Question about an Apostolic tradition

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

I kind of get this... but it looks a little different for me. Our last church experiences clearly showed my husband and me that we were not on the right path for us with trice-weekly-plus gatherings. God had been trying to move us on for some time but we stubbornly clung to 'church' even though it had become drier than Cherith Brook. WE showed up three times a week and more for revival services... we stared at the back of heads and heard preaching that was not relevant to our lives and watched the cheering and the antics... and then we went to eat and visited with friends and had people out to the farm and went to our day jobs and prayed with others when they had needs and shared Jesus with those who did not know Him... and it was in those places that we saw God's power truly manifest.

I still miss church sometimes but our churches do not really allow for a more casual attendance... It's pretty much all or nothing and it's that way because at least some of the people there feel genuinely like Wholehearted. And many more have either been conditioned from birth or conversion to believe that to 'forsake the assembly' is defined as EVER missing church unless nearly dead, are afraid to be seen as less than or to become the subject of gossip guised as prayer requests, or to be chastised by their leadership.

When I made the decision to quit Wednesday night services Don had been forced to second shift, it was winter, and I worked till 5:30 on the side of town where the church was... I could not get home to milk my animals and get back to service by 6:30 so I would stay over there either working late or killing an hour in Walmart before service and then come home and milk. I found myself out by myself milking two cows and three goats hours late (milking needs to be done on a schedule) and walking around on the farm in the dark, risking injury with no one here to help me. So I missed a couple of times and nearly immediately people started approaching me to say that they hoped I would be more faithful and put God first... I wasn't abandoning God, I just needed to get my cows milked and I can't do that sitting in church and said so. So someone suggested that I give up the cows... you know, because they were an idol and getting between me and church... And then all the pieces just kind of fell into place. Somewhere there is this invisible list... the sniffles are not good enough to miss but maybe a high fever is... a job that pays the tithe is but a commitment with family is not... A trip out of town is but needing to catch up much needed chores or rest is not...

And most of that is set up around the schedule of paid ministry and those who work traditional daytime/weekday jobs and have families with wives at home. So the church model for attendance is not set up for me and my family. Ladies prayer meeting on Tuesday morning... I'm at work. Wednesday night, I'm milking cows. Sunday evening, my sons bring the grandkids... Sunday morning works well for me but I'm not allowed to only come to Sunday morning service because I'll be considered less committed and therefore less spiritual than everyone who attends all services... not allowed participation in other things I might have giftings for as punishment, etc.

So really attendance in any of our local Oneness churches is just not going to work... but God is still here with us, He knows right where we are at and is still available outside those walls... and I'm good with that.

I am glad the doors of a church are open multiple times a week... I think for the salaries they draw, offering multiple services a week is only right and fair... but to make some other person's schedule my schedule and then suggest that if I love God I will find a way to rearrange my life to fit it is no more reasonable than for me to insist that the church only open it's doors when I can attend. It' like telling me that if I love God I will take off the wedding ring I've worn or 30 years because the preacher doesn't like it... Or that I will never again see another movie... it's controlling and it goes beyond the scope of the role of a pastor or church in one's life, IMO.

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I know what you mena and I agree. I just add my being tired of never being actually challenged by the teaching and bored with hearing the same things over and over to my frustration. I just need to love God more according to some. That same stuff I have heard a thousand times may not be for me, it maye be for someone else who needs it...again...for the hundreth time...in the past couple years.

When oh when will the man of God actually hear form God and have a word that I and MY FAMILY actually need? When do WE hear a sermon that is for mature saiints who aren't in need of the same old milk? Does God not desire the teaching of deeper subjects in church ever?

You are required to pursue God, let folks do what they must, you pursue God, and live in peace in that relationship. AS you find new paths and relationship with God it will be light to others when they reach the end of where they are, do not be judged by others, go when you can and where you are challegened. There may be another place where leadership is further down the road, you might be surprised with who has "heard from the LORD".

[bbyrd009]

Amen. Maybe not required, but def called; and ultimately--according to Scripture--to a lonely place, in a sense. If I read right...

[MarieA27]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Excellent references, Larry.....thank you.

I should have clarified......I know that Jesus attended synagogue from time to time, but I don't find anywhere in scripture this tradition of spending the entire day nearly in church with other believers.

Jesus went into the synagogues to convert people! The times that the scripture is very specific about his preaching engagements, He's always challenging those sitting in the pews to go out into the world and preach the gospel, heal the sick, bind up the brokenhearted, etc.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Apostles evangelized the continent of Asia in 2 1/2 years........THAT is the true message of evangelism.

I wonder, if we took polls in most churches, how many people have every personally won anyone to Christ?

That's where the real breakdown is. Many people come to church faithfully (even the more so as you see the day approaching) but, that's where their Christian service ends........

Why does it have to be either/or? They preached wherever they could, but they still had houses and meeting places. The Church is the people, but the building is just that which houses the church. And I think the meeting place or building should be anywhere that all the members could meet up, and big enough to invite new people. And a "church" building could be, for the most part, a bigger dwelling place, to fit more people in, then someone house, etc.,

Even though I don't have anything against having service in your house, and no offense...I don't know, these house churches that I hear on here, kind of sound like some little, exclusive, social club, kind of like when people have card parties, or scrabble games...or...I don't know..

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by MarieA27

Why does it have to be either/or? They preached wherever they could, but they still had houses and meeting places. The Church is the people, but the building is just that which houses the church. And I think the meeting place or building should be anywhere that all the members could meet up, and big enough to invite new people. And a "church" building could be, for the most part, a bigger dwelling place, to fit more people in, then someone house, etc., ..

It doesn't but for me once a church is big enough that people are not facing each other and interacting but are, week after week, lined up facing forward to watch a single person expound... well... that's when it's grown too big.

Originally Posted by MarieA27

Even though I don't have anything against having service in your house, and no offense...I don't know, these house churches that I hear on here, kind of sound like some little, exclusive, social club, kind of like when people have card parties, or scrabble games...or...I don't know..

Really it doesn't feel exclusive at all... It feels like it's OK to share Jesus with whoever happens by or anywhere you go... and it does not feel like you need to invite someone to church so they can hear the preaching... It feels like YOU need to DO the preaching (well maybe without all the screaming. sweating, and vein popping).

Try it... you'll like it.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by crakjak

You are required to pursue God, let folks do what they must, you pursue God, and live in peace in that relationship. AS you find new paths and relationship with God it will be light to others when they reach the end of where they are, do not be judged by others, go when you can and where you are challegened. There may be another place where leadership is further down the road, you might be surprised with who has "heard from the LORD".

Thank you for this. It strengthened me and felt like a big warm hug.

[bbyrd009]

I was struck by the similarities in a 'house church' and Mennonite services...

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

I was struck by the similarities in a 'house church' and Mennonite services...

I've never been to a mennonite service. What's it like?

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by seekerman

I've never been to a mennonite service. What's it like?

Second the question. I did one of those online thingys and it said I was 98% Mennonite... ROFL... I need a longer dress!

[Whole Hearted]

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

No place I would rather be than in the assembling (the church housre) where folks are singing and worshipping God and we can hear the preaching and teaching of God's Word. To see lost souls born again at an altar of prayer.

Go ahead and make your excuses the truth is if you don't love assembling you are in love with this world and don't have time for God.

Good day

[houston]

Bahahaha!