Following the Pastor

[cv5]

This question is for anyone.

If the only church is the one that gathers in an assembly with others, what happens to those people who are unable to participate in an assembly? The elderly, the shut-ins, the disabled, those living in isolated areas with no way to get to a group. Do all these people suddenly stop being part of the church? If that's the case, then I know a lot of great Christian men and women for whom Christ died who are no longer part of the church.

The Body of Christ is indivisible. On a spiritual level of course. By divine degree.

On the other hand, since Jesus Christ is the Great Divider, the "fakers" are not part of the Body.

Jesus Christ BETWEEN the saved malefactor and the unsaved one. The sheep and the goats. And everywhere else ad infinitum.

Luk 23:33
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

 

[hornetguy]

This question is for anyone.

If the only church is the one that gathers in an assembly with others, what happens to those people who are unable to participate in an assembly? The elderly, the shut-ins, the disabled, those living in isolated areas with no way to get to a group. Do all these people suddenly stop being part of the church? If that's the case, then I know a lot of great Christian men and women for whom Christ died who are no longer part of the church.

and you are playing the hypothetical "what if" game. It's not about a situation you have no control over.... if you willingly choose to not be a part of an assembly of believers, you have missed the mark.
God knows what is in a person's heart.... you can't fool Him. We, as believers are supposed to be part of the body of Christ.... to willingly choose to NOT be a part is not a good thing.

 

[Karlon]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

usually, it takes a long while to know if the pastor is ALWAYS preaching the word of Jesus. when you know, "respect" for the pastor is proper but not in a way where it opens up the possibility for him to detect haughtiness or the whole "outward" appearance image. that would be wrong. i respect great musicians in that they worked very hard for a long period to get where they are today. but i don't "loft" them in any way. so don't feel you have to put the pastor 1st or do more for him or that he is someone special.

 

[ResidentAlien]

and you are playing the hypothetical "what if" game.

I am? I asked a specific question about a very specific situation.

It's not about a situation you have no control over.... if you willingly choose to not be a part of an assembly of believers, you have missed the mark. God knows what is in a person's heart.... you can't fool Him. We, as believers are supposed to be part of the body of Christ.... to willingly choose to NOT be a part is not a good thing.

I agree He would prefer it if we were part of a group; but I disagree that if we willing choose not to be we are no longer part of the body of Christ. There are a lot of valid reasons why someone would choose to not be a part of any of the established churches in their area. If God tells you to stay away, you stay away.

 

[cv5]

The Body of Christ is indivisible. On a spiritual level of course. By divine degree.

On the other hand, since Jesus Christ is the Great Divider, the "fakers" are not part of the Body.

Jesus Christ BETWEEN the saved malefactor and the unsaved one. The sheep and the goats. And everywhere else ad infinitum.

Luk 23:33
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

The Great Divider....
light from darkness
good from evil
day from night

Gen 1:4
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

 

[hornetguy]

I disagree that if we willing choose not to be we are no longer part of the body of Christ.

I don't think that way, either, and that is not what I said.

 

[ResidentAlien]

It's not about a situation you have no control over.... if you willingly choose to not be a part of an assembly of believers, you have missed the mark. God knows what is in a person's heart.... you can't fool Him. We, as believers are supposed to be part of the body of Christ.... to willingly choose to NOT be a part is not a good thing.

So you're telling me that when you said: "We, as believers are supposed to be part of the body of Christ.... to willingly choose to NOT be a part is not a good thing" you didn't mean to choose not to assemble is choosing to not be part of the body of Christ? Cause it sure sounds like that's what you meant.

 

[hornetguy]

So you're telling me that when you said: "We, as believers are supposed to be part of the body of Christ.... to willingly choose to NOT be a part is not a good thing" you didn't mean to choose not to assemble is choosing to not be part of the body of Christ? Cause it sure sounds like that's what you meant.

I already answered that question. Please re-read the previous post.
But, willingly choosing to NOT be a part of an assembly of believers is not a good thing. If you say you cannot find ANY body of believers that you can fellowship with, then perhaps you are the common denominator.
I would think that someone with your convictions would find other believers to fellowship with, not just give up and bail out.

My father found other believers to worship and fellowship with among a couple of thousand soldiers on a troop ship going to the Pacific theater. Don't tell me that you "can't find" anyone.

 

[posthuman]

You know you just described every cult out there.

pretty sure there are cults with zero interest in mutual edification

 

[posthuman]

You know you just described every cult out there.

 

[BrightRiver]

This question is for anyone.

If the only church is the one that gathers in an assembly with others, what happens to those people who are unable to participate in an assembly? The elderly, the shut-ins, the disabled, those living in isolated areas with no way to get to a group. Do all these people suddenly stop being part of the church? If that's the case, then I know a lot of great Christian men and women for whom Christ died who are no longer part of the church.

Those to me are the people who should be visited regularly by the elders, deacons and pastors,
so that they too can spend time in fellowship and prayer and study the bible with others,

Do not forsake the meeting together of the saints

where two or three are gathered in my name


to me it is a failing on the church if these people are not given the opportunity to fellowship with other believers as the church is a body of people and to be forgotten by the body is like being cast aside and Jesus did not want that for any of his children

 

[BrightRiver]

Those to me are the people who should be visited regularly by the elders, deacons and pastors,
so that they too can spend time in fellowship and prayer and study the bible with others,

Just for the record I am not suggesting that a deacon would be doing the same as an elder when visiting, but they can fellowship, share a meal, help with things around the house if a person is not able to.

These are also things that any member of the congregation can do and really should do as the body of believers, but the church should be ensuring that at least deacons, elders and pastors go and visit.


if a person has moved away from the area the church should pray for them and they should be looking for another church to join to remain part of THE body.