Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - The Not-So Practical Expression of the Church

Shawn · 07-27-2008, 04:28 AM

Hi Igzy,

Sorry to sound so fundamentalist for starters, but the bible says that there are qualifications for elders, so it should be clear that this is a needed consideration for churches to practice. To drop this just because there may be disagreement does not seem to be a valid argument.

Yes, there have been ones hurt in this processs that I do not want to discount, but the politics of man can sometimes interfere in the operation of the church with disasterous results. Just looking at the history of the recovery and the leaven that came in to quench the Spirits moving in case after case as evidenced in many testimonies here more than proves this point.

But to discard a God provided position just because it may cause problems in all coming to agreement means that we do not give the Spirit the ability to confirm His choice in the hearts of the believers in that community. Its kind of like not praying for miracles so that we don't have to be disappointed if they do not happen.

The idea of a local church meeting in one city may sound good in theory, but appear impossible to realize practicaly is how many view these teachings. But many things of God are just this way, for He spoke in His word "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible, (Mt.19:26)" the real thing that is lacking is our faith to pray and labor to call things that were once not being into being, according to His speaking.

The local church is a very high concept as described in the bible, that seems impossible to grasp, but so is trying to living up to the pattern of our Lord Jesus, Who lived a sinless life in a perfect union with our Father on this Earth. This would also seem impossible for us to achieve, but we each have received a heavenly calling that we apply to our lives to strive every day to realize this living according to the grace we receive from our Lord and Savior; Captian Jesus!

The living out of the church is the corporate testimony of individuals who are each striving to live individual testimonies of their union with God in Christ Jesus. When we practice together living our life in faith, we support one another, we help adjust one another, we pray for one another and we bear one another, to manifest something greater than the sum of the whole; this is the church.

Shawn

07-27-2008, 04:28 AM	#20
Shawn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 54	The pure vs. the practical Hi Igzy, Sorry to sound so fundamentalist for starters, but the bible says that there are qualifications for elders, so it should be clear that this is a needed consideration for churches to practice. To drop this just because there may be disagreement does not seem to be a valid argument. Yes, there have been ones hurt in this processs that I do not want to discount, but the politics of man can sometimes interfere in the operation of the church with disasterous results. Just looking at the history of the recovery and the leaven that came in to quench the Spirits moving in case after case as evidenced in many testimonies here more than proves this point. But to discard a God provided position just because it may cause problems in all coming to agreement means that we do not give the Spirit the ability to confirm His choice in the hearts of the believers in that community. Its kind of like not praying for miracles so that we don't have to be disappointed if they do not happen. The idea of a local church meeting in one city may sound good in theory, but appear impossible to realize practicaly is how many view these teachings. But many things of God are just this way, for He spoke in His word "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible, (Mt.19:26)" the real thing that is lacking is our faith to pray and labor to call things that were once not being into being, according to His speaking. The local church is a very high concept as described in the bible, that seems impossible to grasp, but so is trying to living up to the pattern of our Lord Jesus, Who lived a sinless life in a perfect union with our Father on this Earth. This would also seem impossible for us to achieve, but we each have received a heavenly calling that we apply to our lives to strive every day to realize this living according to the grace we receive from our Lord and Savior; Captian Jesus! The living out of the church is the corporate testimony of individuals who are each striving to live individual testimonies of their union with God in Christ Jesus. When we practice together living our life in faith, we support one another, we help adjust one another, we pray for one another and we bear one another, to manifest something greater than the sum of the whole; this is the church. Shawn