Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
So the only option is that the NT prescribes only one assembly, or it only prescribes two (or more) assemblies. If the only option was these two, then I would say that only one is prescribed. But I find neither prescribed.
Instead I find nothing on the subject. Or at least nothing that could be considered to rise to the position of a prescription.
The question being asked is whether the NT supports any practice as the singular way. And the evidence is "no." There are the general references to the church. And to churches by location. But those are not the only references. There are also references to church in a home, presumably within the same city to which a letter to the church in that city has been written. This would suggest that "church" is being used in more than one way. In one to refer to the Christians in a place, region, etc., and to specific gatherings (assemblies).
So, I might reasonably argue that the NT does, in fact, support but not prescribe the existence of two or more churches in one city, assuming that we are using the term "church" to refer to actual assemblies, whether large or as small as fitting in a house.
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So the bottom line is that, one church one city was overblown by Nee and Lee, and made more of than the scripture makes of it.
But we can't just blame them, many Christians have operated with a false premise. That premise being that if we can only make the church today like it was in the New Testament God will deliver "the cargo" in the form of Jesus coming back. That that is what the Lord is waiting for to come back.
(See - Cargo cults :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult
It's a superstition. And it can't be done.
Well, not unless it happens like it happened in the New Testament, by the Holy Spirit. Reverse engineering will not accomplish what it takes the Holy Spirit to accomplish. That's cargo cult thinking, and trying to accomplish with the natural man what it takes the Holy Spirit to accomplish.