going to church 3 times a week

[annsni]

In other words, tiny..

A small Church is not what it is supposed to look like?

Hogwash!

My Bible tells me that many are called, but few are chosen. David was chastised by God for numbering the people. God is not wanting numbers, He is wanting faithfulness and obedience.

Many of the larger churches seem to forget that.

A church of 3 is what a church should look like if it's following the Lord. A church of 3 that is not following the Lord is not what a church should look like. Now change those numbers to thousands and you get the same response.

I'd rather be in a small church where Christ is than a huge church without Him. In the same way, I'd rather be in a church of 5,000 (yikes!) with Christ than a church of 10 without Him.

Christ is the important ingredient here.

Yes, we have what would be considered a larger church - hence the need for 9 pastors. One pastor would have a stroke pretty quickly trying to keep up with everything. LOL! We're not about numbers - we're about how many lives are changed. How can we make disciples?

 

[webdog]

The other 6 are not "Rufus days".

Yet, still no answer

Then if your church assembles on that day and you decide not to, then are you not forsaking that assembly?

Define "foresake", and then show from Scripture that if one doesn't assemble every 7 days they are "forsaking" the assemble. I won't be holding my breathe...

My bad, not an infidel rather, worse than an infidel.

Way to yank Scripture out of context. You are quite good at that.

David and Peter are you fathers?

The actions are what I was after. I think you know that, though.

 

[James_Newman]

Yeah, OK Tiny. I thought you were leaving?

 

[tinytim]

Is it legalism to believe that Christian folk assemble at an agreed time and place and folks ought not to forsake that assembly? Is it legalism to believe that the Baptist day for assemblying has commonly and historically been the first day of the week? And while sickness and emergencies might cause a brother to miss that assembly (and we ought not hold it against him) ought we not compel our brethren to attend church once a week or should we just encourage them to come if they can make it but if they have other priorities they should feel free to fit church in whenever they can?

It is not legalism if you don't beat them up with your rules and regs.
If you make them feel less of a Christian, it is legalism.. we are all equal in Christ.

I preach attendance... but not to the point that I declare that those that attend every wed. are better than the ones that attend only on Sunday..
That is not biblical! show me if it is...
Show me where we are commanded to meet more than 1 time a week in an organized service...

There is no way a Christian can attend every function some church's have.. they would have to give up family, job, etc to do it...
Besides... some functions are not for everyone.. a men's meeting is not for women and vice versa....

 

[tinytim]

Yeah, OK Tiny. I thought you were leaving?

I am, I am.. I gotta get ready for church tonight unless I stay home to play on BB:laugh:

This thread is drawing me in, like a moth to a flame...

So while i am at church... (Where all good christians should be this evening...:tonofbricks: :laugh: ) you all keep this thread alive, so I can come back to it tonight!!!

 

[James_Newman]

Thats the problem, this started out with someone saying three services a week was unreasonable, and now we have been painted as saying that you have to attend every ladies auxiliary meeting even if you aren't a woman.

 

[webdog]

Thats the problem, this started out with someone saying three services a week was unreasonable, and now we have been painted as saying that you have to attend every ladies auxiliary meeting even if you aren't a woman.

Let me refresh your memory, as that is NOT what the OP started out as...

Lately my preacher has been on this kick about labeling people as being "casual Christians", "straddling the fence", or "luke warm" (and therefore apparently going to hell), if we don't go to church on Sunday morning, AND Sunday evening, AND Wednesday evening.

 

[James_Newman]

Oh, forgive me, it is unreasonable for the pastor to say that three services is not unreasonable.

 

[Rufus_1611]

It is not legalism if you don't beat them up with your rules and regs.
If you make them feel less of a Christian, it is legalism.. we are all equal in Christ.

I don't have any rules and regs, Bible does though. I have little power to make people feel, they are going to feel however they desire as they are in charge of their feelings. If I say that Christians should not forsake the assembly and this makes them feel bad or think that I think they're less of a Christian because they do not attend, there is not a thing I can do about that.

I preach attendance... but not to the point that I declare that those that attend every wed. are better than the ones that attend only on Sunday..
That is not biblical! show me if it is...
Show me where we are commanded to meet more than 1 time a week in an organized service...

"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." - Hebrews 10:25​

There is no way a Christian can attend every function some church's have.. they would have to give up family, job, etc to do it...

Give up family!? I believe Christians should take their family to church. I guess there's another case for me being a legalist.

Besides... some functions are not for everyone.. a men's meeting is not for women and vice versa....

Right...and there's somebody on this thread making the argument that men should go to women events and vice versa?

 

[His Blood Spoke My Name]

Churches that don't grow are doing something wrong...

We are living in the last days. The Word of God tells us that in the last days many will fall away from the faith... not cling to it. Churches that are growing by the thousands must be doing something wrong according to the Word of God.

The commission to the church is to Make disciples.. not set around discussing how right they are, and how wrong everyone else is...

Here is the great commission:
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This command was given to the 11 Apostles. That command was carried out in the Book of Acts when the Apostles truly had carried the Gospel into all the world.

If the preachers today are telling people 'It's ok if you miss services once in a while, God understands' would only tell the people the truth... that God wants His people gathering unto Him not scattering abroad... God just may be pleased with the message.

A church that is not growing is dying!

A church that is growing may very well be dead already.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Oh, forgive me, it is unreasonable for the pastor to say that three services is not unreasonable.

Woooah...that's a total brain fry. Translated...it is reasonable for the pastor to say that three services is reasonable...particularly if one has submitted to his authority eh?

 

[James_Newman]

Woooah...that's a total brain fry. Translated...it is reasonable for the pastor to say that three services is reasonable...particularly if one has submitted to his authority eh?

Seems like I started a thread on that somewhere, but nobody wanted to talk about it...

 

[Rufus_1611]

Seems like I started a thread on that somewhere, but nobody wanted to talk about it...

Who would? You let a pastor start telling you what to do and you might have to go to church.

 

[rbell]

We are living in the last days. The Word of God tells us that in the last days many will fall away from the faith... not cling to it. Churches that are growing by the thousands must be doing something wrong according to the Word of God.

A church that is growing may very well be dead already.

What dizzying illogic.


If you think: "Numerical growth=God's blessings" you've got it wrong.

Conversely, "Numerical growth=A dead church" you've got it wrong as well.

 

[webdog]

Who would? You let a pastor start telling you what to do and you might have to go to church.

A pastors responsibility is to tell the members what to do? Is he a dictator?

 

[webdog]

What dizzying illogic.

This threads full of it.

 

[James_Newman]

Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

 

[Rufus_1611]

A pastors responsibility is to tell the members what to do? Is he a dictator?

That's pretty extreme don't you think? Is it a dictatorial request of a pastor to ask his flock to show up?

Check out this thread if you haven't already...

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=38541&highlight=submit+authority

 

[webdog]

That's pretty extreme don't you think? Is it a dictatorial request of a pastor to ask his flock to show up?

Check out this thread if you haven't already...

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=38541&highlight=submit+authority

Accusing the members of being "fence straddlers" and "lukewarm" for not attending 3 services a week is hardly "asking" anything.

 

[webdog]

Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Who are "them"? A pastor is a "him".