There has been a lot of debate here over the years about the church and what it is. Sometimes we call a building the church.
The Bible uses words like temple, tabernacle, or synagogue to describe the building where believers meet. For the purpose of this discussion, when I say "church", I don't mean the building.
I mean the body of Christ, the assembly, the gathering together of the saints.
There is the "global" church, of all the believers here on the Earth, but there is also the "local" church. These are people you know personally and have met face to face.
We have a couple that seem to criticize the church quite a bit, I believe that in reality they are criticizing a denomination, or a pastor, and hopefully they are not criticizing other believers.
It's easy to be an arm-chair Christian and judge other Christians, and tell them they are doing this wrong, and believing that wrong. But usually when we are doing this
we need to take the log out of own eyes before we criticize the speck in others eyes.
I believe these "arm-chair Christians" are the biggest problem. The don't get involved with anyone, they don't get to know anyone, and they don't gather together with other Christians.
They have no accountability to anyone, they aren't praying for anyone (because they don't really know anyone)... and no one is praying for them (because no one really knows them).
We cannot be hermits, isolated from other believers, and call ourselves believers/Christians/sons of God.
Oh, certainly there are elderly, infirmed, incarcerated people that can't get out to meet others. But what about you? Are you visiting these people? What is stopping you? (currently Covid rules in a few places).
There are times when we are sick or on vacation and we can't meet with others that week. But what about the rest of the time?
The Bible says we shouldn't forsake assembling together.
Heb 10:25; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
We are supposed to love one another.
John 13:34; A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:35; By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 15:12; This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:17; These things I command you, that you love one another.
We are supposed to bear each others burdens.
Gal 6:2; Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
If I've never personally met you, it's easy to criticize you, I have no emotions for you, no "skin in the game" as the saying goes.
But if we've met one another, talked about our cares, hurts, and families. If we've shared what we need prayer for.. (and we ALL need prayer sometimes)
If we've given time and care to each other. I'm not talking about a text message or a post on TalkJesus, I'm talking about real face to face connection here.
You can make a bit of a connection on-line, but it isn't the same as actually meeting each other.
We are supposed to be lifting each other up, teaching, admonishing, and singing hymns together.
Col 3:16; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
When one of us is hurting, the saints in "your group" should be hurting with you. When one of you is rejoicing the believers around you should be rejoicing also.
1Cor 12:25; that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
1Cor 12:26; And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1Cor 12:27; Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
We were never meant to walk this Christian walk alone. There are so many verses about being together as a congregation.
Heb 10:25; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Eccl 4:9; Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
Eccl 4:10; For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
Eccl 4:11; Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
Eccl 4:12; Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Matt 18:20; For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
1Cor 11:18; For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
1Cor 11:19; For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
1Cor 14:26; How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
It's easy to sit back and say I don't want to join a church, there are imperfect people there. They make mistakes, so I don't want to be a part of them.
Guess what, you yourself are one of those people. You are no better than them, you are simply making yourself a judge over them.
The Bible uses words like temple, tabernacle, or synagogue to describe the building where believers meet. For the purpose of this discussion, when I say "church", I don't mean the building.
I mean the body of Christ, the assembly, the gathering together of the saints.
There is the "global" church, of all the believers here on the Earth, but there is also the "local" church. These are people you know personally and have met face to face.
We have a couple that seem to criticize the church quite a bit, I believe that in reality they are criticizing a denomination, or a pastor, and hopefully they are not criticizing other believers.
It's easy to be an arm-chair Christian and judge other Christians, and tell them they are doing this wrong, and believing that wrong. But usually when we are doing this
we need to take the log out of own eyes before we criticize the speck in others eyes.
I believe these "arm-chair Christians" are the biggest problem. The don't get involved with anyone, they don't get to know anyone, and they don't gather together with other Christians.
They have no accountability to anyone, they aren't praying for anyone (because they don't really know anyone)... and no one is praying for them (because no one really knows them).
We cannot be hermits, isolated from other believers, and call ourselves believers/Christians/sons of God.
Oh, certainly there are elderly, infirmed, incarcerated people that can't get out to meet others. But what about you? Are you visiting these people? What is stopping you? (currently Covid rules in a few places).
There are times when we are sick or on vacation and we can't meet with others that week. But what about the rest of the time?
The Bible says we shouldn't forsake assembling together.
Heb 10:25; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
We are supposed to love one another.
John 13:34; A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:35; By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 15:12; This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:17; These things I command you, that you love one another.
We are supposed to bear each others burdens.
Gal 6:2; Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
If I've never personally met you, it's easy to criticize you, I have no emotions for you, no "skin in the game" as the saying goes.
But if we've met one another, talked about our cares, hurts, and families. If we've shared what we need prayer for.. (and we ALL need prayer sometimes)
If we've given time and care to each other. I'm not talking about a text message or a post on TalkJesus, I'm talking about real face to face connection here.
You can make a bit of a connection on-line, but it isn't the same as actually meeting each other.
We are supposed to be lifting each other up, teaching, admonishing, and singing hymns together.
Col 3:16; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
When one of us is hurting, the saints in "your group" should be hurting with you. When one of you is rejoicing the believers around you should be rejoicing also.
1Cor 12:25; that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
1Cor 12:26; And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1Cor 12:27; Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
We were never meant to walk this Christian walk alone. There are so many verses about being together as a congregation.
Heb 10:25; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Eccl 4:9; Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
Eccl 4:10; For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
Eccl 4:11; Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
Eccl 4:12; Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Matt 18:20; For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
1Cor 11:18; For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
1Cor 11:19; For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
1Cor 14:26; How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
It's easy to sit back and say I don't want to join a church, there are imperfect people there. They make mistakes, so I don't want to be a part of them.
Guess what, you yourself are one of those people. You are no better than them, you are simply making yourself a judge over them.