Going into the weekend, I felt it rather appropriate to leave some tidbit or thought as I work on some deeper thoughts. However, since Matt Richie shared some ponderings that I share, I figured I'd drop a link over to his post instead. Enjoy!
Twenty Questions (or thereabouts)
My particular favorites are the following:Who decided that...
…a message is a critical component of each gathering of believers?
…attending a weekly gathering in an auditorium is the primary thing that determines whether you are a legitimate Christian?
Friday, February 10, 2006
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3 comments:
Regarding attending a weekly meeting in an audotorium - the writer of Hebrews tells us in paraphrase - "continue to meet together". Now as to the sermon or not - the purpose is to encourage, edify, challenge, and support one another - It kind of goes along with Will Spina's comments on involvement with ONE ANOTHER. How can we be involved and encourage if we fail to meet together? How can we help each other overcome our struggles without involvement. Hopefully the lessons given on any given meeting wether in sermon or devotional or in conversation will challenge us to see our weak points and need for God in our lives to overcome. Could say much more on the subject but you get the drift. All of this doesn't necessarily mean that by attending you will automatically get all of the encouragement and growth. Sometimes we attend (I have) but really get nothing out of it. Sometimes goes to the phrase - "You get out of it what you put in." I will admit at times I don't put in what I should. But that is life we have our ups and downs.
The thrust of the one comment goes towards the following phrase...
weekly gathering in an auditorium
As in, who said to be a Christian you had to show up every week to a designated venue which is designed for one person to speak and an audience to listen. Can you not be a Christian if your primary means of gathering together is meeting with people in homes, cafes, restaurants, gyms, etc? Are people involved in home church movements (ones more geared towards small group or devotional style fellowship) not real Christians? Obviously, I am being a bit sarcastic here, but you get the drift. I don't dismiss the value and need to meet together regularly, but I don't see anything in scripture that says once a week we need to passively sit and listen to one person teach a lesson.
James,
Not sure if my response made it up so the long and the short of what I said was that I agree with your comment about not having to meet in an auditorium with a single speaker. The early church met in homes, many still do. As for a single speaker - again the early church must have had numerous speakers per gathering - probably more like our devotional gatherings. They were all learning together. Where we probably got the idea for a single speaker comes from a lot of areas but may have also come from trying to emulate the first century church they did have occasion to sue both styles. Take having Paul come and "Preach", he was inspired and was most knowledgeable. So in that manner it made sense. Then probably morphed to the Preacher - one who was enlisted to take the time to prepare and present the lessons to equip the rest of the body.
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