Question about the unchurched.

[Blessed be His Name]

Do you guys not believe in fellowshipping together with other Christains or are you just in the process of finding a church?

[hebrew33]

Hi! What is your meaning of fellowship? To me it is more than being with a group of people one day a week. I am always looking for a group to fellowship with. Fellowship, to me, is God centered sharing and receiving. Not out of any obligation but from love. Most "chrstian denominations" believe their group has the only real truth. I am getting quite an education on this forum concerning differences. I'm sorry for jumping around with thoughts!

[New_Wineskin]

Do you guys not believe in fellowshipping together with other Christains or are you just in the process of finding a church?

What do you mean by "believe in" fellowshipping together ? Of course , it exists . It may or may not be for us but it does exist .

[StevenL]

I believe in assembling with the members of the Body but I'm not trying to find a church. I was baptized into the Body of Christ by the Spirit of Yeshua...don't really need to look any further. :) Getting together with Spirit-born family is Life.

[halifaxhoney]

I'm not really looking for a church but I'm open to going and if I like a certian one I'd probably go.

I use CF as my fellowship for now.

[Blessed be His Name]

So you are saying that some people don't need the church? Some people have all the spiritual gifts thus not needing edification from other Christians?

[StevenL]

There's a great difference between "going to church" and the building up of the Body of Christ. The spiritual manifestations belong to the Body. I've seen more true manifestations of God outside "churches" than within them.

[New_Wineskin]

So you are saying that some people don't need the church? Some people have all the spiritual gifts thus not needing edification from other Christians?

So , you are saying that Jesus isn't enough ? That He is not sufficient ?

[invisiblebabe]

There's a great difference between "going to church" and the building up of the Body of Christ. The spiritual manifestations belong to the Body. I've seen more true manifestations of God outside "churches" than within them.

:amen:

So , you are saying that Jesus isn't enough ? That He is not sufficient ? Of course He is sufficient for salvation, but in the relational sense, He is not sufficient. God said it Himself in Genesis, back when the creation was perfect and had not fallen, that "it is not good for man to be alone." And then, He created another person.

I also have many stories from my own experience that would illustrate quite well that a Christian needs other believers, whether it be in church or in friendships.

[New_Wineskin]

Of course He is sufficient for salvation, but in the relational sense, He is not sufficient. God said it Himself in Genesis, back when the creation was perfect and had not fallen, that "it is not good for man to be alone." And then, He created another person.



Yes . He said that it was not good for Adam ( man ) to be alone . He created a spouse for him . It was not a law for man ( Adam ) . It was something that He said to Himself and did something about it . Using the above line of thinking is to say that all should be married because the Lord gave man a spouse . Of course , one could also say that using this passage indicates that the Lord would bring people to those that are alone . So , there is no need to look ( as those with the Law of "going to church" usually say that one must do ) .

I *have* a relationship - with the Lord . He is sufficient for relation .


I also have many stories from my own experience that would illustrate quite well that a Christian needs other believers, whether it be in church or in friendships.

*Your* personal experiences are not proof that *all* people *need* something . Not everyone is the same . This is saying that salvation is conditional on being with other believers . *Need* is a very big word .

[~PICKLE~]

I'm not really looking for a church but I'm open to going and if I like a certian one I'd probably go.

I use CF as my fellowship for now.



This is exactly the way I feel. When you've been burned, you shy away from being burned again

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

So you are saying that some people don't need the church? Some people have all the spiritual gifts thus not needing edification from other Christians?

Who says to be edified, that one must go to church? What is your definition of "church?

I think a lot of the people here feel that edification is one of the last things that happen when they go to a church building.

[Count]

:amen:

Of course He is sufficient for salvation, but in the relational sense, He is not sufficient. God said it Himself in Genesis, back when the creation was perfect and had not fallen, that "it is not good for man to be alone." And then, He created another person.


This is but a shadow of what was following. It was not good for the groom to be alone. He needed a bride, the most beautiful girl in the world whose name is...... Ekklesia. This is ekklesia, the church, a girl, a "she", not an "it", not an institution, not an organization.

[Hisrosebud]

Where two or more are gathered---this to me is the church. Not a building, not an organization, not a scheduled event.

There are many churches where you can be a member for years, attend several meetings a week and never come to know how deep, how wide His love is for you---You may not be in the place that you need to be to grow.

If I felt that there was a church that I was led to go to, I would be obedient to that. I don't feel that need for today. Been out of church for less than 1 year and I feel so FREE! So grateful for the family time that I was robbed from. So grateful for sundays to rest...

Jane

[Blessed be His Name]

Who says to be edified, that one must go to church? What is your definition of "church?

I think a lot of the people here feel that edification is one of the last things that happen when they go to a church building.
I am not questioning wether or not you need "to go to church", but rather do you assemble with a local group of believers for the edification of the group and why?

[watchman7]

Do you guys not believe in fellowshipping together with other Christains or are you just in the process of finding a church?

Read the subtitle to this forum for your answer. You obviously are not a part of this "fellowship". If we are Christians, then we can and do fellowship. Welcome.

[watchman7]

So you are saying that some people don't need the church? Some people have all the spiritual gifts thus not needing edification from other Christians?

I didn't read any reply saying that some people have all spiritual gifts. We are the church. Saying we don't need the church is saying we don't need ourselves. I didn't read any reply saying we don't need edification from one another. What is your real question?

Brother in Christ?

[watchman7]

This is but a shadow of what was following. It was not good for the groom to be alone. He needed a bride, the most beautiful girl in the world whose name is...... Ekklesia. This is ekklesia, the church, a girl, a "she", not an "it", not an institution, not an organization.

I agree because this is truth.

[watchman7]

I am not questioning wether or not you need "to go to church", but rather do you assemble with a local group of believers for the edification of the group and why?

Why would you or do you assemble with a group of believers for edification? Why do you want know? It is good that you are really interested in the home assembly and those unaffiliated Christians. Perhaps you are questioning the institutional "church" doctrine yourself. If you are, that's ok. Study your Bible, Pray and Reach out to the lost in the love of Christ. That's what we do. What about you?

[liquorice]

I don't go to Church because my parents don't let me, but i feel strong enough in my faith that i don't necessarily need to go, but i feel that perhaps, i may benefit from attending Church and praying/worshiping with other Christians xx

[Hisrosebud]

I am sorry, did I just read that right? Your parents won't let you go to church? Could you explain that further--if you want to.

I am a parent of a 17 year old. There are a lot of things that I don't want him to do- not going to church may/may not be one of them. I honestly never thought of it before. My first response is to say that "of course I would let my son go to church-- then I think about the cults out there that come like a wolf in sheep clothing (ie, in Jesus' name) and now, after our experience, I wonder . . .

Jane

[GraceMan]

So you are saying that some people don't need the church? Some people have all the spiritual gifts thus not needing edification from other Christians?

The body of christ is the church, which includes you and me. We don't go to church, we are the church. That's like saying I go to GraceMan. It doesn't make any sense. The building that you are talking about is a religious insititution. The key word here being insititution. It's an orgranzation that was created by man. :wave:

Why don't your parents let you go to the religious building?

G-Man

[discernomatic]

I like the definition in the sticky. If two or more Christians are gathered together then that is already "church" and fellowship. If I find a church that is mostly free from false doctrine and systems of control and where the love and mercy of Jesus Christ abound, then I will go there.

[liquorice]

I am sorry, did I just read that right? Your parents won't let you go to church? Could you explain that further--if you want to.

Of course i will xxxx

My parents are both strict Atheists (they are divorced). They completely object to my faith and believe that i am a very weak person for believing and relying on God for strength and happiness. I am not allowed to go to Church because they disagree with it and are very unhappy with the way i have 'turned out'. They think my beliefs will go away if no-one encourages me, and Church would encourage me. I am also not supposed to have a Bible, but i hide a Youth Bible under my bed slats! :D

Saying this, i do not dishonour my parents in any way and i believe they are very strong people because they are so grounded in their beliefs. I respect them for everything they have done for me, and i love them so much. Sometimes, it's quite hard but i believe that God will give me the strength to guide me through the harder periods in my life.

I hope that has helped you understand a bit more, sorry if i wasn't clear! xxx :blush:

[Logicalthinker]

Do you guys not believe in fellowshipping together with other Christains or are you just in the process of finding a church?
The problem out there is arrogance. Every religion regardless, point a finger and says they're not saved or are going to burn in hell over there. Over there could be a baptist, a catholic, luthern, prodistant, and on on it goes. Jesus did not belong to a church and chose to preach most the time in the open. He never pointed the finger. Matter of fact they pointed fingers at him saying look how he sits with tax collectors and sinners.
luke 15:1-202 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

[Logicalthinker]

I am sorry, did I just read that right? Your parents won't let you go to church? Could you explain that further--if you want to.

I am a parent of a 17 year old. There are a lot of things that I don't want him to do- not going to church may/may not be one of them. I honestly never thought of it before. My first response is to say that "of course I would let my son go to church-- then I think about the cults out there that come like a wolf in sheep clothing (ie, in Jesus' name) and now, after our experience, I wonder . . .

Jane
My grandmother who I have no doubt walked with God told me once. Beware of any man or religion that has the answer for eveything, It's a cult.

[Logicalthinker]

Of course i will xxxx

My parents are both strict Atheists (they are divorced). They completely object to my faith and believe that i am a very weak person for believing and relying on God for strength and happiness. I am not allowed to go to Church because they disagree with it and are very unhappy with the way i have 'turned out'. They think my beliefs will go away if no-one encourages me, and Church would encourage me. I am also not supposed to have a Bible, but i hide a Youth Bible under my bed slats! :D

Saying this, i do not dishonour my parents in any way and i believe they are very strong people because they are so grounded in their beliefs. I respect them for everything they have done for me, and i love them so much. Sometimes, it's quite hard but i believe that God will give me the strength to guide me through the harder periods in my life.

I hope that has helped you understand a bit more, sorry if i wasn't clear! xxx :blush:
Well it's ok if you can't get to church. Just like Daniel when King Darius made the law that no one was to pray for 30 days. Daniel did anyways, He got found out but then God protected him from the lions.

daniel 6:1-207 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. daniel 6:1-208 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. daniel 6:1-209 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. daniel 6:1-2010 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

I'm sorry your parents feel that way but love them and pray for them all the same. Don't let their beliefs change what your heart feels is right.

[Logicalthinker]

I am sorry, did I just read that right? Your parents won't let you go to church? Could you explain that further--if you want to.

I am a parent of a 17 year old. There are a lot of things that I don't want him to do- not going to church may/may not be one of them. I honestly never thought of it before. My first response is to say that "of course I would let my son go to church-- then I think about the cults out there that come like a wolf in sheep clothing (ie, in Jesus' name) and now, after our experience, I wonder . . .

Jane
You can teach him/her. It is the father/husbands job anyways. Just try to not get to carried away. I teach my children and keep my feet grounded by fine folks like the ones here. If I have a question on religion nothing better than comming on here and getting a group opinion on a topic. Thats where the truth comes from is groups of people. When you go to church you get only one mans/womans opinion and then they don't open the floor on discussing it. They just tell you how it is and your suppost to except it. I don't think so. Thats a dangerous way to learn religion.

[liquorice]

I'm sorry your parents feel that way but love them and pray for them all the same. Don't let their beliefs change what your heart feels is right.

Thankyou xxxx

you are very knowlegable, i seek comfort in that xxxx :)

[Logicalthinker]

Do you guys not believe in fellowshipping together with other Christains or are you just in the process of finding a church?
Jesus never said go out and build churches in my name. He said spread the word in my name. Churches are like a cool clear glass of water. If you were thirsty you would drink that water up, But if I was to take an eye dropper and drop one drop of urine in the water than no one would drink it. God feels the same way about churches, as soon as they allow finger pointing and judging they have dropped urine in their church. Jesus never pointed a finger at people or judged them. like Zacharius the tax collector Jesus said he would stay at his house for he was a lost sheep. He never allowed urine to cloud his judgement and saved Zacharius. If he did let the urine cloud his thoughts he would not even thought about Zacharius's salvation because he was a tax collector. He would have pushed on to the needy.

[Bevlina]

Exactly, Jesus never told anyone to go and build buildings, He told them to witness to people about Him. A building is a building. The Church of Christ is an invisible Body of men and women. Some like us, some think we are a disgrace for not entering a church. Well, that's their problem. I'd have to travel too far anyway.

[discernomatic]

My parents are both strict Atheists....Sometimes, it's quite hard but i believe that God will give me the strength to guide me through the harder periods in my life....

It is too bad that your parents are trying to keep you away from knowing Jesus Christ. They really are trying to do what they think is best for you and I’m glad you don’t hold it against them.



My mom had a somewhat similar problem too. Someone had given her a Protestant bible when whe was a teen and she was curious about what was in it. She liked to read and did read as much of it as she could. At that time even the Catholic bible was not allowed where she lived, because the priests were the ones to deliver the interpretation. If anyone would read it himself he might have ideas that the church would not like. A Protestant bible was seen as being even worse. She saw no harm in it and felt that she could come closer to God by reading it, Protestant or not. Her mother saw her reading it and questioned her about it. She decided to tell the local priest what her daughter had. He told her to burn it. Rather than have it burned, my mother decided to give it away to someone else. She never stopped seeking God, and was born again about the time I was thirteen or fourteen (I had been born again about 3 years earlier).



I urge you to keep your bible as long as you can, the faith in your heart cannot be taken away and Jesus Christ keeps every sheep that he has been given. In John 6:39,40 Jesus says, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Also, John 18:9 concerning the fate of the apostles as Jesus was being arrested, "This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: 'I have not lost one of those you gave me.'" Judas is the one exception to this rule, so that it was even prophesied about him. "While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." John 17:12. Also see Psalms 109:6-8 and Zechariah 11:12, John 10:14-16. So don’t worry, even if you may have some tough times, he will be holding on to you. I may be in my pen somewhere else, but we belong to the same body, and have the same Holy Spirit, we are not alone.



discernomatic

[Logicalthinker]

:amen:

Of course He is sufficient for salvation, but in the relational sense, He is not sufficient. God said it Himself in Genesis, back when the creation was perfect and had not fallen, that "it is not good for man to be alone." And then, He created another person.

I also have many stories from my own experience that would illustrate quite well that a Christian needs other believers, whether it be in church or in friendships.
You don't need the church. I don't like being told one persons point of view of the bible or God. Right now is fellowship. Me talking to you. Christians together talking of God and look no church walls or one mans belief but a fellowship.

[justonelittlelamb]

I'm shy and self concious. I've never been able to make friends at church before so I just stopped going. But church tv isn't enough so I'm going back tomarrow.

[Hisrosebud]

I would agree, church tv is not enough.

We recently had a campfire in our backyard, friday night. The fellowship was WONDERFUL> We are looking forward to doing it again on next Friday night.

Jane

[Logicalthinker]

I would agree, church tv is not enough.

We recently had a campfire in our backyard, friday night. The fellowship was WONDERFUL> We are looking forward to doing it again on next Friday night.

Jane
That sounds like wonderful fellowship. Around a fire. Was the bible discussed or just someones point of view on it?