Quote:
Originally Posted by Drake
Sure JJ.
In sum... we received every believer who came to us, we did not force them to participate in the meetings nor use any Bible except the one they preferred. If they stood to share they spoke on whatever moved them without any hindering. We held Bible studies in our local communities with Christians of every persuasion and explicitly avoided proselytizing. We held gospel singing and ministering in public parks and events and other Christians joined in to help without us taking their names. By invitation we went to the worship services of other Christian groups to speak and we joined in to whatever type of worship they engaged along with their pop bands, African drums, lifting and waving holy hands, etc.. And we held love feasts in our meeting hall and invited Christians to enjoy a meal and meet and greet without any obligation on their part whatsoever. If unbelievers came into our midst a couple of brothers or sisters would try to lead them to the Lord.
Does that work for you?
Drake
|
Yes. That sounds awesome, Drake. I guess we are both "class of '78" with the local churches. If that is what your local church experience has been and still is, it is good you are still there.
That sounds like a far cry from what I saw in California from 1978-2015. "Receiving the believers" in my localities was more like: We welcome you to come meet with us (we really do!). But, when you do, be prepared to endure insults about your church's beliefs and practices. And, if you choose to continue meeting with us after that, you better join in to worship
the way we do and use our Living Stream Ministry materials as you do because you will get the silent treatment and/or the boot out the door if you don't. And, we wouldn't dream of going and participating in another groups' divisive meetings unless we get a chance to show them we have superior teachings and practices and therefore leave their group for ours.
Also, I've seen much better receiving of the believers practiced in community churches in the cities I've lived in.