Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have good friends who say they are Christians but are not affiliated with any group. Is this acceptable to God? Does He require us to to attend the services of a church?
If one Loves God and neighbor, then they will do much more than just 'attend the services of a church'.
If you're consumed with 'mint, dill, and cumin', you have missed the boat!
You said the written word was only part of it. If you are referring to the oral statements of the Apostles, who spoke by inspiration, then I would agree with you, but if you are referring to writings outside of God’s word then I disagree.
Let me be clear. The last Apostle who spoke by inspiration was John. Claims by the RCC of apostolic succession are hogwash.
The biblical writers had no problem with utilizing writings or statements from outside the Bible, so why do you? Paul on a couple of occasions quoted from pagan sources and used them in one of his letters. The entire lake of fire concept comes not from the Old Testament but from the book of 1 Enoch which is a 2nd temple period Jewish writing. A book doesn't have to be canonical to be useful.
So, you did not see difference between Jerusalem Church and Paul's teaching?
Acts 4 describes Essenes type of community, was it the same with Paul's converts? Modern US churches?
Peter and Paul preached the same gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Peter preached to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles, each requiring a special approach by the preacher, but there were not two gospels.
Our God is not the author of confusion. Why in His holy name would He give two different gospels?
Consider this. Did those Jews who the Lord added to His church on Pentecost have to be retaught? Did they have to conform to a different gospel?
Paul writes to the congregation at Ephesus, "Try hard to keep the unity of the Spirit in the peace that binds you together. There is one body and one Spirit, as you also were called in one hope at your calling. There is one Lord, one faith, one immersion, one God and Father of all..." (Ephesians 4:3-6)
How could Paul claim such unity in the body of Christ in Ephesus if the Jews in that congregation followed a different faith than its Gentile members? There was one faith and it was "the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
The One faith came from the gospel of Christ, not two different gospels, or two versions of the gospel.
When you study Peter and Paul’s messages within the epistles they both wrote, you see the alignment, agreement, and unification between the two concerning the gospels.
The biblical writers had no problem with utilizing writings or statements from outside the Bible, so why do you? Paul on a couple of occasions quoted from pagan sources and used them in one of his letters. The entire lake of fire concept comes not from the Old Testament but from the book of 1 Enoch which is a 2nd temple period Jewish writing. A book doesn't have to be canonical to be useful.
Hogwash! You have the freedom to follow any teaching you choose. I choose to follow God’s word, and nothing but. We will leave it there. We have no common ground for debate. Done!
If one Loves God and neighbor, then they will do much more than just 'attend the services of a church'.
If you're consumed with 'mint, dill, and cumin', you have missed the boat!
I agree, but if one loves the Lord and others, he will gather with the saints as commanded in Hebrews 10:24-25. Assembling is how we exhort one another.
The biblical writers had no problem with utilizing writings or statements from outside the Bible, so why do you? Paul on a couple of occasions quoted from pagan sources and used them in one of his letters. The entire lake of fire concept comes not from the Old Testament but from the book of 1 Enoch which is a 2nd temple period Jewish writing. A book doesn't have to be canonical to be useful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissKate12
Hogwash! You have the freedom to follow any teaching you choose. I choose to follow God’s word, and nothing but. We will leave it there. We have no common ground for debate. Done!
Again, Paul quoted from pagan writers.
The Apostle Paul definitely knew some pagan literature. For instance, he quotes the poet Aratus of Cilicia in Acts 17:28: “For we are also His offspring.” And he quotes Epimenides, a Cretan poet, in Titus 1:12: “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies [lazy gluttons].”
Not to take the thread off topic but I am curious. Do you take the two creation stories in Genesis as literal history and do you think there really was a global Noah's flood?
Peter and Paul preached the same gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Peter preached to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles, each requiring a special approach by the preacher, but there were not two gospels.
Our God is not the author of confusion. Why in His holy name would He give two different gospels?
Consider this. Did those Jews who the Lord added to His church on Pentecost have to be retaught? Did they have to conform to a different gospel?
Paul writes to the congregation at Ephesus, "Try hard to keep the unity of the Spirit in the peace that binds you together. There is one body and one Spirit, as you also were called in one hope at your calling. There is one Lord, one faith, one immersion, one God and Father of all..." (Ephesians 4:3-6)
How could Paul claim such unity in the body of Christ in Ephesus if the Jews in that congregation followed a different faith than its Gentile members? There was one faith and it was "the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
The One faith came from the gospel of Christ, not two different gospels, or two versions of the gospel.
When you study Peter and Paul’s messages within the epistles they both wrote, you see the alignment, agreement, and unification between the two concerning the gospels.
nothing like that, Paul was a proto-Valentinian Gnostic while Jerusalem Church ended up being Ebionites.
Paul definitely was given to know mysteries of the Kingdom.
Perhaps people can put more weight on one tenet or another, but in my view, showing the fruit of the Holy Spirit that was discussed in Galatians might mean that if someone is out showing love on the ground (i.e. helping out when there is an immediate crisis-- think of the helpful actions of different people of faith in natural disasters), that might be superior to being in a safe building around people they normally hang out with when they and their God given gifts are needed somewhere else at the moment.
Perhaps people can put more weight on one tenet or another, but in my view, showing the fruit of the Holy Spirit that was discussed in Galatians might mean that if someone is out showing love on the ground (i.e. helping out when there is an immediate crisis-- think of the helpful actions of different people of faith in natural disasters), that might be superior to being in a safe building around people they normally hang out with when they and their God given gifts are needed somewhere else at the moment.
It is possible to gather for church services on Sunday and still do charitable work.
It is possible to gather for church services on Sunday and still do charitable work.
Right, but my point was if there is a crisis that happens to be happening at the same time as a scheduled church meeting, a person can be worshiping and showing the fruits of the Holy Spirit to others in any setting, not just a church facility if they can't physically be two places at once. The "ox out of the ditch" passage in Luke applies.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
