Who's authorized to baptize whom?

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by shag

I overlooked, or missed a post(s) where a poster was against congregating together as the body, whether locally or beyond locally, as long as they're meeting....whether 3x a week, or 3x a month. (I have not read every page, just skimmed the last couple pages and jumped in briefly).
Looks to me like, He built His church, which is the body of Christ, and they meet locally at times, and beyond. I.E.: evangelists or others that their vocation has them traveling often. But we still need to meet w each other as part of His body, wherever it works best individually w priorities like to encourage, pray, worship, and strengthen one another etc..

I'm not seeing where the demand or required definition for "called out believers / His body, be limited to a particular localized assembly, but then again, I think it's splitting hairs.


Is someone arguing that we don't ever need to meet/congregate together?

BINGO!

Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

So how does the local assembly relate to being in the world field? It seems you have misunderstood me or else you just want to argue specifically with me for the sake of argument. No one said the local assembly was not the body of Christ. But just as your depiction of the parts of the body within the local assembly, it is also related to each local assembly is part of the greater assembly.

Just because each assembly does not gather with one another, does that make them not part of the Body of Christ?

And while you accuse the RCC of establishing a universal church in order to control the world per sae. It seems that you have done the same in reverse. By making the local assembly the body of Christ you have put the control in the hands of one man the pastor.

[shazeep]

yes.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by shag

I overlooked, or missed a post(s) where a poster was against congregating together as the body, whether locally or beyond locally, as long as they're meeting....whether 3x a week, or 3x a month. (I have not read every page, just skimmed the last couple pages and jumped in briefly).
Looks to me like, He built His church, which is the body of Christ, and they meet locally at times, and beyond. I.E.: evangelists or others that their vocation has them traveling often. But we still need to meet w each other as part of His body, wherever it works best individually w priorities like to encourage, pray, worship, and strengthen one another etc..

I'm not seeing where the demand or required definition for "called out believers / His body, be limited to a particular localized assembly, but then again, I think it's splitting hairs.


Is someone arguing that we don't ever need to meet/congregate together?

Somebody was arguing that the church was not a local assembly, but rather some abstract invisible non-assembling thingamajiggy, that one could claim to be a member of the church while not actually being a part of a local assembly.

The definition is not 'called out believers'. The definition is 'assembly of called out believers.' It's not splitting hairs. Jesus built an actual ekklesia, a 'local assembly'. The church of God is just that - an actual local assembly. And yes, there are many churches/assemblies. But therein lies the rub: either a person is a member of a God-ordained, Christ-built local assembly, or they are not a member of God's church.

31 Flavors is a motto for an ice cream company, not God's church...

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

But just as your depiction of the parts of the body within the local assembly, it is also related to each local assembly is part of the greater assembly.

Where does this greater assembly meet?

Just because each assembly does not gather with one another, does that make them not part of the Body of Christ?

You still ar emisunderstanding. Each local assembly is not 'part' of the Body of Christ, each local assembly IS the Body of Christ. Individual believers are 'part' of the local assembly, ie they are part of the Body of Christ. The local assembly IS the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is made up of members, not churches.

And while you accuse the RCC of establishing a universal church in order to control the world per sae. It seems that you have done the same in reverse. By making the local assembly the body of Christ you have put the control in the hands of one man the pastor.

How so? The local church is headed by Christ. HE is the head of the assembly. If one guy calling himself the pastor attempts to usurp Christ's role as head of the church then that man will be in trouble. The idea that I have somehow put the control in the hands of one man the pastor makes no sense.

[shag]

Bodies of Christ.

Mercy.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by shag

Bodies of Christ.

Mercy.

The Body of Christ exists as many assemblies, just as human nature exists as many humans.

Do you deny the local assembly is the Body of Christ?

[shazeep]

I'm curious what assembly you would associate Paul with, then. Or the Eunuch.

either a person is a member of a God-ordained, Christ-built local assembly, or they are not a member of God's church

this is not true, and can only be a hindrance to recognizing the Church, Esaias.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by shazeep

I'm curious what assembly you would associate Paul with, then. Or the Eunuch.

either a person is a member of a God-ordained, Christ-built local assembly, or they are not a member of God's church

this is not true, and can only be a hindrance to recognizing the Church, Esaias.

It is true. Unless words have no meaning and we can make it up as we go along.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by shag

I overlooked, or missed a post(s) where a poster was against congregating together as the body, whether locally or beyond locally, as long as they're meeting....whether 3x a week, or 3x a month. (I have not read every page, just skimmed the last couple pages and jumped in briefly).
Looks to me like, He built His church, which is the body of Christ, and they meet locally at times, and beyond. I.E.: evangelists or others that their vocation has them traveling often. But we still need to meet w each other as part of His body, wherever it works best individually w priorities like to encourage, pray, worship, and strengthen one another etc..

I'm not seeing where the demand or required definition for "called out believers / His body, be limited to a particular localized assembly, but then again, I think it's splitting hairs.

Is someone arguing that we don't ever need to meet/congregate together?

Yes someone is. They're saying the church is across the world but implying you don't have to belong to a group locally with whom you become familiar and work with to do your ministry, and they become familiar and work with you as well.

[shazeep]

who?

Originally Posted by Esaias

It is true. Unless words have no meaning and we can make it up as we go along.

I'm curious what assembly you would associate Paul with, then. Or the Eunuch.