A Return

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Dante

"Church" is all about Him, so I have to disagree with you here just slightly. I will concede with the idea that fellowship provides a system of encouragement for people who are weak and need healing, but that can just as easily be provided outside of the traditional setting of what calls itself church. When we are guided by the Holy Spirit alone, who needs the guidance of a man? (1 John 2:27)

In the end....love always wins!

One significant difference of opinion here. Fellowship, whether in or outside of conventional 'church' is not just for the weak and those needing healing. It is a place where those gifted by God to encourage the weak and help provide healing can exercise those gifts... And by turns and in seasons we all are both at different places in our walk with God. A church that recognizes this and does not set up a model of the presumed strong leading the presumed weak only is the very best kind.

At it's best a group of believers is interested in bringing each member to full maturity in Christ and will realize and respect this.

[bbyrd009]

Amen! There is a very real sense in which once one
becomes "strong" in the human sense, they are worthless to God,
and much can be learned from the "weak."

In a room full of Bible scholars, the best
answers often come from little kids. And dogs.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

My point is not to be rude, but straight-forward. Dante, fine... you have been blessed with supernatural spiritual insight.. great I'm happy for you.

Unfortunately not all of us have been so blessed. In matter of fact I'm pretty happy I haven't (saying this with a chuckle)...

Anyway... so maybe those of us who haven't been so enlightened need pastors to preach to us in a certain way. Maybe your supernatural insight into all things Biblical has allowed you to no longer need such teaching.

I concede that... hope that works out for you. Here's my problem... you give off this really pompous and arrogant persona. Sure you have this advanced spiritual knowledge, why sit here and criticize pastors and those of us who don't and refuse to fellowship with us because of your superiority and then on top of that complain about it? It just seems foolish. Putting down pastors because they're not as deep as you believe yourself to be. I don't know the pastor, he may very well be a Godly and praying man. I respect men who are prayerful and live holy more then I do men who believe they have exceptional amounts of knowledge. Just my opinion. You impress me with your lifestyle not how much knowledge you can chew swallow and spit up at any given time. That's my point. Knowledge alone won't get you into Heaven...

How come what you post is *straight-forward* and not rude, but when somebody else posts what they think, it becomes *offensive* to you?

Dante makes a valid point in his experience.

I have never heard a lesson taken from the book of Acts 21 or even the last three verses of the book of Acts. Never heard a lesson from Hebrews 7, James 5:1-6, III John verse 9, St. John 10, I Corinthians 2:1-6, Romans 8:14, Romans 9:1-4, Galatians 4, Titus 1:16, I Corinthians 3:21-23, I Corinthians 2:15,16 and a whole host of other scriptures needed for the church to thrive in these perilous modern times.

[bbyrd009]

amen.
A hero to _______ is just
a jerk to _______. How
do you know?

[bbyrd009]

Or hmm, maybe
"the more I learn,
the less I know"
applies here better.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Dante

I must confess that it has been a few years since I've gone to church. I know, let the jeering terms of scorn begin.

A few weeks ago I returned to the Apostolic church where I was baptized. I expected to hear a heart-felt teaching with some depth to it. Instead, I was met with a fiery sermon about holiness and standards - practically the very same thing that was being taught and lectured about when I left.

Preaching about holiness and standards has it place, but why does that have to be the central focus of an Apostolic church? Consider the fact that the demographics of the church are mostly over the age of 65+ and have been faithful members of the church for nearly all of their lives, or at least half of their lives. If these old folks don't have holiness down by now they never will!

I'm just let down by the modern Apostolic church. I believe God to be more well-rounded and deeper than what He is given credit for in His house now of days. I will not return to church, but I will walk with God, and I believe I can have walk with God and be in fellowship with Him apart from what calls itself "His church."

Fellowship with God is tied into fellowship with his church. Problem some within can make it hard.

[Dante]

All that matters is that we love the Lord, and we love one another.

[bbyrd009]

Um, hmm, I'm suddenly realizing that one's avatar matters
(Freddy, is that you?)

[houston]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

Um, hmm, I'm suddenly realizing that one's avatar matters
(Freddy, is that you?)

Merc?

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by houston

Merc?

Um...
oh, no, I meant "Kruger," with the avatar.