Is your idea of the institution of church informed by scripture or public consensus? For instance, youll often hear people say, I am not a big fan of organized religion. The Bible says much about the church, here are a couple of examples: “the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 ESV) “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” (Ephesians 5:25 ESV) This is what we call: commitment. When you die for something. The non-committal society in which you and I live, has made a horrible mistake regarding the church. Then there are the one anothers of the Bible. You cannot do them without finding the people of like mind to do them with. Those would be church people (so maligned in todays culture). The Bible says to: wash one another’s feet, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ...live in such harmony with one another, welcome one another instruct one another. Greet one another care for one another. with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. submitting to one another Do not lie to one another encourage one another and build one another up Be devoted to one another. How do you do the one anothers commanded by God and say I dont have to go to church to be a Christian? Going to church does NOT make you a Christian, but if you are a Christian you will make church a major priority in your life. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Heb. 10:25
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 14:35:57 +0000