The one assembly/congregation policy

originalsecretplace · #1 03-23-2007, 10:18 AM

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 · #2 03-23-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

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

ManOfWord · #3 03-23-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

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?

For the same reason that you don't continually uproot a flower in your garden and move it from place to place. It will not bloom as it should and will not get the nourishment it needs and will not be able to contribute to the overall welfare of the garden. I know this is overly simplistic, but it does serve as a small illustration. Notice I said nothing about someone's salvation.

OGIA · #4 03-23-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

For the same reason that you don't continually uproot a flower in your garden and move it from place to place. It will not bloom as it should and will not get the nourishment it needs and will not be able to contribute to the overall welfare of the garden. I know this is overly simplistic, but it does serve as a small illustration. Notice I said nothing about someone's salvation.

But, that plant will most likely eventually die from all that moving, don't you think, MOW?

originalsecretplace · #5 03-23-2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

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?

originalsecretplace · #6 03-23-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

For the same reason that you don't continually uproot a flower in your garden and move it from place to place. It will not bloom as it should and will not get the nourishment it needs and will not be able to contribute to the overall welfare of the garden. I know this is overly simplistic, but it does serve as a small illustration. Notice I said nothing about someone's salvation.

So you see the assembly/congregation as the garden?

Is it not a good analogy to look at the local area (church) rather than the buliding as a garden?

ManOfWord · #7 03-23-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OGIA

But, that plant will most likely eventually die from all that moving, don't you think, MOW?

That was kinda my point. However, if someone is rooted and grouned in Jesus Christ, I guess it is possible to stay alive, saved and go to heaven. However, players, don't move around from team to team, or employees from job to job etc. The principle of moving from one church to another with no commitment, does not make strong saints of God.

Ron · #8 03-23-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

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 · #9 03-23-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

That was kinda my point. However, if someone is rooted and grouned in Jesus Christ, I guess it is possible to stay alive, saved and go to heaven. However, players, don't move around from team to team, or employees from job to job etc. The principle of moving from one church to another with no commitment, does not make strong saints of God.

But again what's the team analagous to? Can it bigger than a congregation?

For example, in Revelation a letter is written to the church at Sardis. How many congregations were there? Did they all go to the same building?

ManOfWord · #10 03-23-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

But again what's the team analagous to? Can it bigger than a congregation?

For example, in Revelation a letter is written to the church at Sardis. How many congregations were there? Did they all go to the same building?

It can be bigger than a congregation. But our cities are MUCH larger now than they were then. Different congregations with different visions for reaching different segments of society. Nothing wrong with that as long as they don't start thinking they are better than everyone else.