"Home" churches

[rsc2a]

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:10

Actually, that whole section is full of goodness:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:1-10

Kind of blows a gaping hole in the entire "mind your own little business and stay out of  other peoples' lives" ideology as well as the "we only need to take care of the church folk" talk.

 

[praise_yeshua]

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:10

Actually, that whole section is full of goodness:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:1-10

Kind of blows a gaping hole in the entire "mind your own little business and stay out of  other peoples' lives" ideology as well as the "we only need to take care of the church folk" talk.

You're such a NUT. When I said "mind you own business"..... I wasn't talking about NOT doing good in other people's lives. I'm talking about "staying out of their business". If you don't understand what that means..... then here... let me help you.

2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

1Ti 5:13  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

1Co 7:7  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Be friendly. Love others. Help where necessary and sometimes when not. Do good to all men. However, micromanaging others in some "communal" relationship is NUTS. The early church abandoned it. Even Emerson and Thoreau learned better. You should read "The Blithedale Romance".

Come to think of it..... I bet you love Transcendentalism?

 

[Smellin Coffee]

These were Apostolic Gifts.  Jesus was sending the disciples to preach that the Kingdom was at hand.  Notice that he sent them to the house of Israel.  At this time the disciples had no desire to preach anything to a Gentile.  Praise God that we have moved past this and because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ we have the gospel of grace.

A couple of notes, Friend.

1. I don't see the idea of healing as being strictly an apostolic gift. Certainly that would be included but James makes it clear that those who are sick within the local congregation should go to the elders to be anointed (oil was medicinal - see story of Good Samaritan). "Healing the sick" would entail not solely spontaneous healing.

2. At one point, Jesus did send to the House of Israel. The Great Commission, He sent them to the world, past Israel. Besides, the House of Israel was NOT the church but rather the locality, which proves my point. He didn't tell them to take care of the synagogue people but rather to go outside those walls to the surrounding area.

3. Desire (or lack thereof) should not be an excuse. That would be like a white church saying, "God called us to minister to white people only because we don't have a desire to help the black community." Jesus certainly broke those ethnic boundaries at times.

4. The Bible doesn't teach we moved past the teachings of Jesus. The Great Commission was given after the resurrection where the disciples were to teach all nations the same things Jesus personally taught them. The idea that the resurrection changed the content of Jesus' teaching would be erroneous, IMHO. Besides, if the Bible did teach moving past everything taught before the resurrection, then the Bible would either not be inspired or everything historically recorded before the resurrection has no basis for today's Gentile spiritual walk. IOW, the Bible would be inspired but none of the content before Acts 1 would be applicable to us. I can't agree with that either.

 

[RAIDER]

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:10

Yes, we as individuals should heed this verse.  Thanks for posting.

 

[RAIDER]

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:10

Actually, that whole section is full of goodness:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:1-10

Kind of blows a gaping hole in the entire "mind your own little business and stay out of  other peoples' lives" ideology as well as the "we only need to take care of the church folk" talk.

The first word of the verse is "Brothers".  It is talking about Christians behavior toward each other.  I never said we were to "stay out of other people's lives".  I don't see where the church as a whole is suppose to financially take care of the world.   

 

[rsc2a]

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:10

Yes, we as individuals should heed this verse.  Thanks for posting.

It's nice when you can insert words that aren't there, no?

 

[rsc2a]

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:10

Actually, that whole section is full of goodness:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:1-10

Kind of blows a gaping hole in the entire "mind your own little business and stay out of  other peoples' lives" ideology as well as the "we only need to take care of the church folk" talk.

You're such a NUT. When I said "mind you own business"..... I wasn't talking about NOT doing good in other people's lives. I'm talking about "staying out of their business". If you don't understand what that means..... then here... let me help you.

Stepping in when someone is screwing up (v 1) is the exact opposite of minding your own business.

2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

1Ti 5:13  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

1Co 7:7  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Yup. Don't be a busybody. Don't gossip. Don't go looking for problems. Don't put on an appearance of business to cover for your laziness.

Of course, as you develop close relationships with others, you won't have to do any of this. We all have blind spots and you'll need to point out theirs. You won't dig for them because they will become obvious the closer you become. (Conversely, they'll need to point out yours.) And it can be awkward and cause hurt feelings but it is the responsibility of the community towards the individual, so that the entire community can flourish. After all, a diseased toe affects the whole body.

Be friendly. Love others. Help where necessary and sometimes when not. Do good to all men. However, micromanaging others in some "communal" relationship is NUTS. The early church abandoned it. Even Emerson and Thoreau learned better. You should read "The Blithedale Romance".

Micromanaging...you're the first one to bring that up. My guess is that is because no one else wants to do that.

Come to think of it..... I bet you love Transcendentalism?

Yup. Tell me again: which of us has abandoned orthodoxy and the traditional canon to pursue their own thing?

Sadly, you've abandoned (or never held) the thing that this philosophy is absolutely right about...the inherent goodness of all creation.

 

[RAIDER]

The point I am trying to make is this.  Some posters act as if the church's job is to take care of non-believers financially - pay power bills, buy groceries, etc.  I am not against Christians doing these things.  When I use the word "church" in this post I am talking about a local "called out assembly", a group.  I also realize that the church is made up of individuals who carry the name Christian.  You have a group, and you have individuals.

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.     

 

[praise_yeshua]

Stepping in when someone is screwing up (v 1) is the exact opposite of minding your own business.

Yeah. You're such a good judge of when someone is "screwing up"

Just who are you that judges another man's servant?

Of course, as you develop close relationships with others, you won't have to do any of this. We all have blind spots and you'll need to point out theirs. You won't dig for them because they will become obvious the closer you become. (Conversely, they'll need to point out yours.) And it can be awkward and cause hurt feelings but it is the responsibility of the community towards the individual, so that the entire community can flourish. After all, a diseased toe affects the whole body.

Jesus was so good at dealing with situation just like you're advocating....

Mat 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Paul was as well...

Rom 2:19  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom 2:21  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?

I need God. I need the Scriptures. I need the care and concern of others. I don't need YOU pointing out my "screw ups". I can handle them. God can handle them.

Again. You're bashing the MOG because you're wanting to be the MOG.

Yup. Tell me again: which of us has abandoned orthodoxy and the traditional canon to pursue their own thing?

Sadly, you've abandoned (or never held) the thing that this philosophy is absolutely right about...the inherent goodness of all creation.

AH. I was right. Transcendental non sense.

There is none good. No. Not one.

Do you remember reading those words? Your theology is worthless.

Your theology produces a Christ that died in vain.

 

[rsc2a]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

 

[RAIDER]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

 

[rsc2a]

Stepping in when someone is screwing up (v 1) is the exact opposite of minding your own business.

Yeah. You're such a good judge of when someone is "screwing up"

At times.

Just who are you that judges another man's servant?

One who would judge righteously, who judges from a desire to build up, not condemn. You, on the other hand, would have a man sleeping with his father's wife in your community of faith.

Jesus was so good at dealing with situation just like you're advocating....

Mat 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Paul was as well...

Rom 2:19  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom 2:21  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?

You don't even know what situation I'm advocating.

I need God. I need the Scriptures. I need the care and concern of others. I don't need YOU pointing out my "screw ups". I can handle them. God can handle them.

Bootstraps. Bootstraps,

Again. You're bashing the MOG because you're wanting to be the MOG.

I'm no Mog. My faults get pointed out by my community as quickly as anyone else's.

Yup. Tell me again: which of us has abandoned orthodoxy and the traditional canon to pursue their own thing?

Sadly, you've abandoned (or never held) the thing that this philosophy is absolutely right about...the inherent goodness of all creation.

AH. I was right. Transcendental non sense.

There is none good. No. Not one.

Do you remember reading those words? Your theology is worthless.

Your theology produces a Christ that died in vain.

My theology grants that evil has infected the world. Your theology results in either a Christ who was depraved or a Jesus who wasn't really human.

 

[rsc2a]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

Why would you assume that we would feel called to help in one situation because we helped in another? (I'd also point out that you didn't actually address what I said at all.)

 

[Smellin Coffee]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

Actually the response should be, "Need help with your electric bill? Come over to the church and bring your budget with you. Let us help you review or set up your budget, show you how to keep it and help out where you most need it."

 

[RAIDER]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

Actually the response should be, "Need help with your electric bill? Come over to the church and bring your budget with you. Let us help you review or set up your budget, show you how to keep it and help out where you most need it."

Is this what your church does?

 

[IFB X-Files]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

Actually the response should be, "Need help with your electric bill? Come over to the church and bring your budget with you. Let us help you review or set up your budget, show you how to keep it and help out where you most need it."

Is this what your church does?

(waiting for this debate to end so I know who to ask to pay my electric bill)

 

[RAIDER]

(waiting for this debate to end so I know who to ask to pay my electric bill)

I'm sure rsc2a will take up an offering for you on Sunday (if the elders in his home allow him to). 

 

[Smellin Coffee]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

Actually the response should be, "Need help with your electric bill? Come over to the church and bring your budget with you. Let us help you review or set up your budget, show you how to keep it and help out where you most need it."

Is this what your church does?

Not sure. I've been attending only a couple months. I do know they have a budget set up for "outsiders" who ask for help and that there is a screening process. Not sure how that screening process works.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

The church is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.  These are the commands given to the church.

And the job of individuals is to carry the gospel, see people repent and come to Christ, baptize and disciple them, care for and love one another.

Separating the role of the Church and the role of the individual is putting up a false wall. What the individual does is an extension of what the Church does because the individual is part of the Church.

One cannot say the foot is moving but the body is not because the foot is attached to the body. One might say the hand is not moving and that is fine. Each part has its own role but that role is not separate from the body corporate.

So if someone called your home church and said, "Do you help pay electric bills?" you would say, "Yes, we do!  Please stop by the house and I will have a check waiting for you"??????

Actually the response should be, "Need help with your electric bill? Come over to the church and bring your budget with you. Let us help you review or set up your budget, show you how to keep it and help out where you most need it."

Is this what your church does?

(waiting for this debate to end so I know who to ask to pay my electric bill)

This guy!

 

[RAIDER]

Not sure. I've been attending only a couple months. I do know they have a budget set up for "outsiders" who ask for help and that there is a screening process. Not sure how that screening process works.

The previous church I attended had what I thought was a pretty good policy.  If someone called for help they would be told to come to the service on Sunday morning and after the service they would be given a voucher for $x to the local grocery store - no alcohol, no tobacco.  About 5% of the people showed up.