Thanks Van for your thoughtful comments regarding the over-emphasized meeting-obsessed churchianity we see from the institutional church. Responding though to your comment -
“Personally, I have fellowship on the internet, on the telephone, at work, in the mall, and anytime, anywhere, without feeling compelled to “meet” in a formal meeting, as if that is what defines “following Jesus Christ”, and the key to salvation.
I am positive that the real Body of Believers, are simply all human beings in whom dwells the Holy Spirit. The one and only Head of that spiritual Body is Jesus Christ. I think it misses the point of being followers of Jesus Christ, to make Christians believe that to be a Christian means—either the institutional church, or home fellowships, as the definition of following Christ.”
I certainly agree with you to a point. The regular gatherings of the church are unfortunately treated often like the beginning and end of Christianity and the primary manifestation of the church (Christ’s Body) on Earth.
I must ask, however, is there any acknowledgment of a smaller local church in your paradigm that might choose to have a regular meeting time and place? Paul greets a number of separate churches in the city of Rome saying to one in Romans 16:5 “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” This would seem to indicate they had regular meetings and that they were a separate church within the city of Rome.
The church meeting as we know it today (typically including worship, announcements, sermon, benediction etc.) has no New Testament basis but I would argue that the idea that small bodies of believers held regular intentional gathering where the Spirit moved and believers were encouraged is supported in the New Testament. Paul details instructions for such gatherings in 1 Cor. 11-14.
I’m concerned that what you’re describing is an over-reaction to the current church model today instead of a balanced view emerging from a fresh, balanced study of the New Testament. These gathering are NOT “church” or “the body” but they ARE essential tools for building the Body of Christ and making life as the church what God intended.
~ Jeremy
Hi Jeremy. I tend to agree that there is a little over-reaction going on here. So much of the NT content is not only in the context of intentional meetings but would require such gatherings as opposed to accidental happenings. “Church”, in fact, means intentional gathering. Several times we read: when you come together…
Besides, there is a direct mandate not to forsake the assembling together.
“Some assembly reqired,” I say.
God bless you, brother.
I believe the scripture indicates that the people in whom the writer was writing to were in the habit of not getting together with other followers of Christ. I didn’t get the impression from Mr. Robison’s comments that he was suggesting that people should not assemble.
He did say, “without feeling compelled to “meet” in a formal meeting.” There are many today who do in fact feel compelled and put upon to “meet” and the reality of the situtation is that it ends up serving to build up the institutional church more than to build up the true body of Christ.
We should however look at the intention of the gathering. When Christ is in fact allowed to be the Head of the gathering than the intention of the gathering is much different. If we look at His examples of gathering they are very sporadic, but they had a purpose. I believe what Mr. Robison is saying is that we should leave Christ in charge of how He prefers to gather His sheep rather.
I do believe that scripture speaks of the “local church” but probably not the way that we have interpreted it. The local church was most likely not a defined group that clung to each other and the doctrines that they had formed. But I must say that building relationships is important, more often than none Christ did this one on one with people.
I like what Zane said, “Some assembly reqired,” This is so very true. We also must remember that as creatures given to the flesh we need to rely on Him for that assembling, because when we put it together ourselves it doesn’t look like the Body that He prefers. This is an important part of really trusting Christ as the Head of the Body. Do we trust Him to determine when, where and with whom we should gather or do we trust ourselves more?
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