The ideal local church, what is it?

[1689Dave]

I’ve often thought about what it would be like to attend a biblically correct church. For me it would agree with the Ecumenical Creeds as far as the Trinity and Deity of Christ. It would baptize believers by immersion in water, in the Name Of Jesus Christ as the Apostles did. It would be Calvinistic in views of sin and grace. It would be Cessationist on the “tongues” movement. It would be Amillennial in eschatology only with the visible institutional church replaced by the believer’s only body of Christ. It would center on teaching God’s word with evangelism assigned to each believer in their daily walk. There would be a plurality of male pastors. Meetings could be in houses or restaurants. A dedicated building would be optional…… Just some thoughts...

What do you think?

 

[37818]

Ecumenical Creeds

They deny that the Son is an uncaused being.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Winter Garden Primitive Baptist Church... look it up

 

[Alofa Atu]

I’ve often thought about what it would be like to attend a biblically correct church. ...

What do you think?

The ideal and correct Church is the one found in Revelation:

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Its the Church that has Jesus in its midst, walking up and down in it, by His Holy Spirit, thus since the candlesticks are symbols of the Church, and the Church is likened unto a woman, and a woman like unto the body, Christ in the midst of His people, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.

It is identified specifically:

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Any body of persons, calling themselves Christians, and are not keeping the 'commandments of God' (Exodus 20:1-17), have just failed that test (therefore read that passage closely; John 14:15; Exodus 20:6), regardless of whatever man-made foolishness is set as criteria.

 

[ChurchofChristguy]

My ideal church would be much more than a service. It would be a few close families that meet several times per week, in a member's home, to break bread, share testimony, pray, have communion once a week to keep a focus on Christ, and most of all, care for one another.

No more building payments, smoke machines, and star-studded guest speakers selling books.

One of the devil's most masterful works since Christ's ascension is convincing humanity that the essence of our faith has been reduced to a mere church service. Most have bought what the devil is selling, and that must make him very happy.

 

[Reynolds]

I’ve often thought about what it would be like to attend a biblically correct church. For me it would agree with the Ecumenical Creeds as far as the Trinity and Deity of Christ. It would baptize believers by immersion in water, in the Name Of Jesus Christ as the Apostles did. It would be Calvinistic in views of sin and grace. It would be Cessationist on the “tongues” movement. It would be Amillennial in eschatology only with the visible institutional church replaced by the believer’s only body of Christ. It would center on teaching God’s word with evangelism assigned to each believer in their daily walk. There would be a plurality of male pastors. Meetings could be in houses or restaurants. A dedicated building would be optional…… Just some thoughts...

What do you think?

Except I would say Classical Arminian and non-cessationist.

 

[Walter]

My ideal church would be much more than a service. It would be a few close families that meet several times per week, in a member's home, to break bread, share testimony, pray, have communion once a week to keep a focus on Christ, and most of all, care for one another.

No more building payments, smoke machines, and star-studded guest speakers selling books.

One of the devil's most masterful works since Christ's ascension is convincing humanity that the essence of our faith has been reduced to a mere church service. Most have bought what the devil is selling, and that must make him very happy.

Would observing holy communion once a week be your personal preference? A case could be made that we possibly have Christians meeting together daily in homes for 'the prayers' and 'the breaking of bread'. (Acts 2). Or, do you believe this was simply a common meal?

 

[ChurchofChristguy]

Would observing holy communion once a week be your personal preference? A case could be made that we possibly have Christians meeting together daily in homes for 'the prayers' and 'the breaking of bread'. (Acts 2). Or, do you believe this was simply a common meal?

Well, I do believe that in Acts, the saints were consistently meeting, and breaking bread when they did, which indicates the communion instituted by Christ. I would never call it law by any stretch, but doing so before I start every week would be helpful to me. That is one tradition of the CoC that I really like.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I’ve often thought about what it would be like to attend a biblically correct church. For me it would agree with the Ecumenical Creeds as far as the Trinity and Deity of Christ. It would baptize believers by immersion in water, in the Name Of Jesus Christ as the Apostles did. It would be Calvinistic in views of sin and grace. It would be Cessationist on the “tongues” movement. It would be Amillennial in eschatology only with the visible institutional church replaced by the believer’s only body of Christ. It would center on teaching God’s word with evangelism assigned to each believer in their daily walk. There would be a plurality of male pastors. Meetings could be in houses or restaurants. A dedicated building would be optional…… Just some thoughts...

What do you think?

Totally agree

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

My ideal church would be much more than a service. It would be a few close families that meet several times per week, in a member's home, to break bread, share testimony, pray, have communion once a week to keep a focus on Christ, and most of all, care for one another.

No more building payments, smoke machines, and star-studded guest speakers selling books.

One of the devil's most masterful works since Christ's ascension is convincing humanity that the essence of our faith has been reduced to a mere church service. Most have bought what the devil is selling, and that must make him very happy.

It does indeed

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The ideal and correct Church is the one found in Revelation:

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Its the Church that has Jesus in its midst, walking up and down in it, by His Holy Spirit, thus since the candlesticks are symbols of the Church, and the Church is likened unto a woman, and a woman like unto the body, Christ in the midst of His people, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.

It is identified specifically:

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Any body of persons, calling themselves Christians, and are not keeping the 'commandments of God' (Exodus 20:1-17), have just failed that test (therefore read that passage closely; John 14:15; Exodus 20:6), regardless of whatever man-made foolishness is set as criteria.

I would also add this Matthew 5:1-48

 

[1689Dave]

Except I would say Classical Arminian and non-cessationist.

I ran in those circles for a few years but had too many questions about tongues. I only resolved these from the cessationist position.

 

[1689Dave]

The ideal and correct Church is the one found in Revelation:

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Its the Church that has Jesus in its midst, walking up and down in it, by His Holy Spirit, thus since the candlesticks are symbols of the Church, and the Church is likened unto a woman, and a woman like unto the body, Christ in the midst of His people, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.

It is identified specifically:

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Any body of persons, calling themselves Christians, and are not keeping the 'commandments of God' (Exodus 20:1-17), have just failed that test (therefore read that passage closely; John 14:15; Exodus 20:6), regardless of whatever man-made foolishness is set as criteria.

My problem is that if you need to tell people not to murder or steal under threat of death, I don't want to sit next to them in church. I think Revelation speaks of the Two Great Commandments and not the Ten which were for losers.

 

[1689Dave]

They deny that the Son is an uncaused being.

The Father eternally begets the Son and they the Holy Spirit before time. So it is a static condition in the godhead without beginning or end.

 

[Reynolds]

I ran in those circles for a few years but had too many questions about tongues. I only resolved these from the cessationist position.

I can't resolve cessationism with scripture.

 

[1689Dave]

I can't resolve cessationism with scripture.

It is boldly there if you are willing to accept it. If tongues were to cease at the end of the world, why would Paul need to mention it?

 

[37818]

The Father eternally begets the Son and they the Holy Spirit before time. So it is a static condition in the godhead without beginning or end.

That is contrary to the word of God. The Son is the LORD God with the Father, and so is uncaused as the Father is uncaused.

 

[Reynolds]

It is boldly there if you are willing to accept it. If tongues were to cease at the end of the world, why would Paul need to mention it?

It's definitely not there.

 

[1689Dave]

It's definitely not there.

Just that the Revelation of Jesus Christ by John was the Revelation of Jesus Christ Paul spoke of as the point in time to stop seeking the gifts. Much more also refutes tongues today as being nothing more than "Pentecostal Knock-offs".

 

[1689Dave]

That is contrary to the word of God. The Son is the LORD God with the Father, and so is uncaused as the Father is uncaused.

The Father begets, the Son is begotten from eternity. Or else God changes which perfection cannot do.