Heb 10:25

[Salty]

I visited one of my members the other day. He wanted me to meet a friend of his, and encourage him to come to church. We had a good conversation. He gave a good testimony of salvation. But he stated he hated the hypocritical churches. One thing was his extremly long hair. He mentioned how some churches will preach against it.
John and I told him that would not be a problem.
Then I mentioned Heb 10:25 - and explained that we need to worship the Lord.
He stated - isnt that what we are doing now - even with 3 of us - we are having church.

He just does not want to attend a regular church service.

Open for suggestions

 

[Alan Gross]

I visited one of my members the other day. He wanted me to meet a friend of his, and encourage him to come to church. We had a good conversation. He gave a good testimony of salvation. But he stated he hated the hypocritical churches. One thing was his extremly long hair. He mentioned how some churches will preach against it.
John and I told him that would not be a problem.
Then I mentioned Heb 10:25 - and explained that we need to worship the Lord.
He stated - isnt that what we are doing now - even with 3 of us - we are having church.

He just does not want to attend a regular church service.

Open for suggestions

Hebrew 10:25 should mean something to his saved soul, if so.

My interest and concern that he place his soul under the Teaching of the Eternal Word of God.

The issue of making long hair a point of fellowship is up to each church, whether they will bring it up, or even look down their noses.

I say he could TRY to talk to the Pastors.
They will usually be glad to show their legalism.

Is it a principal? Yes, one that God can deal with in the individual, in time.

 

[Salty]

Hebrew 10:25 should mean something to his saved soul, if so..

I agree - I think that he is just trying to find an excuse.

My interest and concern that he place his soul under the Teaching of the Eternal Word of God..

Fully agree -

The issue of making long hair a point of fellowship is up to each church, whether they will bring it up, or even look down their noses..

Not an issue here

I say he could TRY to talk to the Pastors.
They will usually be glad to show their legalism..

I am the only pastor of the church - a very small church

Is it a principal? Yes, one that God can deal with in the individual, in time.

Yes, we just may need some patirence.

There were some other issues - that I would prefer not to mention here at the present time.

He said he might consider coming one time. -
Will try to keep you all posted

 

[Alan Gross]

I agree - I think that he is just trying to find an excuse.

Fully agree -

Not an issue here


I am the only pastor of the church - a very small church


Yes, we just may need some patience.

There were some other issues - that I would prefer not to mention here at the present time.

He said he might consider coming one time. -
Will try to keep you all posted

We will make it a matter of prayer for you all!

 

[unprofitable]

Your friend is in rebellion against the Lord.

1 John 3:14 says, "We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

His refusal to assemble with the brethren shows an absence of love for them. Failure to assemble with the brethren has long been a reason for exclusion among many Baptists

His claim that the 3 of you were having church misses the mark. You may be having fellowship but you are not a church according to the scriptures.

He needs to know that an individual cannot be a church, one can only be a member.

By not being a member of the body of Christ, he cannot be a functioning member

He cannot practice church discipline as this requires a body with authority to do so. Mt 18

He cannot vote on matters of church doctrine.

He cannot baptize.

He cannot partake of the Lord's supper if that body practices closed communion.

Christ said in John 14:21, "He that hath my commandments (a scriptural church) and keepeth/observeth them, he it is that loveth me..." The Lord's supper and baptism are two of the commandments/observances given to the body of Christ.

Only a scriptural body of Christ has the authority to to the above, just to name a few. Only a body of Christ can keep the New Covenant because it is the marriage covenant of the bride.

He may tell your and your other friend he loves you but if he does not love the body that Christ created and the brethren in it, Christ says he does not love him, regardless of his testimony of faith. He has not believed the Lord as to keeping his commandments as a member of a functioning body of Christ as the kingdom of God.

 

[Salty]

Just to clarify - the only time I met this individual is when John introduce me to him last week.

 

[AustinC]

I visited one of my members the other day. He wanted me to meet a friend of his, and encourage him to come to church. We had a good conversation. He gave a good testimony of salvation. But he stated he hated the hypocritical churches. One thing was his extremly long hair. He mentioned how some churches will preach against it.
John and I told him that would not be a problem.
Then I mentioned Heb 10:25 - and explained that we need to worship the Lord.
He stated - isnt that what we are doing now - even with 3 of us - we are having church.

He just does not want to attend a regular church service.

Open for suggestions

Point him toward membership in the Covenant. Israel was to remain in fellowship with other Israelites. They were connected by Covenant with God and thus held accountable to the Covenant by their fellow countrymen.

We are not only in Covenant with God (by the New Covenant) but we are tied to that Covenant with each other. Hypocrites though we all are at times, we are bound in Covenant membership and we bear each other's burdens in the Covenant. When one person is in hypocrisy the whole body is breaking Covenant.

One way to see this is the sin of Achan. It wasn't just an individual sin. It was a Covenantal sin.
*Joshua 7:1*
But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.

This man should have great concern for his brothers and sisters who are being hypocrites. He should be going to the "Embassy of the King" (Church) to learn of our Kings wishes and to work with others in the Covenant to bring back the hypocrites or remove them from the Covenant. He is a member and with membership comes responsibility. This man is staying away from his responsibility and is therefore one of the hypocrites he so despises.

 

[Alan Gross]

Your friend is in rebellion against the Lord.

1 John 3:14 says, "We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

His refusal to assemble with the brethren shows an absence of love for them. Failure to assemble with the brethren has long been a reason for exclusion among many Baptists

His claim that the 3 of you were having church misses the mark. You may be having fellowship but you are not a church according to the scriptures.

He needs to know that an individual cannot be a church, one can only be a member.

By not being a member of the body of Christ, he cannot be a functioning member

He cannot practice church discipline as this requires a body with authority to do so. Mt 18

He cannot vote on matters of church doctrine.

He cannot baptize.

He cannot partake of the Lord's supper if that body practices closed communion.

Christ said in John 14:21, "He that hath my commandments (a scriptural church) and keepeth/observeth them, he it is that loveth me..." The Lord's supper and baptism are two of the commandments/observances given to the body of Christ.

Only a scriptural body of Christ has the authority to to the above, just to name a few. Only a body of Christ can keep the New Covenant because it is the marriage covenant of the bride.

He may tell your and your other friend he loves you but if he does not love the body that Christ created and the brethren in it, Christ says he does not love him, regardless of his testimony of faith. He has not believed the Lord as to keeping his commandments as a member of a functioning body of Christ as the kingdom of God.

That definitely "shifts the argument".

They may be interested to know that Matthew 18:19,
includes, "in My Name", which indicates Church Authority,
as an Organized assembly.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”