Is this idea in any way biblical?

[Meowzltov]

I am, to the point of communication and getting God's word out there. Obviously, I'm adapting to life of the 21st century if I'm using a computer to post and reply to the forums.

But, I was talking about Religious beliefs and anything Theological. Like, Abortion. My stance shouldn't be that of which a majority of America Believes. I should be prolife and nothing else. That's mostly what I was talking about.

I AGREE!!

Things like using the internet are merely cultural adaptations and are fine. Things like abortion are moral issues, and God does not change. Whether a church meets in a home or a gothic cathedral or a contemporary church is also a matter of cultural adaptation.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Jesus' disciples were anything but pious. They were ordinary men (and probably women) who were common people. They were flawed human beings, just like we are, who behaved normally. In Paul's letters it is clear that even AFTER the Holy Spirit was given, people in the various churches were not pious. Piety -- special formal behavior -- is derived from Old Testament priestly rituals, as well as pagan rituals. It was NOT part of the early church.

I think you might have a wrong view of what the word pious and piety means. Piety means being religious or reverent, from the Latin pietas meaning observant, dutiful--one who is devoted to their religious faith.

To suggest the Apostles weren't dedicated and devoted to their faith in Christ seems like a strange idea to me. So, of course the Apostles were pious.

What you seem to be doing is using "pious" in a negative sense, an almost "Pharasaic" sense of external religious behavior without the interior faith. And this seems to be a result of a post-Enlightenment suspicion of organized religion which is, sadly, something which has been bred into part of the contemporary Evangelical mind, but is really just a particular cultural hang up that we can associate with Western modernity.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

Does "piety" mean being able to read somebody's mind? I know both meanings of the word pious and used the word correctly.

You are projecting your own idea of what these men were like, only it has no scriptural basis. Those people bore no resemblance to the portrayal in medieval art of older men, for example, standing quietly in ornate robes with their hands clasped, as do many of the clergy today. They were young "country folk" who were disciples of Christ (who himself was "country folk") dressed in coarse tunics, eating bread with their hands, arguing among themselves, walking the dusty roads with staffs in their hands, sleeping on the ground, etc. They bear no resemblance to the pious clergy of today. That image is derived from the Roman and Greek upper classes and was adopted after the disciples and apostles had died. Didn't Jesus warn many times about the pious, with their long flowing robes and "religious" behavior?

Again, can you show me anywhere in scripture where Jesus' disciples and the apostles are described as "devoutly religious"?

You are projecting, none of those things are what "pious" or "piety" means. It refers to one being dutiful, religious observance. You don't think the Apostles were observant of the faith and teachings which they had received from the Lord?

Again, this demonstrates your own cultural hangups and suspicion of organized religion which is a major component of post-Enlightenment modernity in the West. You may not realize it, but that is certainly the case.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Beauharnais]

Okay, so here's the problem.

I and my wife recognize the need and necessity to go to Church. However there are only two non denominational churches in our area and, one is in town. The church in town, does not follow the word of God. They don't even practice communion (A very important part of a Christian church) in their church.

So, I've marked it as a church for us to avoid. There is one other church within 60 miles of here that I have not checked out yet.

But, we have no car and cannot afford to buy one and, 60 miles is a long commute to take by bus. If a bus, even exists to the town that we'd have to go to. We usually hitch a ride with my mother while she attends her Catholic Churches Sunday service.

I know, these all sound like excuses but, I don't mean them to sound so.

And, about 2 weeks ago while I was praying the Lord told me to become a minister so, I got ordained and started to work on my own Church group and doing research on becoming a minister.

At first, I was going to do the Church online but then, I realized "Oh yeah, if I do my church online on Youtube, how are we going to have communion?" and 'Having online service just isn't going to be the same as physically being there."

So, my idea is this.

I can start my own church from my own home and be the minister of that church.

And, by communicating with the masses online. I can reach out to thousands and thousands of Christians. More than I ever could in ANY church.

Obviously not to many people here on Christian Forums have a problem with that, as well... Christian Forums exists.

I also want to write my own book teaching the word of God to the world.

I can talk to fellow Christians around the world by communicating with them online, developing friendships with them, helping with them with their daily problems, and talking about Christianity and the ilk.

And, I can fill the ministerial parts of my obligations by running my Church from my own home trying to get as many members into my home as I can. And, if it ends up only being attended by my wife and family? At least I tried.

But, we could have communion, I could write up sermons and service, I could do everything that a church does, only from the privacy and comfort of my own home.

And it wouldn't be sinful because, I'm an ordained minister who both legally and biblically can perform those rites.

I also know legally speaking, I can start my own church from my home and run a church from home.

However, I want to know about biblically. I want to know if this is what the Lord was talking about when he told me to become a minister. If not? I'll continue to search for the answer.

It seems like the perfect plan and the perfect solution to our church problem, only... TOO perfect and far too easy. Usually the right and proper path that God wants you to take, is not easy. Which, is causing me to have doubts. I have asked God in prayer and he told me to post and ask for advice here. So, here I am.

And, I have one thought.

If this was a way to be Christian, why haven't Christians thought of it and practiced it before? And if they have, why haven't I noticed it before or seen anyone doing it through online research?

So, it seems like I already know the answer and this is NOT what God meant when he said he wanted me to be a minister.

And please, don't call me stupid or "not a Christian". Because, unlike many Christians out there? I'll admit my mistakes. I'll always search for the truth. I won't just pick the first answer someone suggests and then go with that. I'll do weeks and weeks of research and bible study to get the right solution to my problems. I want to weigh all of the options so that I can figure out what God meant when he told me he wanted me to be a minister and run my own church. If running my own church was even the solution. Maybe he wanted me to be a life coach minister or other kind of minister. I'm supposed to figure out this journey alone. God will not completely show me the way.

I just want a solution to this problem besides, move. I don't want to move far away from my family when my parents are as old as they are and, our entire family pretty much lives together. But, if that's what God wants? That's what he wants. I'm to obey.

 

[Meowzltov]

I and my wife recognize the need and necessity to go to Church. However there are only two non denominational churches in our area

Why can't you go to a denominational church?