The one assembly/congregation policy

[Ron]

Reminds me of that song....ring around the Rosie, a pocket full of posies....

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

Ahhhh.... excellent question. So it's not only just for one's own benefit but anothers who may need your mentorship.

When we mature in Christ it needs to become less about self and more about others. JMHO.

My wife and I love our three children. We have and will continue to sacrifice our wishes and wants to take care of them. Same thing needs to be happening in the spiritual realm.

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by Ferd

are there good solid mature christians that are not productive? can one be a productive christian without having roots?

Roots in what? Define your roots, sir.

I was born and raised in Canada so I have roots in Canada. I was raised in a certain province so I have roots in that province. I have lived most of my life in one area, moved to another and have roots in both areas.

I'm not intentionally being dense...

What are the roots? Are they in scripture?

[tbpew]

Originally Posted by Ferd

You have to see that "not forsaking the assymbling yourselves together" as more than showing up to hear someone preach.

The point here is we need human connection. period. we need friendships and relationships.

Ever see a good kid start hanging with a bad crowd? that kid will go bad.
Ever see a bad kid start hanging with a good crowd? that kid will go good.

Why? because that is how we are geared. somone with no roots will blow away.

Threads like this really do scare me (sorry I guess I frighten easy ).

Our word choices really do identify where our confidence is established. If our "rooting and grounding" is established in some local congregation founded by a guy who fellowships with a member-minister group, we are vulnerable to anything that may be common to men.

If on the otherhand Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; then we are able to be rooted and grounded in love.

So, like everything else in God, we will answer to him [our master] for where we ground our lives and extend our life-giving root system. Assembling within the fellowship of believers is a God-ordained gift, a wonderful blessing where our connections[joints] can be portals for supply and receipt.

I want to develop and foster as many of these connections as God has out there for me; each joint supplying between member to member, within his own body.

My rooting and grounding is NOT established within the frameword of a human congregation. We fellowship within the Spirit of his Christ, not the spirit of a man-sponsored club/association.

Whether implied, or overtly reguired, any expected fidelity to some local congregation will directly limit the life-giving number of connections(joints) that God can supply the members of his own body, his own house, his own handiwork.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

Roots in what? Define your roots, sir.

I was born and raised in Canada so I have roots in Canada. I was raised in a certain province so I have roots in that province. I have lived most of my life in one area, moved to another and have roots in both areas.

I'm not intentionally being dense...

What are the roots? Are they in scripture?

My root had better be Jesus anything else and I'm attached to the wrong plant!

If Jesus is the root then Love will be the fruit!

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by tbpew

Threads like this really do scare me (sorry I guess I frighten easy ).

Our word choices really do identify where our confidence is established. If our "rooting and grounding" is established in some local congregation founded by a guy who fellowships with a member-minister group, we are vulnerable to anything that may be common to men.

If on the otherhand Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; then we are able to be rooted and grounded in love.

So, like everything else in God, we will answer to him [our master] for where we ground our lives and extend our life-giving root system. Assembling within the fellowship of believers is a God-ordained gift, a wonderful blessing where our connections[joints] can be sources of supply and receipt.

I want to develop and foster as many of these connections as God has out there for me; each joint supplying between member to member, within his own body.

My rooting and grounding is NOT established within the frameword of a human congregation. We fellowship within the Spirit of his Christ, not the spirit of a man-sponsored club/association.

Whether implied, or overtly reguired, any expected fidelity to some local congregation will directly limit the life-giving number of connections(joints) that God can supply the members of his own body, his own house, his own handiwork.

So, where does the expected fidelity to a congregation come from? Is it learned by ministers through experience or teachings handed down in a denomination?

I want to heed the counsel of good men but I don't see it as a command of God to saty in one place.

Paul gave his counsel and made the distiction between a command of God and his own advice as in the question of marrying.

Can I really die spiritually from this by contraveneing a command of God or is it a place to be careful and not rush in making sure that I'm not hurting anyone by doing so?

Or am I "limiting the life-giving number of connections(joints) that God can supply the members of his own body, his own house, his own handiwork" by heeding the advice?

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Ferd

oh my.

Originally Posted by Berkeley

Didn't you hear? I am the new poster child for disgrunted Christians. Coop better watch out!

[Felicity]

Pastors are generally leery of people who have a history of moving around. It's usually an indication of spiritual immaturity or a history of not being able to accept pastoral leadership.

[Sarah]

My goodness! I thought you were just joking when I initially read this. Are you seriously talking about being the member of four of five churches at once??

As a 'mature' christian, I thought you would know that a pastor has every right to expect commitment from his members. It would be impossible to commit, hopping around from church to church. Might be fun for you, but you don't add anything of value to a body of believers. Somebody has to be faithful with their presence, finances, etc, or else the place would close down.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Sarah

My goodness! I thought you were just joking when I initially read this. Are you seriously talking about being the member of four of five churches at once??

As a 'mature' christian, I thought you would know that a pastor has every right to expect commitment from his members. It would be impossible to commit, hopping around from church to church. Might be fun for you, but you don't add anything of value to a body of believers. Somebody has to be faithful with their presence, finances, etc, or else the place would close down.

That might not be a bad thing. I think there are a lot more people that are serving church than there are who are serving God.