House church or excuse?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I'll just share the passage on church discipline:

Matthew 18:15-20 (ESV)
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For (meaning: "Because") where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

You see, the point is... if two agree on earth about anything they ask relating to church discipline, it will be done for them by the Father in Heaven. Why? Because where two or three are gathered IN HIS NAME (not just for discipline), there He is among them.

Church discipline procedure would have no Heavenly authority if it were not for Christ's commitment to be present in a special way as long as two or more are gathered together in His name.

You're one stubborn cookie. lol

And you're wrong.

In HIS NAME means He is there by proxy. That's the whole point!