Anti-denominational followers of Jesus

[ChristianTonyB]

What do you consider repetitive religious observances? Are there any repetitive observances you would consider worthy of maintaining?

I can't think of any. Personally, I haven't maintained any since I left the religious organisations behind some 35 years ago. I don't think I've been penalised in any way by doing that. On the contrary, I feel I've been blessed to have my faith in Jesus kept simple. I haven't been saved, or will continued to be saved, through repeating any religious ritual, including attending a worship service.

I've thought about what should be the practices a group of Christians should uphold when they meet say, in a home. I would put questions about that in a new OP though, and therefore possibly broaden the scope of interest such a topic may warrant.

What about you. Do you have any you maintain?

 

[ChristianTonyB]

We are to walk our own walk. Took me years to understand I do not have to conform to men's ideas of how I should serve the Lord. I have made a few uncomfortable by this idea and even mad. That is not God but their crazy narcissistic way. Example: I had a woman come up at the ending of a church service and ask me to come up and get prayer. I said" No I am sorry I do not feel led of God to go up for prayer. Her mouth dropped in amazement. To her it was a ritual to ask new people to come up and get prayer. It was not the Holy Spirit leading her. I have set it in my life to walk my walk the way God wants me too. I have learned even if I do not agree with what someone is doing is to give it to God and move on.
My walk and strength in God makes some men even uncomfortable. Because I do not waiver and cannot be coheresed into changing for man. But I go to church for fellowship and to see things maybe thru a new perspective. But if it bothers you I understand.

We are all called to do what we believe is right, for God first, and then for each other. I'm doing what I believe is right. Others will have a different take on what is right, and I'm pleased they have the freedom to be able to chose what that actually is.

 

[Amanuensis]

I can't think of any. Personally, I haven't maintained any since I left the religious organisations behind some 35 years ago. I don't think I've been penalised in any way by doing that. On the contrary, I feel I've been blessed to have my faith in Jesus kept simple. I haven't been saved, or will continued to be saved, through repeating any religious ritual, including attending a worship service.

I've thought about what should be the practices a group of Christians should uphold when they meet say, in a home. I would put questions about that in a new OP though, and therefore possibly broaden the scope of interest such a topic may warrant.

What about you. Do you have any you maintain?

The scripture is very clear that they met weekly at least and prayed, sang, did communion, ate together and heard teaching. It is also very clear that Paul taught that we cannot be mature Christians without participating as a contributing member who has something to offer, and receiving from other members who have something to offer. Together we make up the body of Christ.

I am fully persuaded that people who do not have a revelation of the necessity of the Body of Christ and their part in it, and don't get fully involved in a local fellowship are missing out on things that the Lord wants to do in their lives.

God has set it up in such a way. The foot can't say I don't need the eye. This was all about the local fellowship not just some kind of mental assent to the value of others. It was about getting along side them in weekly meetings and serving God together to advance the kingdom.

Of course all this is in context of a NT model church doing things in the Spirit and not a dried up formalistic denomination that is not even the real body of Christ. I get that. avoid those. That is baby Christian stuff. After avoiding those what next? Find the NT church and go all in.

 

[Seeking-Christ]

I haven't attended Church in 2 years. Even when I was attending on a regular basis, I had no fellowship. All I did was sit in the same pew Sunday after Sunday. Standup and sing the same songs, and then listen to the same guy deliver sermons. I started realizing, since I had no fellowship, nor did anyone care to have fellowship with me, that maybe I wasn't really going to church at all. I can just as easy sing at home. I can just as easy watch a sermon at home. When I realized that, I was like, well maybe the local church is dead.

I am posting a video here, but I am not saying that I think Kevin Thompson is right about everything. But one thing I think He has got right for sure. We haven't been doing Church correctly for a long time. In this video He is giving his own ideas of what the true church should be... I think there is food for thought in it.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

Can I ask you what kind of church you DO believe in getting involved in?

A group of people that follows Jesus' example. He didn't belong to any religious organisation. He had but one Head, His Father, and He strove to please Him in everything He did.

Our head is the Lord Jesus. There's only two levels in the structure of the church, Jesus at the top, and the rest of us on the level below Him. There's only one Head Honcho. Yes, there are roles of support that carry a form of authority along with the responsibility, and that are communal services put in place by God for the health, well being, and effectiveness of the church as a whole.

I look for a group that emulates Jesus' religious practices. He didn't attend religious services as a norm, in fact the record of the one He did attend indicates that the participants didn't take too kindly to His words, and tried to kill Him. He wasn't driven by a need for ascendency over others, or for personal acclaim or want for material riches. He didn't get involved in useless arguments about theology or religious practices, but focussed on telling about human attitudes and behaviours, about which are acceptable or not acceptable to God. He cared for everyone, but in particular for the poor and needy.

I look for a group whose principal loyalty is to the Lord Jesus, and that meet in family like gatherings and who care for each other's welfare.

 

[Amanuensis]

A group of people that follows Jesus' example. He didn't belong to any religious organisation. He had but one Head, His Father, and He strove to please Him in everything He did.

Our head is the Lord Jesus. There's only two levels in the structure of the church, Jesus at the top, and the rest of us on the level below Him. There's only one Head Honcho. Yes, there are roles of support that carry a form of authority along with the responsibility, and that are communal services put in place by God for the health, well being, and effectiveness of the church as a whole.

I look for a group that emulates Jesus' religious practices. He didn't attend religious services as a norm, in fact the record of the one He did attend indicates that the participants didn't take too kindly to His words, and tried to kill Him. He wasn't driven by a need for ascendency over others, or for personal acclaim or want for material riches. He didn't get involved in useless arguments about theology or religious practices, but focussed on telling about human attitudes and behaviours, about which are acceptable or not acceptable to God. He cared for everyone, but in particular for the poor and needy.

I look for a group whose principal loyalty is to the Lord Jesus, and that meet in family like gatherings and who care for each other's welfare.

Maybe you could start a home fellowship meeting. I don't care for them myself. I am an introvert and I am not comfortable in peoples homes. They usually smell funny and its all just too much information about peoples personal lives.

If they had a large courtyard in their Villa, like 1st Century Home churches that we know about that would be different. Their personal family rooms were off limits and those courtyards could easily seat 175 people.

I am all for that kind of home church. I believe in Spirit empowered evangelism being one of the main missions of a local assembly so that an 8 member fellowship would grow to 200 in a year or two.

 

[ResidentAlien]

What about you. Do you have any you maintain?

The only one I'd like to see maintained would be the Lord's supper. I think it's important for His followers to meet regularly and remember His sacrifice for us. It's also a reminder that we are one in Him.

I've been on my own for quite awhile now and I really miss the fellowship.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

I haven't attended Church in 2 years. Even when I was attending on a regular basis, I had no fellowship. All I did was sit in the same pew Sunday after Sunday. Standup and sing the same songs, and then listen to the same guy deliver sermons. I started realizing, since I had no fellowship, nor did anyone care to have fellowship with me, that maybe I wasn't really going to church at all. I can just as easy sing at home. I can just as easy watch a sermon at home. When I realized that, I was like, well maybe the local church is dead.

I am posting a video here, but I am not saying that I think Kevin Thompson is right about everything. But one thing I think He has got right for sure. We haven't been doing Church correctly for a long time. In this video He is giving his own ideas of what the true church should be... I think there is food for thought in it.

I started to watch the video but found it a bit drawn out. All I can say about your own anecdote, is that I know it happens, I've seen similar experiences as yours. I can only say that any fellowship I attend and have any influence in, will not allow a similar experience as yours to happen within itself.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

The only one I'd like to see maintained would be the Lord's supper. I think it's important for His followers to meet regularly and remember His sacrifice for us. It's also a reminder that we are one in Him.

I've been on my own for quite awhile now and I really miss the fellowship.

You maybe right. Having said that though, I'm regularly reminded of what Jesus has done for me, in particular that He has taken the insults, blows and subsequently the death I was due to receive, upon himself.

I haven't participated in a physical remembrance of the Lord's passover for decades, but I am regularly reminded of it. Hopefully my heart will acknowledge His goodness and self-sacrifice by obeying His every command, which would be a true expression of my unity with the Lord.

 

[ResidentAlien]

This is a great video by Joshua Chavez (Servus Christi). It's been a while since I watched it but I'm planning on watching it again today.

 

[Live4Him3]

This is a great video by Joshua Chavez (Servus Christi). It's been a while since I watched it but I'm planning on watching it again today.

So, I just finished watching the video.

Is there some truth in it?

For sure.

HOWEVER, they are cherry-picked truths to make his points, and not the complete truth by any means.

For example, elders were ordained to be in all churches:

Acts chapter 14

[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
[22] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
[23] And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Again:

Titus chapter 1

[4] To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
[5] For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
[6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
[7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
[8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
[9] Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Why no mention of these "elders" and "bishops" in the man's video?

For me, the man's teachings are cult-like in that he only presented the verses which back his stance while deliberately omitting others. The ignorant and unlearned will run with what he said as if it's the whole truth, but it isn't.

 

[Willow]

We are all called to do what we believe is right, for God first, and then for each other. I'm doing what I believe is right. Others will have a different take on what is right, and I'm pleased they have the freedom to be able to chose what that actually is.

I understand brother. I wish more understood we each have different walks.

 

[ResidentAlien]

So, I just finished watching the video.

Is there some truth in it?

For sure.

HOWEVER, they are cherry-picked truths to make his points, and not the complete truth by any means.

For example, elders were ordained to be in all churches:

Acts chapter 14

[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
[22] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
[23] And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Again:

Titus chapter 1

[4] To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
[5] For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
[6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
[7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
[8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
[9] Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Why no mention of these "elders" and "bishops" in the man's video?

For me, the man's teachings are cult-like in that he only presented the verses which back his stance while deliberately omitting others. The ignorant and unlearned will run with what he said as if it's the whole truth, but it isn't.

He mentions elders at 15:28. He's talking about 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 where Paul teaches that everyone should participate in some capacity in their meetings. He says Paul doesn't mention pastors or even elders because everyone participates; it's not run by the pastor or elders but by the Holy Spirt.

Believe me, Chavez doesn't teach that there should be no elders. He does, however, teach that here's no place for "head" pastor.

 

[Beckie]

Some folks just do not like authority . Often even the authority of the Scriptures is, not so much flat out rejected, but subtilty sidelined. So often our sin goes back to the garden wanting our own will over that of our Creator. God laid out a plan for 'churches' . Some how arrogant man thinks he knows better. Sorta down the lines of being proud of our humbleness. Really dumb. Justifying the rejection of Scripture because some other jerk was a bad example.

 

[Live4Him3]

Well, all that I can say is this:

If the people on this website constituted a local church in my area with no one moderating/overseeing it/them, then I'd probably tie a mail truck around my neck and do a swan dive off of the nearest bridge.

LOOK OUT BELOOOOWWWWWWWWWW...

SPLASH!!!

Seriously, if this place were your local fellowship, would you want EVERYONE sharing their thoughts as if they were the word of God?

Most people here don't know their burro from their elbow.

I'll take one potential heretic behind the pulpit over a whole congregation full of them any day.

Just saying...

 

[Amanuensis]

I do believe that the front lines of what God is doing in the world today is found in churches. Churches and outreach ministries connected to churches.

If you want to be on the front lines of what God is doing, you need to find a Spirit Filled Church that is involved in soul winning and planting soul winning churches.

When people are trying their best to be a NT church they are going to be blessed by God and His Spiritual power will be poured out on them. They don't have to have it all perfected. There never was a perfect church. Never will be. Just go and start serving.

David Wilkerson wept and prayed for hours on end over the condition of the church. He had 60 years of ministry in churches. He was like a prophet grandfather who's heart was broken over the condition of churches he preached about. He had the authority and the anointing and the experience and the platform to say what he said. Other people try to say what he said with video editing and music in the background (something David did not allow) but they sound like empty, hollow, immature, wet behind the ears wannabes who have not been weeping for the church and God is not telling them to say what they are saying. Spiritual people have discernment and don't listen to those knuckleheads.

The next time someone starts telling you what is wrong with the churches today, ask them when was the last time they prayed for them, and how long did they pray? Ask them if they have experienced weeping over it? If not. Spend some time doing that and then we will talk again about it.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Well, all that I can say is this:

If the people on this website constituted a local church in my area with no one moderating/overseeing it/them, then I'd probably tie a mail truck around my neck and do a swan dive off of the nearest bridge.

LOOK OUT BELOOOOWWWWWWWWWW...

SPLASH!!!

Seriously, if this place were your local fellowship, would you want EVERYONE sharing their thoughts as if they were the word of God?

Most people here don't know their burro from their elbow.

I'll take one potential heretic behind the pulpit over a whole congregation full of them any day.

Just saying...

Why do you spend so much time here if it's that bad?

 

[Magenta]

Jesus' religious practices. He didn't attend religious services as a norm,

 

[Live4Him3]

Why do you spend so much time here if it's that bad?

That's a very good and fair question, and I've often asked it of myself.

I have left here twice already, and it's not the website itself that is the problem.

Having read several of your posts/threads in the past, I think that I can safely assume/conclude that you readily recognize that a lot of posters here are pretty much clueless when it comes to rightly dividing the word of truth.

Would you HONESTLY want to be part of an assembly where certain posters here were able to address the congregation and share their views as if they were the word of God?

I simply cannot imagine that you would.

Anyhow, I have had some fruitful private conversations here, and that is the primary reason why I'm still here.

I'm well aware that several forum members here have no regard whatsoever for me or what I have to say.

 

[ResidentAlien]

That's a very good and fair question, and I've often asked it of myself.

I have left here twice already, and it's not the website itself that is the problem.

Having read several of your posts/threads in the past, I think that I can safely assume/conclude that you readily recognize that a lot of posters here are pretty much clueless when it comes to rightly dividing the word of truth.

Would you HONESTLY want to be part of an assembly where certain posters here were able to address the congregation and share their views as if they were the word of God?

I simply cannot imagine that you would.

I can see your point: if this place somehow instantly became an in-person assembly I probably wouldn't stick around either; my standards for that kind of assembly are much higher. That's not a slam against anyone personally, I just mean my expectations for protocol would be much different.

But I don't see this place as the same as an in-person assembly of believers; it's not a church gathering and I think if a person looks at it that way they'll be sorely disappointed.