Do you think Two Church services a month is enough?

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

This is a disingenous statement, for I don't know of anybody who is 'in the building all the time.' People go home, go to school, go to work, go to the store, go to the mall, go to.... Do you not think that these are tremendous avenues to be a witness, just by how we live our lives? The either/or idea is simply a strawman argument.

The is not disingenuous at all. Firstly, if you've read many of the posts here you'll see that many of the ministry expect people to be in "service" whenever there is service i.e. show up whenever the doors are opened. People have many things to do as you stated but a ministry outside the four walls of the church means more than just witnessing. Some may want to go out and spend much of the time feeding the hunger or teaching bible studies in their home. People need to be given time to do those things. We can't be in two places at once -- in service and out in the streets (or in our homes giving Bible studies, etc)

So far as I can see, we have an understanding of God's will by what He has preserved for us in His Word, thus, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together is just as much God's will for you and I as is the practical aspects of living what we say we believe (visiting the sick and afflicted, giving what we can to help others less fortunate, etc)

True. But the term "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" means different things to different people. Some people have their assembling together with other Christians in their homes with their families and neighbours who are Chrsitians rather than going to a building. Those same people may have times during the year when they get together in larger groups for camp-like meetings, etc. I don't see there is a right or wrong methodology to assemble in scripture just that you should do it. I think it's disingenuous for one to say that because your methodology does not match mine that yours is wrong.

Indeed, nor does all of His will take place OUTSIDE of the four walls of a building. But, His will is fulfilled when His people gather together in His name and are taught, fed, edified so that they may then effectively reach out to those OUTSIDE the four walls who need what the church, as His body in this earth, has to offer: life, hope, healing, restoration, deliverance, peace.....

Truly, if Jesus is our example, then, not only will we be going about doing good, we will be 'in the synagogue' (Jesus called it His house), for the scripture says, "as was his custom".

The Jews met in synagogues and Jesus being a Jew born under the law would have followed the custom and laws of His time.

Scripture speaks of people (Christians) going to the temple, meeting house to house, etc. There was and is no set methodology for where to assemble, how to assmble and what should be done each time we assemble except for the Lord's Supper. But even then most go by tradition and have the Lord's Supper once a year or once a month or whenever.

[Steve Epley]

Wandering stars-spiritual hitchhikers-roaming Pentecostals I have seen them all my life. Eventually they wind up in the hospital with no one to visit. The family has no idea who will preach the funeral. Their children have no faith in the church or preachers hence they have no interest in being saved. I asked one of these spiritual giants once if everyone was like you where would you visit. They would have to have a spiritual hobo convention.
I did notice a fact about this mass murder in Va. the shooter was a loner and social misfit. Most serial killers are. They sit so high on a perch in their immaginary world and have such contempt for everything and everyone killing folks and taking their own lives seem to be a little matter. Jude warned about those who 'separate themselves.' They picture themselves as spiritual gurus with some profound intelligence but honestly they are only misfits that cannot function inside a body. They will not be accountable to anyone and if you really knew them you would understand why.
Years ago I lived in the country in Kentucky and I had to go to town a young man was riding with me we passed a hitchhiker on the opposite side of the road then about 30 minutes later coming back home the hitchhiker was on the side of the road going into town. The young man proclaimed "Hey that guy was on the other side of the road when we passed a while a ago." I answered "He is a hitchhiker he has no where to go and nothing to do when he gets there so it doesn't matter which side of the road he is thumbing a ride." Go and learn what this meaneth.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I wash my hands. There really is no more point in dialog here other than to cast negative innuendos on anyone that does not believe like you do

It is certainly not my intention to "cast negative innuendos on anyone who does not believe" like me. In fact, my only goal is to have the freedom to follow my own convictions rather than be forced to accept the convictions of others or else be threatened with eternal hellfire.

I sincerely respect your right and the right of everyone who disagrees with me, to do just that, disagree. I certainly don't have all the answers. What I do have is a lot of questions. Questions that I don't believe can be successfully answered by men. There is too much disunity, too much contention, too much disagreement. I don't really believe that they have the answers.

It is the One who has the answers that concerns me.

If I have ever implied that because I disagree with the current church model, and its mode of leadership, or its focus on certain areas, and therefore that means that everyone MUST do things my way, then I here and know apologize for such arrogance. That is not at all my intention. As humans we are different, with different personalities and different way of doing things. If that method works for you, and all those in your church. Then that is great and I pray the Lord blesses your work.

But I know that there are hundreds and thousands like me. For whom that model and that method does not work. Many who have given up completely, frustrated with what they view as the superficiality of it all. They want something more. Everyone always talks about how transparent I am. Well that is what I want from those I fellowship with. I am transparent because I have no tolerance for guile or justification, I want to get right down to the issue. To me I get frustrated because I feel like I am wasting time with unessentials.

I take the time to explain all this, because your original statement is how I often feel about those on your side of the issue, and I know how frustrating that is, and the last thing I want to do is to be that same source of frustration to others.

[John Atkinson]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Wandering stars-spiritual hitchhikers-roaming Pentecostals I have seen them all my life. Eventually they wind up in the hospital with no one to visit. The family has no idea who will preach the funeral. Their children have no faith in the church or preachers hence they have no interest in being saved. I asked one of these spiritual giants once if everyone was like you where would you visit. They would have to have a spiritual hobo convention.
I did notice a fact about this mass murder in Va. the shooter was a loner and social misfit. Most serial killers are. They sit so high on a perch in their immaginary world and have such contempt for everything and everyone killing folks and taking their own lives seem to be a little matter. Jude warned about those who 'separate themselves.' They picture themselves as spiritual gurus with some profound intelligence but honestly they are only misfits that cannot function inside a body. They will not be accountable to anyone and if you really knew them you would understand why.
Years ago I lived in the country in Kentucky and I had to go to town a young man was riding with me we passed a hitchhiker on the opposite side of the road then about 30 minutes later coming back home the hitchhiker was on the side of the road going into town. The young man proclaimed "Hey that guy was on the other side of the road when we passed a while a ago." I answered "He is a hitchhiker he has no where to go and nothing to do when he gets there so it doesn't matter which side of the road he is thumbing a ride." Go and learn what this meaneth.

This is good insight from a man of God that the twice-a-monthers would do well to heed.

Good post elder.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by John Atkinson

This is good insight from a man of God that the twice-a-monthers would do well to heed.

Good post elder.

There is an older couple in our area that I think are sincere folk but somewhere in their church experience they became roamers I feel sorry for them they wind up in the hospital and know one know they are there unless by chance someone runs into them. They always sak for me to come and I do go pray for them. I wonder what will happen when one dies who will be there to comfort the grieving companion who will preach their love one's funeral who will see about the remaining companion. This self imposed isolation they have cultivated through the years has a high price tag on it.

My wife and I were talking about this recently... we do not want or expect a preacher to come visit us if we are sick or in the hospital... I know that this seems to be a cultural thing where people expect this, but that would be the last thing that would cross my mind... I don't like visitors when I am sick. lol.

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

There is an older couple in our area that I think are sincere folk but somewhere in their church experience they became roamers I feel sorry for them they wind up in the hospital and know one know they are there unless by chance someone runs into them. They always sak for me to come and I do go pray for them. I wonder what will happen when one dies who will be there to comfort the grieving companion who will preach their love one's funeral who will see about the remaining companion. This self imposed isolation they have cultivated through the years has a high price tag on it.

That's a shame. everyone should have people to care for them and about them whether in secular society or in Chrisitan society.

Jam 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

There is an older couple in our area that I think are sincere folk but somewhere in their church experience they became roamers I feel sorry for them they wind up in the hospital and know one know they are there unless by chance someone runs into them. They always sak for me to come and I do go pray for them. I wonder what will happen when one dies who will be there to comfort the grieving companion who will preach their love one's funeral who will see about the remaining companion. This self imposed isolation they have cultivated through the years has a high price tag on it.

No one would know they were there? Are you sure about that? No one?

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Rico

No one would know they were there? Are you sure about that? No one?

Apparently church is the only way to have contact with other humans

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

The is not disingenuous at all. Firstly, if you've read many of the posts here you'll see that many of the ministry expect people to be in "service" whenever there is service i.e. show up whenever the doors are opened. People have many things to do as you stated but a ministry outside the four walls of the church means more than just witnessing. Some may want to go out and spend much of the time feeding the hunger or teaching bible studies in their home. People need to be given time to do those things. We can't be in two places at once -- in service and out in the streets (or in our homes giving Bible studies, etc)

People need to be 'given time' to do these things? You mean, so that they don't have to sacrifice any 'me' time for golf, television, movies...? Yeah, I guess you are right, Jesus can only have so much of our time, after all, so the mean ole preacher needs to be respectful and sensitive to this.

True. But the term "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" means different things to different people. Some people have their assembling together with other Christians in their homes with their families and neighbours who are Chrsitians rather than going to a building. Those same people may have times during the year when they get together in larger groups for camp-like meetings, etc. I don't see there is a right or wrong methodology to assemble in scripture just that you should do it. I think it's disingenuous for one to say that because your methodology does not match mine that yours is wrong.

Yes, it does mean different things to different people. That is why there are gifts of administration and governments, and why it is the responsibility of the ministry to decide what is necessary for each individual assembly.

The Jews met in synagogues and Jesus being a Jew born under the law would have followed the custom and laws of His time.

Scripture speaks of people (Christians) going to the temple, meeting house to house, etc. There was and is no set methodology for where to assemble, how to assmble and what should be done each time we assemble except for the Lord's Supper. But even then most go by tradition and have the Lord's Supper once a year or once a month or whenever.

Again, this is why there is leadership in a local assembly. Jesus didn't call everybody to 'do that which is right in his own eyes', but He called us to be of the same mind, to be one, and to be about the business of His kingdom.