G
groktruth
Guest
The only bit I personally disagree with is the "church buildings" are not neccesary. One can just as easily meet in a persons home or community hall or park. location is not relevant it is the gathering of believers as you said that is important. Or did I misunderstand what you meant?
The scriptures discourage us generally from "searching (them), thinking that in them we have eternal life" ("will know the one true God"). They point us to "living by every word that proceeds from" God's mouth, that is, by prophetic or spiritual guidance, asking for wisdom and going by what is given by the Spirit.
But not in the case of the church, where we are told explicitily to "not (go) even think beyond what is written." (1 Corinth 1:10-4:6). Church buildings are not written, and names are actually explicitly forbidden (vs 1:12). Doing otherwise, called "defiling" the temple of God (vss 3:16-17), is identified as a sin unto destruction or death.
Most "believers" do just the opposite. They make rules and doctrines of life based on what "scripture says," instead of using the spiritual gift of prophecy. Then they build their church doctrines and budgets based on "leadings" ("we felt that God was leading us...") implying spiritual guidance, ignoring biblical directives (e.g. 1 Corinth 14:30-31).
When I ask God about this, He tells me that I am seeing His spirit of delusion at work, where the gathering of the tares for burning (i.e. groups that build up "their" churches--their words!) appears to be His church. It is not, but it deludes the undiscerning. Meanwhile, His (true) church awaits His gathering into His barn. These are fruitful believers longing to be "assembled" or "jointed" in authoritative relationships (Hebrews 13:17), forming as they come together a body, organic instead of organized.
Crying our for discernment? (Prov 2:2). Might want to think about it. Many are called, few are chosen. But who knows how many are forsaken?
Upvote
0