re: 3x church thread

[standingfirminChrist]

TRODDED! Are you kidding me, it seems as if he lives there. It seems to be all he knows. :laugh: I pray that restraints of legalism can be lifted from both him and the untold number of other Christ-followers that are bound by this attack of Satan.

As a pastor, I encourage my people to attend every activity. But I also understand physical limitations and work schedules. IF by coming to a mid week service someone is so physically beat down that on Thursday and Friday they risk loosing their job because they are not getting enough rest due to Prayer service and visitation keeping them up later than normal then they need to stay home and go to bed. They cannot be a good testimony of being a Christ-Follower if they are a liability at work. God understands that the culture in which we live does not allow for some to attend every time the doors are opened.

There is an absolut difference between those that desire to attend but cannot and those that simply do not desire to attend. I suspect the referenced comments refer to those that simply do not desire to attend.

Don't get twisted over everything your pastor says, he is just doing his best to keep those that are active, active and thost that are not active to get active. Sometimes we have to get a little out there to get those off of the stump that really need to move.

Ummm.... excuse me....
How can it be legalism if he is following Christ? All I have seen from HBSMN's posts is what lines up with God's Holy Word.

You guys think God or Jesus Christ were legalistic?

Disagree with His Word if you want, but don't slap the name legalist on someone who agrees with His Word.

 

[jshurley04]

Ummm.... excuse me....
How can it be legalism if he is following Christ? All I have seen from HBSMN's posts is what lines up with God's Holy Word.

You guys think God or Jesus Christ were legalistic?

Disagree with His Word if you want, but don't slap the name legalist on someone who agrees with His Word.

Hey, the devil believes the word and even uses it to his own end, that does not make him saved. When the instructions of Paul are clearly disregarded and replaced with an action/works based philosophy, that is when it becomes legalism. Just because you do the works that Christ has instructed us to do, in no means makes you a Christ Follower. The saddest four words that will ever be heard by the preachers of legalism are "I never knew you" after they are told to depart from the presence of God. It is all based on the heart, if the heart is not right then the works are worthless.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Hey, the devil believes the word and even uses it to his own end, that does not make him saved. When the instructions of Paul are clearly disregarded and replaced with an action/works based philosophy, that is when it becomes legalism. Just because you do the works that Christ has instructed us to do, in no means makes you a Christ Follower. The saddest four words that will ever be heard by the preachers of legalism are "I never knew you" after they are told to depart from the presence of God. It is all based on the heart, if the heart is not right then the works are worthless.

Does the devil prefer that Christians assemble or that they stay home and say "no legalist is going to tell me to go to church"?

 

[Servent]

Originally Posted by jshurley04
.

As a pastor, I encourage my people to attend every activity. But I also understand physical limitations and work schedules. IF by coming to a mid week service someone is so physically beat down that on Thursday and Friday they risk loosing their job because they are not getting enough rest due to Prayer service and visitation keeping them up later than normal then they need to stay home and go to bed. They cannot be a good testimony of being a Christ-Follower if they are a liability at work. God understands that the culture in which we live does not allow for some to attend every time the doors are opened.


Semes to me that if a person is that physically beat up they would want to go to mid-week service to get re-charged.

.

 

[His Blood Spoke My Name]

I echo the words found in the Word of God:

Hebrews 10:25 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.

Since this is the Word of God, one is commanded to assemble and to encourage others to assemble more than ever. I see no words to indicate any other option.

 

[dan e.]

Does the devil prefer that Christians assemble or that they stay home and say "no legalist is going to tell me to go to church"?

That isn't what this thread has been about. Nobody has ever said that, nor denied that we can forsake assembling.

 

[dan e.]

I echo the words found in the Word of God:

Hebrews 10:25 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.

Since this is the Word of God, one is commanded to assemble and to encourage others to assemble more than ever. I see no words to indicate any other option.

Again, nobody has ever denied that. What that doesn't prove is that you are required to go X amount of times per week....but that you should not forsake assembling. Every verse you use to show that people should be in the physical building every time it is open hasn't proven you to be true. Nobody has denied what the verses mean, which is simply that we should not forsake meeting with the body of Christ.

What you have to prove....is that missing a Wednesday night for whatever reason forsakes the body of Christ when that person is meeting with them at other times, or only on Sundays, etc.

 

[His Blood Spoke My Name]

Is one truly following Christ when one chooses to stay out of Church?

Is it truly Christ's will that one miss even one service where spiritual food is served?

The Word of God says

Psalms 92:12-14 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

and

Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

If a tree is not getting the proper amount of water and nutrients from the sun and soil, it will eventually die.

The disciples knew that there was to be a zeal for the House of God. They remembered the words of the psalmist.

After the resurrection and ascention of the Lord, the disciples were in the Church every day. Why were they there if it were not important?

They were there, about the Father's business, instead of sitting at home. They did not love father, mother, son or daughter more than Christ. They were willing deny self.

Today, what we see mostly are 'loophole Christians'. Looking for any excuse to go against the Word of God.

 

[Rufus_1611]

That isn't what this thread has been about. Nobody has ever said that, nor denied that we can forsake assembling.

This is really about whether or not a pastor has the authority to exhort and rebuke Christians to come to church on the days that the body agrees to assemble. I believe the leader of that body has the authority to establish when to assemble (if he is wise he will get elder and member buy-in, though I do not believe a church is to be a democracy) and to call people out if they are not attending on agreed dates. I believe he has scriptural support for assembling more than once a week during this age, and I believe he has the authority of his office to rebuke when he feels led. Finally, I believe the role of a church member is to submit to the authority of this office, while being a good Berean and testing all things.


Original Post...

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. I'm sorry, but I just can't get into it. I was brought up in a rural church where my pastor was actually a full time coal miner and these services didn't even exist, and I guess that's what I'm used to. I value my family time in the evenings and I'm having a hard time with messing this up twice a week. Every time I attempt to go to one of these night services, it ends up being mostly a social happening, and with my social skills so horrible that I can't even remember 95% of the names of the congregation even though I've been going there for like 9 years, I really only end up talking to my immediately family, and quite honestly I'd much rather be doing that at home.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Again, nobody has ever denied that. What that doesn't prove is that you are required to go X amount of times per week....but that you should not forsake assembling. Every verse you use to show that people should be in the physical building every time it is open hasn't proven you to be true. Nobody has denied what the verses mean, which is simply that we should not forsake meeting with the body of Christ.

What you have to prove....is that missing a Wednesday night for whatever reason forsakes the body of Christ when that person is meeting with them at other times, or only on Sundays, etc.

You are required to go as many times as your pastor says to or remove yourself from his authority.

"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." - Hebrews 13:17
​

 

[dan e.]

Is one truly following Christ when one chooses to stay out of Church?

Is it truly Christ's will that one miss even one service where spiritual food is served?

Nobody is staying out of church. Again, you're missing the thread. Not one single person has ever stated it is okay to "stay out of church".


Spiritual food is not located in a building. You don't need a Pastor to be fed...and if so....well, there isn't much I can say to change your mind.

don't get me wrong....I don't think we should forsake meeting together.

 

[dan e.]

You are required to go as many times as your pastor says to or remove yourself from his authority.

"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." - Hebrews 13:17
​

No I'm not.




How's that for a short answer!

 

[gb93433]

It is all based on the heart, if the heart is not right then the works are worthless.

So it is all worthless if the mechanic fixing your car does not have a perfect attitude the day he fixes your car but does an excellent job?

Show me one person God used who always had a perfect heart and his work was all worthless.

God uses imperfect humble people regularly.

 

[dan e.]

I'm not too sure there is much I can say to explain myself. Most of us here are pretty set in our ways.

Just don't think I'm some heathen that skips church!! Although I'm not there right now, and the doors are open!! :laugh:

 

[Rufus_1611]

No I'm not.




How's that for a short answer!

That's pretty short Are you saying you are not required to go to church as many times as the pastor says or that you are not required to obey them that have rule over you? Or are you suggesting Hebrews 13:17 means something other than what I have suggested it does?

 

[dan e.]

I'm saying that the Pastor isn't there to set benchmarks of how often a person needs to show up. That isn't his job. Yes, a Pastor is there to oversee the assembling of the believers...but this isn't what we are talking about. Does missing a Wednesday night mean someone is "forsaking to assemble"? I say no...if that person is consistently meeting with the church during other times. In our culture...the day of worship and assembling for the church is Sunday mornings or Sunday nights. If someone were consistently missing gatherings, then yes, I would hope they would be met with. But I don't think someone missing a Wednesday night for a ball game, or whatever reason, is foresaking to assemble in the context of Scripture.

 

[His Blood Spoke My Name]

missing wednesday night for a ball game is saying the things of the world is more important than the things of God.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

[Rufus_1611]

I'm saying that the Pastor isn't there to set benchmarks of how often a person needs to show up. That isn't his job. Yes, a Pastor is there to oversee the assembling of the believers...but this isn't what we are talking about. Does missing a Wednesday night mean someone is "forsaking to assemble"? I say no...if that person is consistently meeting with the church during other times. In our culture...the day of worship and assembling for the church is Sunday mornings or Sunday nights. If someone were consistently missing gatherings, then yes, I would hope they would be met with. But I don't think someone missing a Wednesday night for a ball game, or whatever reason, is foresaking to assemble in the context of Scripture.

Alright, so now your pastor comes before the assembly and says those who would skip assembling together in favor of worldly entertainment are lukewarm, fence-sitting, casual Christians. Which of the following do you do?:

1. Continue to attend the church on your preferred days and rebel and murmur against the pastors teaching
   
2. Remove yourself from the authority of the local assembly and its leadership and stay at home all days
   
3. Find a new pastor that teaches things that are more appealing to your ball game attendance
   
4. Submit yourself to those that rule over you and care for your soul, forsake the entertainment of the world and assemble with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
   
5. Other

 

[His Blood Spoke My Name]

Just wondering...

For those who are not faithful in attendance, what else are you slack in?

Prayer?
Tithes and Offerings?
Witnessing?
Other?

 

[dan e.]

missing wednesday night for a ball game is saying the things of the world is more important than the things of God.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

No it isn't.