Posted on 08/28/2016 2:41:41 PM PDT by Salvation
Completely serious. The Episcopal church I attended this morning pays me to be present as a professional church musician (choral bass - section leader in the choir). The offertory anthem was Sing Joyfully by William Byrd (English Renaissance). It's too complicated for most all-volunteer choirs to do on a Sunday morning. https://youtu.be/yfcqHHUA1uw
There is unfortunately a lot of bad church music. If I am a stranger in a new town on a Sunday morning, I make a beeline and walk right out of a church if I see a drumkit up in front. The best option sometimes is just go the BBC Radio 3 website and listen to the latest episode of the weekly Choral Evensong broadcast.
“All we are commanded is to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It could be a Bible study or small group as well.”
“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil...
...8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Tim 3
“5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” - Titus 1
Again, while Bible study is good, and your spiritual life should not be LIMITED to attending church, there isn’t much New Testament support to replacing the local church with a bible study alone.
Bump!
A lot of churches just aren’t worth going to. If I wasn’t serving the Lord at my church and continuously learning to serve Him better I wouldn’t go either. Lots of other places I could go just to socialize.
Indeed. But you must first understand the meaning of the words you typed. Being under the Law is being under the condemnation of the Law. Those who are of Faith are no longer under this condemnation but this, in no wise, relieves them from following the Laws of God. Hence, we establish the Law. This is from the New Covenant whereby God puts into us a desire in our heart to please Him and strengthen us to follow Him.
True words there. That is not the purpose of the Law. The Law is the standard by which God requires us to follow. IF we make it to Heaven, we WILL follow it thoroughly. Better get some practice here. Think of the law as a basketball hoop and you must dunk a basketball in order to make the team. You desperately want to make the team but cannot dunk the ball because the hoop is 15 feet off the ground! In other words sinful humans need some help. We cannot ever achieve the goal on our own accord (and believe me many have spent their miserable lives doing so). It is only with Gods help and prayer that we can live by and follow His Law. The Law does not save, it can only condemn. But it shines a light on our heart to show us our unworthiness. Therein lies its value to us. Do not shun the Law because its source is from God. Let it do its work.
“Those who are of Faith are no longer under this condemnation but this, in no wise, relieves them from following the Laws of God.” - BipolarBob
“For under the Law I “died”, and now I am dead to the Law’s demands so that I may live for God....The death of Christ on the cross had made you “dead” to the claims of the Law, and you are free to give yourselves in marriage, so to speak, to another, the one who was raised from the dead, that you may be productive for God....” - Apostle Paul
The Sabbath is a one-in-seven day of rest. Six days for labor, one day for rest.
In Acts, the Christian church was established at Pentecost, which was on the same day Jesus rose from the dead, and described by John as the Lord’s Day in Revelation (for, being a Jew, he would have used “Sabbath” if he meant the Sabbath). In 1 Corinthians 16, Paul describes a meet for a collection on the first day of the week. Finally, there is historical evidence that the Jewish Christians went to synagogue on Saturdays, as was Paul’s habit described in Acts, but also met with Gentile Christians on Sundays. This practice was changed when the Christian Jews were excluded from the synagogue.
Why would one try to bind Christians to a standard that the Apostles did not affirm?
Personally, I pray I never become religious! The Pharisees were ‘religious’, Jesus was ‘relational’. We have a God in Three Persons, in relationship, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
In His ‘Great Commission’ (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus instructed us to ‘make disciples’. By definition, making disciples requires us to interact with such disciples, not be ‘lone ranger’ Christians. Romans 12 details living in relationship with our fellow Believers and Acts 2 provides examples of living as a part of the body of Believers. These early Christians merely followed Jesus’ example. He spent over 3 years as part of a ‘family’ of the 12 discles plus Him.
While it is commendable that you spend so much time in prayer, Jesus spoke not of keeping our lights hidden under a barrel.
What does the Word of God say?
Mark 2:28"Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" Here Jesus declares His day for all to know and not guess.
I do not recall any Apostles denouncing Gods Law and replacing it with their own. They were all Jews. They kept the Sabbath (as well as the other Commandments) all of their life. And I am sure unto their death. Acts 18:4 "In the city of Corinth, the Apostle Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading the Jews and Gentiles."
I am sure they met other days of the week as well but nothing there suggests a complete overthrow of Gods Commandment.
You just keep the mule deer herds back, and I’ll build a range. They can be quite the distraction out of season. Again, beautiful territory - God’s country. Thanks again.
Stay safe!
Yes, he is the Lord of the one-in-seven day of rest. Paul points out that the law is a guide, and to that end, most, if not all, churches have at least a once-in-seven day of rest with preaching and teaching.
If you are convinced that Saturday is the only possible day for this, then for your conscience sake, you must observe that day, lest you sin. But don’t try to bind other’s consciences on a disputable matter.
I think the council in Acts 15 does not levy this requirement on Gentiles.
Also, do you mean that the Christian still has to cut off the end of his schmeckel?
I see nothing in Acts 15 that remotely addresses the Ten Commandments in any way. If so please cite the verse and we can discuss.
There is a distinct difference in ceremonial laws for the Hebrews and the Ten Commandments that were for all mankind and will stand forever. The laws and ordinances were spoken by Moses (Lev. 1:1) whereas the The Commandments were spoken by and written by God (Deut 4:12,13 and Ex 24:12). This should be obvious to any serious student of the Bible.
That is not my job. I try to point out some truths I have learned along the way. It is up to you and your conscience as to whether you wish to investigate and follow Gods plan or not.
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