Local church

[Grace777x70]

Yes...we all have a part to play in the body of Christ. In my work life I worked in the medical field since 1980 and have studied anatomy of the human body. I found that there are parts of the body that are not in any way connected to the seemingly visible parts but yet have a function that is unique to them.

Some cells don't come into action until something else happens in the body and then these cells change and then become what they were there for.

We are made to be interacting with each other in some capacity - to encourage each other in a number of ways especially in love and good works. But the Lord will put us where we are to be. Paul was in Arabia for 3 years by himself getting revelation from the Lord about the gospel of the grace of Christ...and boy are we glad he did.

There are times and seasons for things in our lives and if our heart is for the Lord...He will direct where we are to be ....and doing what He desires. Jesus is the head of the body of Christ and He will place us and move us around as He sees fit.

Don't feel pressured by people to conform to what they are doing in the body, that you need to be doing the same thing.....in the same way....in the same version of "assembling together".....they are just a different part. Rest in Him and all is well!

Also, brother Grace, I used to feel so lonely and so sorry for myself, crying on my face boo-hooing to God about not being accepted. Then I remembered how precious Lord Jesus got treated & was beat up & crucified, how so many followers of Christ get persecuted and martyred, how so many sick people can't even leave their homes to assemble with others. People right on this website who hardly ever get to fellowship face to face with others. Man alive, I have nothing to complain about!

Anyhow, I believe whether we are members of an organized church or not, we are ALL one body in Christ. So I am not segregating myself from any of you folks here. ♥ You people are STUCK with me as your sister in Christ. Haha!! ♥

 

[AuntieAnt]

Yes...we all have a part to play in the body of Christ. In my work life I worked in the medical field since 1980 and have studied anatomy of the human body. I found that there are parts of the body that are not in any way connected to the seemingly visible parts but yet have a function that is unique to them.

Some cells don't come into action until something else happens in the body and then these cells change and then become what they were there for.

We are made to be interacting with each other in some capacity - to encourage each other in a number of ways especially in love and good works. But the Lord will put us where we are to be. Paul was in Arabia for 3 years by himself getting revelation from the Lord about the gospel of the grace of Christ...and boy are we glad he did.

There are times and seasons for things in our lives and if our heart is for the Lord...He will direct where we are to be ....and doing what He desires. Jesus is the head of the body of Christ and He will place us and move us around as He sees fit.

Don't feel pressured by people to conform to what they are doing in the body, that you need to be doing the same thing.....in the same way....in the same version of "assembling together".....they are just a different part. Rest in Him and all is well!

Thanks for that beautiful, refreshing message! \/

 

[Grace777x70]

Amen!

Isaiah 61:3 (NASB)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Thanks for that beautiful, refreshing message! \/

 

[Yet]

Someone mentioned Ephesians 4:11. Now address vs. 12.

 

[hornetguy]

[SUP]12 [/SUP]For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ KJV:

[SUP]12 [/SUP]Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. NLT

Seems pretty explanatory. Teachers are to teach, evangelists are to "go out" and teach, pastors are to nurture the flock, prophets are to share their gift of prophetic knowledge.

Is that addressed enough for you?

 

[nu2see]

Also, brother Grace, I used to feel so lonely and so sorry for myself, crying on my face boo-hooing to God about not being accepted. Then I remembered how precious Lord Jesus got treated & was beat up & crucified, how so many followers of Christ get persecuted and martyred, how so many sick people can't even leave their homes to assemble with others. People right on this website who hardly ever get to fellowship face to face with others. Man alive, I have nothing to complain about!

Anyhow, I believe whether we are members of an organized church or not, we are ALL one body in Christ. So I am not segregating myself from any of you folks here. ♥ You people are STUCK with me as your sister in Christ. Haha!! ♥

I know at LEAST one person here will love this. God bless you who have been posting about the grace of God. Please enjoy this,
and yes, it may show our age.....so what, we have eternal life. Thank you Jesus!
[video=youtube;mCWhTN-vEnQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCWhTN-vEnQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]

 

[Tintin]

How many churches have you visited? Thanks, that was weird, I thought how did your response come from what I said? I don't forsake assembling myself together with believers, I just don't go to organized religious corporations to 'fellowship' with the world or the Christians attending a particular system of the house of idolatry.

All churches adhere to a system of theology for "religious worship"(<-- do not mistake this for worshipping God!), be it baptismal regeneration, tithe, oneness, law & gospel, sacraments, etc. There are altars of various sorts in quite a few churches, used for public worship and activities like the Lord's supper, confession, absolution, etc.

Oh, good grief! Are you Yet's wife? Or Yet under another username? You sure sound a lot like him.

 

[notuptome]

Someone mentioned Ephesians 4:11. Now address vs. 12.

The purpose for the pastor/teachers is to disciple the saints so they can go on and minister to gospel to others. Really not difficult at all.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Complete_In_Him]

1) What do you mean by "assembling under"?

2) What is the "worldly religious system" ?

3) What is YOUR idea of what the church is, or is not?

4) What do you see in my comments that indicate a type of bias?

5) Scriptural references would be helpful, as well...

1) doctrine

2) a government, with a policy, built on a foundation

3) Corporate? or Spirit?, we can't serve two masters

4) If your church is good, then all Christian churches are good... or not? and why?

5) If it's not the doctrine of God, whose doctrine is it?

In todays ministry, can a person believe the Gospel, be saved by grace and reject water baptism?

 

[Bookends]

No, you worded it right. And, yeah, that's a scam. Most churches -- denoms or nondenoms -- get their money from the members who choose to tithe. Tithing is one of those things most don't choose to do or they lowball it, but that's where churches get their money. "Fees" is a scam. "Membership count" is a scam.

You have no idea what I'm talking about....any salaried pastor is a "sign on the dotted line"... All denominations require support from it's local churches. The church doesn't go around demanding this fee, it's taken out of the general collection, just amount given is figure up based on how many "certified" members there are. You have no business telling me to get out of a church that I know is a bible believing church who love each other. This church I belong to, or attend, has shown more love then all the church I went combined.

 

[Complete_In_Him]

How many churches have you visited? Thanks, that was weird, I thought how did your response come from what I said? I don't forsake assembling myself together with believers, I just don't go to organized religious corporations to 'fellowship' with the world or the Christians attending a particular system of the house of idolatry.

All churches adhere to a system of theology for "religious worship"(<-- do not mistake this for worshipping God!), be it baptismal regeneration, tithe, oneness, law & gospel, sacraments, etc. There are altars of various sorts in quite a few churches, used for public worship and activities like the Lord's supper, confession, absolution, etc.

Oh, good grief! Are you Yet's wife? Or Yet under another username? You sure sound a lot like him.

No, I am not.

I know quite a bit about religious worship, doctrines of churches in Christendom, idolatry in a system at an altar "feasting on" the true body and blood of the Lord. Adding to the gospel by the wisdom of men and "church fathers", the doctrine of baptismal regeneration is a lie in the ministry of reconciliation. Infant baptism is a terrible, disgusting practice against God and it does not bring, nor give Him glory.

The things churches teach about "strengthening your faith" or "receiving God's grace", wow, no thanks.

 

[Yet]

Seems pretty explanatory. Teachers are to teach, evangelists are to "go out" and teach, pastors are to nurture the flock, prophets are to share their gift of prophetic knowledge.

Is that addressed enough for you?

For the perfecting of the pastor...WRONG....for the perfecting of the SAINTS for the work of the MINISTRY.......so you do see that every member is ministering? If you walk into an edifice, you'll find EVERY member in the course of the gathering eventually taking turns with their functions as they grow up in them to maturity?
Vs.16 ...the WHOLE BODY fitly joined together and compacted by that which the single salaried pastor.....WRONG....EVERY JOINT (member) supplies according to the effectual working in the measure of the single salaried pastor.....WRONG....EVERY PART(member) makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

So I'm tickled you see it. Glad your fellowship is according to God's word. God bless bro..

 

[Yet]

The purpose for the pastor/teachers is to disciple the saints so they can go on and minister to gospel to others. Really not difficult at all.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

' Minister' in what context? Outside the assembly or within the assembly?

 

[Yet]

Oh, good grief! Are you Yet's wife? Or Yet under another username? You sure sound a lot like him.

Why are are you a smart alek?

 

[hornetguy]

1) doctrine

2) a government, with a policy, built on a foundation

3) Corporate? or Spirit?, we can't serve two masters

4) If your church is good, then all Christian churches are good... or not? and why?

5) If it's not the doctrine of God, whose doctrine is it?

In todays ministry, can a person believe the Gospel, be saved by grace and reject water baptism?

Ok, I'm going to try to address what you said, then I'll be done with our back and forth... it appears that you are as blindly against any church other than one that agrees with your narrow views as YET is... so...

1: doctrine? Yes, most members of the body where I attend are very aware of the "doctrine"... it is, to the best of our ability, the Word of God.. that's it..
2: a government? still don't understand the point you're trying to make... that there is some sort of governing body in the church? That's scriptural.. you should know that.
3: Corporate or spiritual? The church is the believers, and the believers all make up the body. There are spiritual leaders (elders) which is a scriptural mandate. The idea that is "serving two masters" is ludicrous. The only master we serve is God.
4: my church good=all churches good? That's just crazy. I have never said that, or implied it. In fact, I have on many occasions discussed the type of churches that I consider to be "wrong".... just ask YET, but he probably doesn't remember it, either.
5: It's absolutely God's doctrine.

I do not believe a person can be saved by grace alone.. scripture teaches in too many places that repentance, followed by baptism (immersion) is expected. This completes the salvation begun by accepting the free gift of grace and forgiveness. One without the other is not enough. It's a process.

Ok... enough between you and me.. blessings to you, brother.

 

[Bookends]

I'm sorry you had that kind of experience... yes, there are churches like that. I've been to Baptist churches like that. I attended a Christian church in California that was that way... so the Church of Christ certainly has no monopoly on that.

The one I attend is nothing like that. Whenever I travel, I try to attend a local church, and I have not seen that attitude or behavior at any of them, either.

We have been having instrumental worship services for just over a year now. Until recently, they were on Sunday evenings, but a couple of weeks ago, we started having instruments at one of the Sunday morning services, and the other service is still acapella.

To condemn a church for NOT using instruments is completely unscriptural, as there are NO scriptures that even INDICATE the first century church used them... much less a command to do so.

It has simply been the choice, and tradition of the Church of Christ to NOT use them, which goes back to the principle of "speaking where the Bible speaks, and being silent where the Bible is silent"..... where can you go wrong with THAT mindset?

Unfortunately, like many other churches, that tradition (based on scripture) became mandatory, in the minds of most Churches of Christ. However, over the last 10 years or so, that tradition is being changed.

I suggest that you do some investigating yourself, instead of stating the old criticisms, which are no longer true.

I was always told that the Baptists taught that you had to be baptized into their church in order to "join". I believed that most of my young life. Since then, I've talked to a couple of Baptist ministers, or "pastors", and have been assured that is not the case. So, be a Berean... check it out for yourself.

I didn't condemn any church, I'm not sure where you got that from what I wrote. The "Church of Christ" denomination just isn't for me.

As far as instruments, that's the "Church of Christ" assumption that instruments were not used. Just because Instruments weren't mentioned in the NT doesn't mean they didn't use them. I can't understand how God would be against them when instruments were used in worship in the OT, and God not never omitted them.

I don't believe the doctrine that you must be baptized to be saved that the Church of Christ holds too, and their works based doctrine.

When the CoC says they are the only true church, I don't believe that. Sounds cultish to me.

I'm not say there isn't any real Christians in the donomination, I'm not say you aren't a Christian because you go there.

 

[Angela53510]

Someone mentioned Ephesians 4:11. Now address vs. 12.

Context is everything! So no, you can't separate Eph. 4:11 from 4:12 or the rest of the chapter/book/covenant and so forth.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Eph. 4:11-16

So this passage tells us that God gave certain gifts and for a purpose. That purpose is multiple. We need to be maturing, to find unity, to not be swayed by false doctrines, and we do need to work together.

That does not mean everyone suddenly becomes an apostle/prophet/evangelist/shepherd/teacher. it means that the people who are called AND trained to do those things help in various way to lead people into the ministry which God has called the congregation. There are actually many lists of gifts in the Bible. Romans 12 is one that really had meaning for me a long time ago. Because my husband is quite shy and doesn't like to talk in public at all. So I always wondered how he could contribute to the body of Christ.

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:3-8

I was very excited to read "if service, in our serving." That is my husband! He always finds those jobs around church that no one else wants to do. He loves helping people - both church people and neighbours. So he has found his gift. He does not ever want to be the preacher. He even tried teaching Sunday School one time. He was having such problems with the grade 1 and 2 kids, I came down after the worship, to see what he was doing wrong. It was pretty much everything! He simply did not have the gift of teaching or training to do the job - although he had the heart to serve.

So that is pretty long, I hope it explains the passage a bit more for you Yet. I can go into the Greek if you need me too. Feel free to ask if you have further issues understanding the Scriptures.

 

[hornetguy]

For the perfecting of the pastor...WRONG....for the perfecting of the SAINTS for the work of the MINISTRY.......so you do see that every member is ministering? If you walk into an edifice, you'll find EVERY member in the course of the gathering eventually taking turns with their functions as they grow up in them to maturity?
Vs.16 ...the WHOLE BODY fitly joined together and compacted by that which the single salaried pastor.....WRONG....EVERY JOINT (member) supplies according to the effectual working in the measure of the single salaried pastor.....WRONG....EVERY PART(member) makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

So I'm tickled you see it. Glad your fellowship is according to God's word. God bless bro..

Thank you.... God bless you, too, brother...

 

[Yet]

Ok, I'm going to try to address what you said, then I'll be done with our back and forth... it appears that you are as blindly against any church other than one that agrees with your narrow views as YET is... so...

1: doctrine? Yes, most members of the body where I attend are very aware of the "doctrine"... it is, to the best of our ability, the Word of God.. that's it..
2: a government? still don't understand the point you're trying to make... that there is some sort of governing body in the church? That's scriptural.. you should know that.
3: Corporate or spiritual? The church is the believers, and the believers all make up the body. There are spiritual leaders (elders) which is a scriptural mandate. The idea that is "serving two masters" is ludicrous. The only master we serve is God.
4: my church good=all churches good? That's just crazy. I have never said that, or implied it. In fact, I have on many occasions discussed the type of churches that I consider to be "wrong".... just ask YET, but he probably doesn't remember it, either.
5: It's absolutely God's doctrine.

I do not believe a person can be saved by grace alone.. scripture teaches in too many places that repentance, followed by baptism (immersion) is expected. This completes the salvation begun by accepting the free gift of grace and forgiveness. One without the other is not enough. It's a process.

Ok... enough between you and me.. blessings to you, brother.

Why do you say if someone hungers for the NT design for an assembly...they are narrow minded? I just got done congratulating you for following the NT order for assembly. Did I speak to soon? So you do NOT agree with the scriptures on this. Why not?

 

[Yet]

Context is everything! So no, you can't separate Eph. 4:11 from 4:12 or the rest of the chapter/book/covenant and so forth.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Eph. 4:11-16

So this passage tells us that God gave certain gifts and for a purpose. That purpose is multiple. We need to be maturing, to find unity, to not be swayed by false doctrines, and we do need to work together.

That does not mean everyone suddenly becomes an apostle/prophet/evangelist/shepherd/teacher. it means that the people who are called AND trained to do those things help in various way to lead people into the ministry which God has called the congregation. There are actually many lists of gifts in the Bible. Romans 12 is one that really had meaning for me a long time ago. Because my husband is quite shy and doesn't like to talk in public at all. So I always wondered how he could contribute to the body of Christ.

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:3-8

I was very excited to read "if service, in our serving." That is my husband! He always finds those jobs around church that no one else wants to do. He loves helping people - both church people and neighbours. So he has found his gift. He does not ever want to be the preacher. He even tried teaching Sunday School one time. He was having such problems with the grade 1 and 2 kids, I came down after the worship, to see what he was doing wrong. It was pretty much everything! He simply did not have the gift of teaching or training to do the job - although he had the heart to serve.

So that is pretty long, I hope it explains the passage a bit more for you Yet. I can go into the Greek if you need me too. Feel free to ask if you have further issues understanding the Scriptures.

You are accusing me falsely again. I am not trying to seperate scriptures from other scriptures. Im highlighting. I'm just pointing out that the modern church is indeed separating scripture from other scripture when they leave out the every member participation paradigm that is in the word..why can yo not see that? You think I want the worse for the body. That's a lie from the pit of hell. I want the best for them.