The one assembly/congregation policy

[originalsecretplace]

I have a question and I am being sincere when I ask it (I can visualize some of you rolling your eyes when you read it)...

Assumptions:

1. A person is mature in the Lord and NOT a babe in Christ.
2. The person is not disgruntled with anyone or anything taught


Question:

Why does a person HAVE TO find ONE assembly and stay put? If there were (let's say for the sake of argument) 5 UPC churches in your area, why can't you go to one of those churches each week in a around robin manner? I'm from a district where I know most of the long-timers in every church. We are all Bros and Sis in the Lord and are basically receiving the same doctrinal teachings.

Are there any scriptures to indicate that I shouldn't?

Why are people called "church hoppers", etc if they do visit other areas regularily?

[Ron]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

I have a question and I am being sincere when I ask it (I can visualize some of you rolling your eyes when you read it)...

Assumptions:

1. A person is mature in the Lord and NOT a babe in Christ.
2. The person is not disgruntled with anyone or anything taught


Question:

Why does a person HAVE TO find ONE assembly and stay put? If there were (let's say for the sake of argument) 5 UPC churches in your area, why can't you go to one of those churches each week in a around robin manner? I'm from a district where I know most of the long-timers in every church. We are all Bros and Sis in the Lord and are basically receiving the same doctrinal teachings.

Are there any scriptures to indicate that I shouldn't?

Why are people called "church hoppers", etc if they do visit other areas regularily?

Because they will never become stable, never put down roots.
Imagine if one didn't stay at their job, School, vocation?
You would consider them unstable, with no roots, that they would be wavering.

JMHO

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by Ron

Because they will never become stable, never put down roots.
Imagine if one didn't stay at their job, School, vocation?
You would consider them unstable, with no roots, that they would be wavering.

JMHO

I would compare that as going from denomination to denomination (vocation to vocation) rather than assembly to assembly seeing that they are being taught the same doctrine and are in touch with the same people in an area albeit a more widespread area than just one building.

We put down roots in the church (even a denomination) rather than a building? we are rooted in Christ and to each other in the spirit?

[Ron]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

I would compare that as going from denomination to denomination (vocation to vocation) rather than assembly to assembly seeing that they are being taught the same doctrine and are in touch with the same people in an area albeit a more widespread area than just one building.

We put down roots in the church (even a denomination) rather than a building? we are rooted in Christ and to each other in the spirit?

True, but the principle is the same.
One who continually moves around is seen as being unstable.
Good Churches are built on the backs of not only good doctrine, good Spirit, good Pastors, but also on the faithfulness of good people.

How could you have SS Classes taught, Bible Studies shared, ministries to happen if there were no faithful saints?

"Mom, how come we can't have SS Class today?"
"Sorry dear, Sis____ felt to try it somewhere else, after all she never stays anywhere more than two months?"

Simplistic, I know. I hope you get the idea though.

God Bless!

Ron

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by Ron

True, but the principle is the same.
One who continually moves around is seen as being unstable.
Good Churches are built on the backs of not only good doctrine, good Spirit, good Pastors, but also on the faithfulness of good people.

How could you have SS Classes taught, Bible Studies shared, ministries to happen if there were no faithful saints?

"Mom, how come we can't have SS Class today?"
"Sorry dear, Sis____ felt to try it somewhere else, after all she never stays anywhere more than two months?"

Simplistic, I know. I hope you get the idea though.

God Bless!

Ron

I get your point. And there are good reasons to stay in one place. I believe that. But why do we have to paint all people who move around with the same brush and call them unstable because they want to move around? Really there are only so many positions and not everyone does a specific job.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

I get your point. And there are good reasons to stay in one place. I believe that. But why do we have to paint all people who move around with the same brush and call them unstable because they want to move around? Really there are only so many positions and not everyone does a specific job.

I guess if one is always moving around, it begs a question why?
I see your point that not everyone has a position.

I still say that to be in one place is "better" both for the Church and for ones own personal growth.

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by Ron

True, but the principle is the same.
One who continually moves around is seen as being unstable.
Good Churches are built on the backs of not only good doctrine, good Spirit, good Pastors, but also on the faithfulness of good people.

How could you have SS Classes taught, Bible Studies shared, ministries to happen if there were no faithful saints?

"Mom, how come we can't have SS Class today?"
"Sorry dear, Sis____ felt to try it somewhere else, after all she never stays anywhere more than two months?"

Simplistic, I know. I hope you get the idea though.

God Bless!

Ron

I hear that term alot "faithfulness". What does that mean? Faithful to whom or what?

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

I hear that term alot "faithfulness". What does that mean? Faithful to whom or what?

That's the problem...though they say "faithful to the house of God" that seems to translate, as "we do not want to share your tithes"

[Ron]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

I hear that term alot "faithfulness". What does that mean? Faithful to whom or what?

Okay, put it this way.
Say you go to your Church and sing worship choruses and take up and offering.
It comes time for the preaching but there is no Pastor or Preacher for the service.

Now we expect Faithfulness in leadership, why not in saints?

Faithfulness is first to God, then to the Church (his body), then of course to the lost who we are all called to Minister unto.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Ron

Because they will never become stable, never put down roots.
Imagine if one didn't stay at their job, School, vocation?
You would consider them unstable, with no roots, that they would be wavering.

JMHO

It has nothing to do with stability and everything to do with money...