[CS-FSLUG] Congregations struggle in aging, decaying churches

[davidm at hisfeet.net]

I have not argued here that no servant of the Lord should receive
financial support or help in the work of the Lord. (Such support does not
make him a "professional clergyman" but it does make the giver a
participator in his ministry). Neither have I here said that it is sin to
have meetings in a building. I also agree that there were multiple
congregations in (for instance) Jerusalem. What there were not were
multiple "churches", each with their own eclesiastical system, and
separate "building plan". AT least there is no biblical record of such a
thing.  Although the church met in the Jewish temple and "in every house"
it was still only one church.

Since scripture precept nor practice recommends these things, and yet that
new testament church has a record of having accomplished the work that
Jesus commanded, it would appear that these practices are at the very
least not needed, and instead are wasteful of time, talent and resources
if the goal is to please and obey our Lord.




> On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 11:55 AM,  <davidm at hisfeet.net> wrote:
>> What a far cry todays "churches" are from the biblical pattern. Not once
>> in the entire New Testament do we see the people of God building, or
>> owning any real estate. There never was a case in the New Testament of
>> more than one church in any town. And there never was a case of
>> professional clergy of any type.
>
> It is one thing to say "in the New Testament" and another to say "in
> Acts." Yes, in Acts, we see no real "professional clergy, as in
> pastors who received temporal remuneration, but this is clearly a
> principle of the NT, and Paul, even, received monetary support, and
> worked primarily because he had to, and as a missionary, did not wish
> to be a burden to the churches he planted. Secondly, I think there are
> verses in Corinthians, at least, the certainly can be understood to
> understand that churches were already meeting in buildings set aside
> for congregational meetings, and the archeological record is that such
> buildings existed, if not in the NT period, then shortly thereafter.
> As to multiple congregations in one town--well, there is so much one
> could say on that point that it is beyond the scope of this forum!
>
>> Instead, "the Lord added to the church such as should be saved". Jesus
>> was
>> the only head of the church, and the church was His body on earth with
>> every member involved.
>> What a simple concept! And they "turned the world upside down." Their
>> one
>> mission was the great commision, and they did it in their generation
>> (see
>> Colossions chapter one. Probably no generation since has done that .
>> certainly not ours. It is Jesus' command.  Wouldn't it make sense for us
>> to do first what He commanded? (since we call Him Lord!). AT least reach
>> the world with the gospel, before we invest in "houses of worship".
>>
>
> There is a difference between a meeting place and an edifice. Careful
> how broadly you paint with your brush. ;-) (btw, I am no fan of the
> mainline denominations, and am a church planter who has no desire for
> our fellowship to go out and buy or build a building, and come from
> some of the most conservative/fundamental circles you probably know
> of. ;-) )
>
> --
>  -Jon Glass
> Krakow, Poland
> <jonglass at usa.net>
>
> "I don't believe in philosophies. I believe in fundamentals." --Jack
> Nicklaus
>
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