visible Church" that follows the "Old ways": (twice on Sunday and once in the middle of the week).

I go Sunday morning, unfortunately, to the "Contemporary service", since that's the one my wife likes, and going WITH her is important.

The primary difference is the music selection. The "Traditional service" sings hymns.

But the "Contemporary" service is all "Worship Choruses" and butchered hymns - "a few lyrics repeated multiple times" against a "soft rock" backup:
"I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am" etc.

I get my :"Worship music" primarily at "Bluegrass jams" where as Christian musicians we sing the "Old Hymns".

Bottom line "TV" = "Forsaking the gathering of ourselves together".

If you aren't physically capable of attending, then TV is better than NOTHING.

But if you CAN attend physically, then there's no real excuse for not doing so.

 

[prism]

"I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am-
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am" etc.

Gee, for a moment I thought I was hearing the Popeye theme song.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Gee, for a moment I thought I was hearing the Popeye theme song.

That's the "Modern Bridge" for: "There's a New Name written down in Glory", which has been butchered.

 

[Sereni-tea]

Hi Sereni,

I agree that meeting with many other believers, singing, hearing a good message, maybe words of encouragement, testimonies, etc is wonderful. I have so appreciated all my days in such meetings. I especially enjoyed helping in the music section.

What I am trying to point out is that this format is not the only one for believers to gather. It however has made people feel back slidden, or ostracized it they don`t attend that format. Whereas fellowshipping and pray and bible study can be done in small informal groups too.

The organized meetings are usually run by one person and the authority is connected to the world`s system as buildings etc have to have codes of practice, health and safety regulations etc. That is why we are seeing many organizations including the LGB`s etc and same sex marriages. There is more to the public meetings now with government`s rules and regulations coming in.

Hi Marilyn,

I get what you are saying. These are challenging times for the church.
I agree that there is no single format that a church meeting needs to follow.
I attend a small group Bible study mid week which is a great opportunity for fellowship with other Christians but it would never replace the Sunday service I attend.

 

[Sereni-tea]

That is true.

I am talking about finding what is needed to come to full maturity in Christ.
Not everyone wants it...

Now, please don't ask me what "full maturity" means.
All I can offer is the following.

Its something a believer will find himself craving if that's where the Lord has him situated in the Spirit.
Its a deep craving for more and more truth... Not, for a social club of believers as many churches have become.

I understand about wanting more depth, more truth, which is why I read, listen to sermons etc just like you do. But I think we are given these gifts by God (and yes, I would say maturity is a gift) to strengthen and support our brothers and sisters, and together shine God's light into this world of darkness.

 

[Sereni-tea]

I may listen to some classes given 20 years ago.
With the exception of certain current events covered, they could have been given yesterday.
Totally applicable to life today. Some messages were predicting exactly where we have come to.

The Word of God is eternal and timeless.

I agree with what you said here. I just don't think it replaces physically attending a church meeting.

 

[GeneZ]

I understand about wanting more depth, more truth, which is why I read, listen to sermons etc just like you do. But I think we are given these gifts by God (and yes, I would say maturity is a gift) to strengthen and support our brothers and sisters, and together shine God's light into this world of darkness.

That sounds nice. Maturity that is even humanly speaking can produce that effect with the less mature.

 

[Marilyn C]

That's the "Modern Bridge" for: "There's a New Name written down in Glory", which has been butchered.

`I...I...I...me...me ...me.` Says it all.

 

[Marilyn C]

Do you believe a Christian must attend church or is it okay to watch it live at home?

Carbon,

Could you please say what you mean by `church?`

 

[GeneZ]

Carbon,

Could you please say what you mean by `church?`

May I jump in, please?


The word translated "church" in the English Bible is ekklesia.
This word is the Greek words kaleo (to call), with the prefix ek (out).
Thus, the word means "the called out ones."

We are the church! We have been called out by God to be His people.

The original church gathered and met in homes....

Its wherever believers (the church) gather to hear the Word being taught.

What it has become over the years makes us forget what the word meant in the Bible.

Driving by an empty church building today is not a church. Its a "church meeting place."

Whenever the church gathers for teaching and learning, we find a church.

 

[Marilyn C]

May I jump in, please?


The word translated "church" in the English Bible is ekklesia.
This word is the Greek words kaleo (to call), with the prefix ek (out).
Thus, the word means "the called out ones."

We are the church! We have been called out by God to be His people.

The original church gathered and met in homes....

Its wherever believers (the church) gather to hear the Word being taught.

What it has become over the years makes us forget what the word meant in the Bible.

Driving by an empty church building today is not a church. Its a "church meeting place."

Whenever the church gathers for teaching and learning, we find a church.

Hi GeneZ,

Certainly jump in. I agree with you for God`s word says that we, the believers are `the church, ` His Body. So to say `Do you believe that a Christian must attend church or watch it okay to watch it live at home? is scripturally incorrect.

God`s word tells us -
`For by one Spirit we were baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have been made to drink into one Spirit.` (1 Cor. 12: 13)
`God has set the members each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.` (1 Cor. 12: 18)

Thus, we see that the Body of Christ is a spiritual Body made up of many members. And it is by the Holy Spirit that we grow up into Christ.

`speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head - Christ - from whom the whole Body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.` (Eph. 4: 15 & 16)

`the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase which is from God.` (Col. 2: 19)

As we meet with others in the Body of Christ we receive by the Holy Spirit - edification, encouragement, comfort, words of wisdom, guidance, instruction, exhortation, etc.

And as it is `spirit to spirit` meeting and receiving can be by phone, letter, (Epistles, etc) video link, audio and video teaching, songs of praise, and also gathering physically in fellowship, working together, praying, Bible study, etc etc.

 

[Marilyn C]

Also, and very importantly, Jesus is NOT going to ask us how many (physical) meetings we attended, He will however, ask us

`where are your disciples? `

 

[civic]

Gee, for a moment I thought I was hearing the Popeye theme song.

Bob can make a nice tune with that on his banjo I bet right @Bob Carabbio

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Bob can make a nice tune with that on his banjo I bet right @Bob Carabbio

"New Name written down in Glory" is one we (me and other grass musicians so inclined) do in Bluegrass jams, but the original version. Here in Dallas, I've observed that the majority of local Bluegrass pickers are Christians.

Folks sometimes ask me If I'm a "professional musician", and I always tell 'em: "OF COURSE!!! - I've made $50 this year already playing banjo!!"

 

[prism]

I don't know how 'attending Church' morphed into 'attending CCM concerts', but here we are.
I recall when CCM was first getting started, the artists were super careful not to draw attention to themselves, they didn't want the fame and the glory. That too has morphed big time.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

I don't know how 'attending Church' morphed into 'attending CCM concerts',

Threads ALWAYS "morph" as they grow. No surprises here.

 

[prism]

Threads ALWAYS "morph" as they grow. No surprises here.

Is 'morph' the latest politically correct word for 'derail'? lol

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Is 'morph' the latest politically correct word for 'derail'? lol

It's a good a word as any. YOU USED IT, what did YOU mean by it???