Hello Major;
I'm currently studying Revelation 2 and Jesus pointed out the characteristics of each church. This is important.
Acts 2:42, 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
In Hebrews 10:25, 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
In Ephesians 4:11-13, 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
These Scriptures and more throughout the Old and New Testaments point to God's Word encouraging us to fellowship as one body so He can inhabit our praises and worship. Going to church allows the Lord to build up our character as done in Revelation 2.
Sad, but there are people who won't go to church because someone hurt their feelings. When we don't go to church we don't get discipled, we develop our own doctrine of the Scriptures. When we don't go to church we develop our own doctrine on our terms, instead of God's, and this will expose our errors. So, by not going to church because of another church member, is this God's fault? No!
Does the Scriptures not teach us about building our relationships and character with one another? Yes!
The seven descriptions that define our pattern for each church is what Jesus is pointing out to John. In other words, we all are accountable and these seven points reveal our individual and church family's character.
Major, thank you for sharing and discussing Revelation with us. I have to be honest, Revelation and Romans are challenging in my personal studies and God gives me the zeal to continue learning.
I have a question for you. If we all chose not to go to church, would Jesus have given His Word to John regarding the seven churches?
God bless you, brother, and Merry Christmas.
IMO...……….NO!
The fact that the Seven Churches are introduced in the very 1st chapter of God's revealing of the future tells us how important the church is to all believers.
The facts are clear and IMO are demonstrated in every facet of life.
If a man wants to be a doctor...……………..he must go to a university to learn how to do it.
If a man wants to be a car mechanic...…..he must go to a school to learn how to do it.
If a man wants to be a football player......he must play football with others to learn how to be successful.
If a man wants to be a lawyer......………......he must go to school to be successful.
If a man wants to be a DUCK......……...……..he must go and live down at the "pond" where the ducks hang out.
IF....."IF" a man has chosen to be a Christian and follow Christ …...…. He must then hang out where Jesus hangs out.
WHY????
It is very important that we hear the word of God. The Bible says, in Isaiah 55:11.........
"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it," .
Some will use the excuse of...…"I do not go to church because it is full of hypocrites".
My response to that excuse is...…"THEN WHAT IS ONE MORE GOING TO HURT".
NO!. My answer is that SAVED, BORN AGIAN people want to go to church and are there because they are saved!
Those who refuse to attend church and worship the Lord Jesus are actually NOT saved. Are they religious? Probably!
Do they KNOW about the Jesus Christ. YES they do. But know about Jesus does not and has never saved anyone.
I know a lot about NASCAR racing and I attended more races than I can remember. My favorite is Bristol Tenn. I did that because I loved the racing.
I go to church because I love the Lord Jesus.
Yes, I know that there are liberals and "thinkers (?) who say that Jesus lives in us so He is where we are no matter where we are. That is true but it is also rationalization to do not do something we are told to do in the Scriptures.
That is the same kind of thinking that says if I stand in my garage I am then a "CAR".
The fact is......going to church does not save anyone or keep anyone saved, anymore than keeping the Law saves us. However, it does mean and does show the world around us that we are in fact saved and we want to be in a place with other saved people who have the same faith in Christ that we have.
IMO, That is exactly why the wither of Hebrews said in Hebrews 10:25...…......
"Do Not forsake the assembling of ourselves, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
not neglecting--as some habitually do--to meet together, but encouraging one another, and doing this all the more since you can see the day of Christ approaching."
Blessing to you and thanks for the comments.
Please know that I AM NOT A BIBLE scholar. I am only trying to share with our friends here on the site what God has allowed to learn over many years of study. My health over the last 10 years or so has severely limited my ability to travel and teach so doing that here has been a blessing for me.
However......What I post does NOT mean that I am correct and anyone can disagree with me and discussion is the root of learning when it is done in a loving, civil and Christian atmosphere.