I dOnT nEeD tHe ChUrCh
Debunking the belief that a believer can live a solo Christian life, and much more answers...
Q: I was an atheist not exposed to anything remotely biblical my whole life. I found my faith less than a year agp. I just started reading the bible and very quickly felt like churches are teaching something else. The Bible says one thing and they say another. I left. Now He guides me in my studies and shows me what I need to see. He led me to His OT and how He is the same God as before. I pray all people just let the Holy Spirit guide them. Not pastors, ministers, or priests. Let God be in control.
There isn't a single Christian denomination that obeys the bible. Just a pastor getting paid to be a pastor is against the bible. No one should receive income from preaching God's words. If your congregation assembles in a building dedicated for it, like a church, that's against the bible. The word church is ekklesia in greek and refers to an assembly of any group of people, not just believers. Those that were followers of The Way assembled at people's houses, read the word together with no apointed leader and studied together. Never is it ok to raise one person above the others and Jesus says He hates that system. If your church meets on Sunday, it disobeyed the bible and practices pagan traditions that come from the catholic church. If your church observes pagan holidays like Easter, and Christmas. It's disobeying the bible. Christianity as a whole does not obey the words of God, but keep to man's traditions.
A: There are loads to unpack and debunk here.... if you are a Christian, you will look at all of this.
First, Only if you are in a false church with false teachers and preachers. It is good to flee a false church, but flee TO a real one... a bible focused one. Go where the pastor has a theology degree and preaches at a solid biblical church.
Based on other things you said it is clear due to your babe status that you dont know what Scripture actually says yet, and that is another reason proving why you do need the local church. From in there you can ask questions and get answers in Sunday school, by asking congregants, and listening to the sermons, to debunk even the last stuff you said above which are inaccurate.
Here is clarity:
1. Every denomination that teaches the Essentials of Scripture obeys the Bible. Why can they believe & obey it because they are born again. They are Saved. They thus are Christian.
2. Scripture tells us in OT & NT that workers are worthy of a wage. Including missionaries and Preachers.
3. God gifted preachers (pastor-teachers) to the Church.
Eph 4:11-13 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
You have to be in church if ypu are a follower of Christ per Scripture. Period.
Pastor preacher-teachers are given to us to shepherd us; study deeply and present the truth of Scripture to all congregants, and with proper hermenutics. The Holy Spirit works through the pastor to bring these weekly sermon studies to those there [whom God has put there] for him to Shepherd. Things average people cannot do as 1. They arent given that gift & 2. the congregants/believers have their own job$ and until recently had not computers and internet to study more however it doesnt put them at the level of the giftedness God gave to Pastors. Nothing can replace them or the local church. Thinking so is arrogance.
Why we should think the Holy Spirit is incapable of teaching us *through* other believers since the word of God speaks bountifully on the importance of fellowship and community? Family language is used or believers in the NT for an obvious reason.
In Acts 18, Peter writes of Apollos who evidently didn't know the whole story of Christ but was boldly teaching from what he understood. Still, the Lord used Priscilla and Aquila to instruct him and teach him a more accurate understanding. I think this story illustrates that a) yes, you can be filled with the Spirit and get some (maybe most) things right but b) instruction is still important. Bith are important.
Then there is the question that if we had no need of someone to guide us, then why DID Paul write extensively to Timothy on pastoral leadership and the church? If lone wolf Christianity were acceptable and desirable then these letters are, frankly, rather pointless indeed!
There's also a pragmatic application. Ultimately, the primary duty we have as believers is to fulfill the Great Commission. God can give us the words to say and things to share when interacting with unbelievers, but he doesn't always do it. God wanted a family—that's why he created us—and I believe he has some expectations that we need to help train each other and gain practice sharing the word. It's not impossible to do alone with the Holy Spirit guiding us, but solitary efforts that are successful are rare. I think there's also some danger of hubris when we go it alone.
This isn't an exhaustive list. God gave us access to his wisdom through other believers who excel at certain things (Semitic studies, Hebrew, Greek, memorization, leadership, stewardship, giving, love, etc) because he expects us to act the part of a family. In some ways, to reject what others bring to the table is to reject the Lord if their sharing is through force of God-given gifts.
Also consider "Is it possible that Jesus would call those teachers through the work of the Holy Spirit?" Also, "Can the Holy Spirit speak to and through teachers?" Finally, "have you heard of the Gift of teaching, which also comes from the Holy Spirit?" Any of these points should get you thinking and show that you do not use the gift of the Holy Spirit when you say such nonsense. Btw, (as noted earlier too) this is not the same as saying we should not study the Bible for ourselves. Because any good teacher will encourage this. We should live in the word every day, but equally, God has gifted some people to teach and we need to sit under them; in the local church.
4. Who is the Church? The redeemed both invisible and visible. What do these people do and where do they go? They gather together to worship God locally [at the Church]. We have biblical precedent for this in many ways [besides the example of the entire NT] the OT and Jesus era was pointing to the Tabernacle and later the Temple and to local synygogues. This gathering continued into churches from the Resurrection until today. Why not big church buildings? 1. They met at the temple and synygogues or in small areas in homes. And then what?? They church grew, such as the pre RCC in Rome who had so many believers. And churches began being built in countries and times where it was legal. When illegal or persecution was fierce they met underground. Since Constantine and further on into the spread of Christianity into Europe and to more modern times into Britian, UK and then westward to America where freedom reigns church buildings were built. And every town had one or more as does cities. We are following biblical prescedent. Not going and doing a solo thing is rebellion. Its not what believers do.
5. Christians are given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit in which we are to use in the local church to serve the brethren, help & bless them, and in service to God. You cannot do this as a solo rebel.
6. Church congregations obey 3 ordinances baptism and the Lord's supper, and making disciples.
* you cannot baptize yourself.
*you cannot unitedly take the communiin sololy
*you cannot disciple yourself.
>>> You cant do any of that "together" living a soloist life.
7. Churches teach Scripture, help one another in various ways, and hold believers accountable for holy living. Institute discipline proceedures to lovingly help us become more like Christ. You cannot do this as a solo rebel and is a main reason certain people want to be soloists. To do your own thing; live in rebellion & sin. Believers do not behave like that.
You have much to learn about what the Bible contains and teaches, and it is best if you spend 3 years studying it (like the NT folk who followed Christ did) so you know it, before talking about it/confusing others with false info. And a good place to get better understanding of it is by being a member of a local Bible church where you can learn more about what it contains beyond the surface.
More Resources
Save yourself decades of stunted growth & pain by quickly joining a local bible church and grow and mature there with their help. New believers [all believers] need to be an active member at their local church. Find a church and join one right away. Any in this directory will be fine.
Hope this has been helpful and blessed you ✝️
Comments
Post a Comment