More from my conversation in Christchurch with Sara, John and Mary Beaumont, and David and Nina Rice:
It could be argued that those who file into buildings on Sunday morning and only meet, live and fellowship with a select group of God’s people are the ones who violate the spirit of in Hebrews’ admonition to “forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.” This Scripture is not about going to meetings, but living in the reality of the oneness of Christ’s body. We’ve got to see the body as including all of God’s children, not just those who believe or act the same way we do.
Now that’s a thought…
Thanks for the sanity of that explanation. I am a little tired of it being made the alpha and Omega of Church meetings.
As always, a blessing!
Thanks for the sanity of that explanation. I am a little tired of it being made the alpha and Omega of Church meetings.
As always, a blessing!
The body includes ALL of God’s children? Wouldn’t that let a lot of ‘riffraff’ in? They’re not well learned OR well spoken. How could that possibly add value to the assembly? And might that not detract from our UNITY? Some of them have strange ideas about community, and more importantly… the ASSEMBLY! This is not a good thing!
Kidding aside, isn’t it sad how we divide ourselves into sects of exclusivity and think isolation from the rest of the body promotes purity and safety?
I’m learning in my own walk to see the value in all of God’s people. Last week, I had coffee with a nice couple in Starbuck’s (for 2 hours), and after spending time enjoying each other’s company, and sharing spiritual insights, I learned that they were staunch Presbyterians! If we focus on what joins us, instead of our differences, amazing fellowship can happen.
We’re going thru a time of difficulty with some neighbors who live a very different life stlye than we. In telling them that we view the church as erred and have even stopped calling ourselves Christians in the way the "churchey folk" understand, we have been able to open doors of welcome others have had shut in their faces. Good thought, Wayne
I learned last night that one of my friends who has recently joined us in this freer journey with Father had this verse tossed in his face by a friend a few days ago. In talking about it, we realized that, in fact, we are "assembling" more than ever before in real relationship together now that we do not attend a regular "church." The freedom to love ALL of God”s people without feeling the need to defend our own little clique is a wonderful thing!
The body includes ALL of God’s children? Wouldn’t that let a lot of ‘riffraff’ in? They’re not well learned OR well spoken. How could that possibly add value to the assembly? And might that not detract from our UNITY? Some of them have strange ideas about community, and more importantly… the ASSEMBLY! This is not a good thing!
Kidding aside, isn’t it sad how we divide ourselves into sects of exclusivity and think isolation from the rest of the body promotes purity and safety?
I’m learning in my own walk to see the value in all of God’s people. Last week, I had coffee with a nice couple in Starbuck’s (for 2 hours), and after spending time enjoying each other’s company, and sharing spiritual insights, I learned that they were staunch Presbyterians! If we focus on what joins us, instead of our differences, amazing fellowship can happen.
We’re going thru a time of difficulty with some neighbors who live a very different life stlye than we. In telling them that we view the church as erred and have even stopped calling ourselves Christians in the way the "churchey folk" understand, we have been able to open doors of welcome others have had shut in their faces. Good thought, Wayne
assembling OURSELVES together, could mean getting our own act together, body soul and spirit. One with the father.
I learned last night that one of my friends who has recently joined us in this freer journey with Father had this verse tossed in his face by a friend a few days ago. In talking about it, we realized that, in fact, we are "assembling" more than ever before in real relationship together now that we do not attend a regular "church." The freedom to love ALL of God”s people without feeling the need to defend our own little clique is a wonderful thing!
Thinking about it further, it occurs to me that whenever we DO come together, it should be (as scripture shows) to "encourage one-another". In other words, to participate in the sharing the life and love of Christ, and to care for each other through the life-giving words of faith… it’s not to attend a program performed by a select group of people. To me, that corrupts the whole idea of "assembling together".
Wow! Don’t just bring his books back to the states bring him and the others as well! 🙂
assembling OURSELVES together, could mean getting our own act together, body soul and spirit. One with the father.
Thinking about it further, it occurs to me that whenever we DO come together, it should be (as scripture shows) to "encourage one-another". In other words, to participate in the sharing the life and love of Christ, and to care for each other through the life-giving words of faith… it’s not to attend a program performed by a select group of people. To me, that corrupts the whole idea of "assembling together".
Wow! Don’t just bring his books back to the states bring him and the others as well! 🙂