Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Debelak
The “assembly” is simply an occasion where Christians get together. At a coffee shop, in a Bible study, in a meeting of praise and worship and/or teaching. It is the venue for fellowship and mutual edification. That’s it.
Within that venue all sorts of talents and temporary roles will rise up: teachers, comforters, wise sages, practical-minded ones. With each role and as needs arise, “submit to one another” will be a governing principle. The gathering is then an outgrowth of individuals following the Lord. Each one needs teaching, needs leading, needs comfort, need encouragement, as well as will be prompted to employ their God-given talents – but often in different ways at different times.
This approach, which doesn’t “box in” the notion of “assembly” allows these needs to be met as the Lord leads. This may most often simply take the form of individuals “joining” a “formal group,” but by framing and emphasizing it differently, is leaves open the room from God’s alternative moving, planning, will.
|
When you say the “assembly” is that equal to the NT term that we translate “Church”? Also, are you equating the assembly with the venue? Because I don’t see how this understanding could align with a number of verses. It seems to my understanding that the Church cannot be defined as wherever two or three meet together.
For example:
1. Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ given unto the Church (2Cor 1:1). How could a venue be given the Apostle Paul?
2. In Revelation 2 and 3 each Church has an Angel. It seems a little over the top to think that a couple of saints meeting at a coffee shop “have an angel” for that venue.
3. Phebe is a servant of the church. (Rom 16:1) Again, hard to imagine many of these gatherings you are describing having a “servant”.
4. Herod stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the church (Acts 12:1). Again, I just don’t see a king getting all bent out of shape at 2 or 3 meeting at a coffee house.
5. At the time of Saul’s conversion there was a “great persecution against the church”. How could you persecute all these varied venues?
6. Paul said that he had “given order to the churches of Galatia”. It seems if a church is any venue where a couple of Christians meet it would be impossible to “give orders to the churches of Galatia”.
7. Rev. 1:4 says “John to the seven churches which are in Asia”. Based on the definition that wherever a couple of saints meet together to fellowship that is a Church how could you possibly count the number of churches? If everyone gathered in a big meeting you would have 1, if after the meeting they went out to eat in small groups you might have 10. Acts 16:5 says the churches increased in number daily. I just don’t see how you would be able to count churches with this definition.
8. According to 1Tim 3:5 you need to be able to take care of your own house to be qualified to take care of the church. That seems unreasonable if the church is 3 people meeting at a coffee shop.
9. 3John 1:10 refers to Diotrephes who casts people out of the church. How exactly could he have done that if the church is wherever 2 or 3 meet together?