How could this person stay saved in prison?

[Lost]

Originally Posted by Timmy

According to some, you cannot be (and continue to be) saved without an Apostolic Oneness preacher in your life. And you cannot be saved without assembling together.

Sorry, your hypothetical prisoner is doomed.

So are other isolated individuals, whether by occupation (at some remote military or scientific outpost, astronauts on the space station, etc.) or choice (hermits). They better hope they return to civilization before they die (and toe the line, of course, while they can), and that they don't die at a time when they are isolated.

Did the Early Church under the persecution of Rome ever have solid pastoral influences available for each of it's believers?

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Lost

Did the Early Church under the persecution of Rome ever have solid pastoral influences available for each of it's believers?

Very doubtful.

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by Berkeley

Today people backslide because someone didn't shake their hand during greetings at the start of service.
do you really think.... well, nvm.

Sad isn't it????? What would they do if they didn't have a church to go to? Just not be saved?

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by QueenEsther

Sad isn't it????? What would they do if they didn't have a church to go to? Just not be saved?

Yes.

[H2H]

Originally Posted by Lost

We'll assume that this person has been born again according to the Acts 2:38 message, but still has to pay the consequences of being convicted of previous crimes from their pre-Christian days. Their prison term is five to ten years in a low-to-medium security facility, although they are not allowed to leave the prison facilities (road-crews, etc).

They are a prisoner that has only the most minimal personal possessions, and only weekly access to outside visitors (which we will also assume is usually, if not always, local family - spouse, children, etc). There is no prison ministry that teaches Bible truth, as there is no local Apostolic church in the immediate area.

This person was only recently given his prison sentence and you were notified of this by his family. Given the limited info, what would you say to advise this person on how to stay saved? Would you suspect it is even possible?

Yes indeed not only possible - but I truely believe he can excell in Christ as any other new Christian. Adversity can spawn faith and unique power in the Holy Spirt. If at all possible, I think he definetly needs to be connected to a ministry or minister on the outside.

[Lost]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Very doubtful.

Exactly! So either one must be under the submission and care of a pastoral figure to be saved, along with the "forsaking not the assembling of yourselves together" in regards to a physical place.

OR

As many of the posters have said here already, God is alone capable of "keeping a person" in spite of the absence of ministry figures. This was also shown true by the near scattering of the Early Church by Rome's persecutions. They were forced to run like animals, hiding in caves, etc. There was no church assembly (physical place) to attend, yet it survived and even thrived and grew.

[H2H]

Originally Posted by Lost

Exactly! So either one must be under the submission and care of a pastoral figure to be saved, along with the "forsaking not the assembling of yourselves together" in regards to a physical place.

OR

As many of the posters have said here already, God is alone capable of "keeping a person" in spite of the absence of ministry figures. This was also shown true by the near scattering of the Early Church by Rome's persecutions. They were forced to run like animals, hiding in caves, etc. There was no church assembly (physical place) to attend, yet it survived and even thrived and grew.

Lost, your point is well taken. I think we should be careful in this area though, seeing there may be a temptation to overreact to dictorial pastors or heavy handed leadership of the past.

The example of the early church shows what God can do through the Holy Spirit in the face of adversity. I do not see that it establishes freewheeling Christians who were scattered intentionally or who avoided assembling when ever possible.

[Lost]

Originally Posted by H2H

Lost, your point is well taken. I think we should be careful in this area though, seeing there may be a temptation to overreact to dictorial pastors or heavy handed leadership of the past.

The example of the early church shows what God can do through the Holy Spirit in the face of adversity. I do not see that it establishes freewheeling Christians who were scattered intentionally or who avoided assembling when ever possible.

Have you read the "I left the UPC" thread lately? It would seem that there are those that dispute your comments.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by H2H

Lost, your point is well taken. I think we should be careful in this area though, seeing there may be a temptation to overreact to dictorial pastors or heavy handed leadership of the past.

The example of the early church shows what God can do through the Holy Spirit in the face of adversity. I do not see that it establishes freewheeling Christians who were scattered intentionally or who avoided assembling when ever possible.

IMO, a pastor who is abusive, dictatorial, controlling, teaching false doctrine, etc. is not a man of God. The building he preaches in, and the group of people he preaches to, is not The Church, no matter what the sign outside says.

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by Lost

We'll assume that this person has been born again according to the Acts 2:38 message, but still has to pay the consequences of being convicted of previous crimes from their pre-Christian days. Their prison term is five to ten years in a low-to-medium security facility, although they are not allowed to leave the prison facilities (road-crews, etc).

They are a prisoner that has only the most minimal personal possessions, and only weekly access to outside visitors (which we will also assume is usually, if not always, local family - spouse, children, etc). There is no prison ministry that teaches Bible truth, as there is no local Apostolic church in the immediate area.

This person was only recently given his prison sentence and you were notified of this by his family. Given the limited info, what would you say to advise this person on how to stay saved? Would you suspect it is even possible?

I only logged on and read no other post.I am a nurse and work in a prison.
The person you mentioned has access to his faith regardless of what the prison offers.He can request this through the chaplain.I have see Jews observe the Sabbath in prison and Muslim Ramadan.Don't buy into the I can't make it in prison for Jesus.Look at how many times the Apostle Paul was in prison.He made it and preached.It depends on the attitude of the person.
Its not easy because in prison things go on due to the element that is there but God is still God.Yes he can make it.