What Does Not Come from God, cannot return to God (1Thes 4:18)
Christians gather for religious activities ranging from prayer meetings, Bible study, missions, and so on. These are good reasons to gather except for the style of meeting.
The clergy-laity style of meeting in churches today is more public, impersonal, and commercial, a direct contrast to fellowship (Koinonia), the style of meeting instituted by Jesus and practiced by the “Early Church” (Mat 20:25-28).
The clergy-laity style of meeting in churches today is more public, impersonal, and commercial, a direct contrast to fellowship (Koinonia), the style of meeting instituted by Jesus and practiced by the “Early Church” (Mat 20:25-28).
Jesus expressed His mind about this doctrine and style of meeting in His letter to the Church at Ephesus in Rev 2:6,12:5. But despite Jesus’ warning against this doctrine, it is sadly the style of meeting in the churches today. This is because the organized “church” system is the direct offspring of the pagan institution that overran, subdued, and replaced the true Assembly on the pretext of Christianizing the world. They ended up infusing many other pagan doctrines which have become part of Christianity today.
One of the reasons why Jesus said He “hated” this style of meeting is that it does not afford or foster interpersonal relationship and oneness in the gathering. This is the dichotomy Jesus came to break (Act 2:46, Joh 17:11,22, Eph 2;12-14).
The core of Ekklesia is the interactive meeting among members when they gather as an assembly to express the love and grace given to each other in Koinonia that all may be edified together (John 13:35, Rom 12:6).
The word “Fellowship” (Koinonia) connotes togetherness (Acts 2:42, 1Cor 1:9). This can only happen in an Assembly (Ecclesia) not in a church (Kuriakon). That’s why Jesus said, “I will build my Assembly (Ekklesia, Mat 16:18) and not “Church” (Kuriakon).
Koinonia only occurs in an Ekklesia. This is when brethren gather together in one accord to edify one another. This is the sacred duty of all redeemed believers (1Pet 2:9, 1Cor 12:13, Gal 3:28, Col 3:11), but “the church” has institutionalized it to be the exclusive duty of the clergy, a pagan practice imported into the Assembly (1Cor 14).
In the Clergy-laity Church, the pastor (clergy) is the head, owner, founder, etc. of the church (Mat 23:8, Col 1:18, Col 2:10). He preaches a formal sermon over the passive congregants (laity) from the high place called the altar (Mar 10:42-45), where only the priests sit. The people are only allowed to participate financially to support the institution and the clergy who are priests by profession and training (not necessarily by calling - Heb 5:4, 1Cor 4:12). This is a direct contrast to the New Testament practice (Gal 3:28, Col 3:11, 1Pet 2:9).
In the Assembly Jesus founded, however, everyone labor together and draw strength directly from the head (Col 1:10-19), who is Christ alone (1Cor 2:2, Col 2:9-10). All partake of the life of Christ, and everyone is edified (1Cor 14:26-33). This is the Assembly (Ecclesia) Jesus promised to build in Mat 16:18 and it is the “early church” pattern of fellowship of the Assembly.
If it is the same Lord, same Spirit, same Gospel, then, it must be the same style (Gal 1:8-9, 1Cor 2:2), for a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal 5:9).
Read Phi 3:18, Rom 16;17-18, 2Cor 4:3-6.
One of the reasons why Jesus said He “hated” this style of meeting is that it does not afford or foster interpersonal relationship and oneness in the gathering. This is the dichotomy Jesus came to break (Act 2:46, Joh 17:11,22, Eph 2;12-14).
The core of Ekklesia is the interactive meeting among members when they gather as an assembly to express the love and grace given to each other in Koinonia that all may be edified together (John 13:35, Rom 12:6).
The word “Fellowship” (Koinonia) connotes togetherness (Acts 2:42, 1Cor 1:9). This can only happen in an Assembly (Ecclesia) not in a church (Kuriakon). That’s why Jesus said, “I will build my Assembly (Ekklesia, Mat 16:18) and not “Church” (Kuriakon).
Koinonia only occurs in an Ekklesia. This is when brethren gather together in one accord to edify one another. This is the sacred duty of all redeemed believers (1Pet 2:9, 1Cor 12:13, Gal 3:28, Col 3:11), but “the church” has institutionalized it to be the exclusive duty of the clergy, a pagan practice imported into the Assembly (1Cor 14).
In the Clergy-laity Church, the pastor (clergy) is the head, owner, founder, etc. of the church (Mat 23:8, Col 1:18, Col 2:10). He preaches a formal sermon over the passive congregants (laity) from the high place called the altar (Mar 10:42-45), where only the priests sit. The people are only allowed to participate financially to support the institution and the clergy who are priests by profession and training (not necessarily by calling - Heb 5:4, 1Cor 4:12). This is a direct contrast to the New Testament practice (Gal 3:28, Col 3:11, 1Pet 2:9).
In the Assembly Jesus founded, however, everyone labor together and draw strength directly from the head (Col 1:10-19), who is Christ alone (1Cor 2:2, Col 2:9-10). All partake of the life of Christ, and everyone is edified (1Cor 14:26-33). This is the Assembly (Ecclesia) Jesus promised to build in Mat 16:18 and it is the “early church” pattern of fellowship of the Assembly.
If it is the same Lord, same Spirit, same Gospel, then, it must be the same style (Gal 1:8-9, 1Cor 2:2), for a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal 5:9).
Read Phi 3:18, Rom 16;17-18, 2Cor 4:3-6.
The word “Fellowship” (Koinonia) connotes togetherness (Acts 2:42, 1Cor 1:9). This can only happen in an Assembly (Ecclesia) not in a church (Kuriakon). That’s why Jesus said, “I will build my Assembly (Ekklesia, Mat 16:18) and not “Church” (Kuriakon).
Addendum
We may gather for good reasons and religious purposes like prayer meetings, Bible study, missions, and so on, but God will only accept what comes from Him alone. Our offerings, gatherings, and worship may be beautiful and colorful like that of Cain, but unless it comes from God, it cannot be acceptable to Him (Isa 58:3).
What we offer to God from the goodwill of our hearts is our righteousness (Isa 64:6). What we present to God in reverence and in return to His revelation in our hearts is worship (Gen 22:2), because it comes from God directly.
Yes, there is labor, yes, there are activities, and yes, they are sincere, but except the Lord build the house, they that labor do it in vain. If it is not from God, it cannot be acceptable by God, no matter how beautiful.
“See that you do all things according to the pattern that I showed you on the mountain (Ex 25:9).
What Does Not Come from God, cannot return to God (1Thes 4:18).
We may gather for good reasons and religious purposes like prayer meetings, Bible study, missions, and so on, but God will only accept what comes from Him alone. Our offerings, gatherings, and worship may be beautiful and colorful like that of Cain, but unless it comes from God, it cannot be acceptable to Him (Isa 58:3).
What we offer to God from the goodwill of our hearts is our righteousness (Isa 64:6). What we present to God in reverence and in return to His revelation in our hearts is worship (Gen 22:2), because it comes from God directly.
Yes, there is labor, yes, there are activities, and yes, they are sincere, but except the Lord build the house, they that labor do it in vain. If it is not from God, it cannot be acceptable by God, no matter how beautiful.
“See that you do all things according to the pattern that I showed you on the mountain (Ex 25:9).
What Does Not Come from God, cannot return to God (1Thes 4:18).