Home » Discussion Area » Rant/Rave » The Corinthians had a church...
| The Corinthians had a church... [message #7000] |
Tue, 30 March 2010 05:55  |
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 william
Messages: 1464
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Whatever one may believe about Clement of Rome (one of the first of the apostolic fathers) we can easily discern from his epistle to the Corinthian church the extent they had fallen away from the truths that were proclaimed by Paul by the end of the first century.
His chief indictment concerned the division that was in their midst. Paul had warned them about the very same issue.
I believe that we can make some comparisons between the church at Corinth and our own situation.
I. They differ from most of us in that they actually had an assembly to identify with, however imperfect it may have been.
i. Those of us who find ourselves alone in the wilderness must in some way justify our condition by believing that we are somehow yoked to the 'church universal' even though we might not like the terminology. A question we must ask--is it better to be a part of an imperfect representation of a local church, (like the Corinthian church) or is it better to separate completely from such assemblies?
1) To answer such a question we first must decide what actually constitutes a church?
a) Are there any believers present?
b) Is heresy being taught by the leadership?
c) Is there any hope that God may salvage such a church?
d) Do we possess any gift that might help to bring about the restoration of the body of Christ in this church?
2) At what point can it be said that a church has become apostate, or has had its lamp stand removed?
3) Can one become a Christian in this church?
a) What is necessary for one to become a Christian?
b) If there is a possibility that one can become a Christian in this church, what course of action would you advise for the new convert?
i) Stay put and read your bible.
ii) Find another church. (Assuming this is possible)
iii) Leave and join the ranks of the independent Christians everywhere who are a part of the mystical 'church universal'?
4) What doctrines are absolutely necessary for a church to be considered a Christian church?
a) We can assume, according to Jesus, that the church should be promoting a love for God among its members.
b) Secondly, there should be love toward others, both within the fellowship and without. (Who is my neighbor?)
c) Interpretation of biblical truth should be based upon sound principles of hermeneutics.
d) It is desirable that all believe the same things when it comes to doctrine, but is there room for differences in interpretation when it comes to things like the head-covering, for instance, or the holidays, or how one may or may not exercise their faith regarding healing, deliverance, or the prosperity of the believer? Could there be fellowship among those who are at different levels regarding these things? Do these things determine whether or not a church is true or false?
e) Positive confession. Is this a deal-breaker when it comes to the definition of a church?
ii. Is it possible to be a part of the body of Christ, without being a part of an assembly?
iii. Are the gifts (1Cor12, Rom12, Eph4) only given to those who are a part of an assembly, or can we expect them to operate through us more or less independently of the fellowship of believers?
II. The Corinthians, however imperfect they were, had an abundance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
III. The Corinthians, despite an abundance of problems, despite their divisions, despite their schisms, were still unified enough to be considered a church.
IV. The Corinthians were still a functioning assembly toward the end of the first century even though they had not followed the words of Paul (which we know to be THE WORD OF GOD) and were still plagued with the same sort of vices that are enumerated in 1 & 2 Corinthians. I'm not advocating for a carnal church, nor am I saying that they were not in danger of losing their lamp stand, but it is an interesting fact that even with all of their problems-- lack of unity, lack of agreement on doctrine, jealousy, envy, strife, pride, etc.--they were still viable as a church!
I'm not sure where I'm going with this other than to provide some food for thought.
I'm certainly not trying to point a finger (I don't have) at anyone for being in a situation that none of us really want to be in, but I don't like the status-quo and I'm not going to be satisfied as an unattached fingernail. I was made to scratch an itch and I'm having a tough time doing it without a finger!
Blessings,
William
[Updated on: Tue, 30 March 2010 17:09]
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #7001 is a reply to message #7000] |
Tue, 30 March 2010 11:08  |
james
Messages: 2142
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
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What to do? The qestions continue, I've sure wrestled with these thoughts over and over. And though I've never felt comfortable with the position of NOT being part of a visible local assembly, but every time I'd gotten involved I've found myself miserable and compromising in order to 'fit in' and have left in worse spiritual condition than I came in.(which is my own fault, not blaming anyone else.)
I don't want to write something that sounds like self justification, so I won't say anything else except, thanks William for sharing. Your post does cause a person who is sincere to examine themselves and think. And the point about being an unattached fingernail that can't scratch without a finger is good. Maybe before seeking a burden for the 'body of Christ' at large, I should fast and pray for the member of it that I see in the mirror...
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #7007 is a reply to message #7001] |
Wed, 31 March 2010 14:45 |
james
Messages: 2142
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
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Speaking of food for thought... if 'food for thought' contained calories, I'd weight 400 lbs.
cause I'm always chewing on something... 
But seriously William, how can one ever be part of an assembly when they aren't in agreement with most of what is practiced or not practiced in relationship to obeying what the Word of God has revealed? And I'll accept that some things can be caulked up to youth or lack of teaching, and that love covers a multitude of sins. But it's been my experience that it's just a matter of time before it becomes too serious to ignore. It's one thing for the sheep to be young in The Lord and not 'know', but willing to be taught and hungry for the truth; but when the pastor/5-fold/elder/leadership isn't teaching the truth and is unwilling to follow Biblical standards, but rather follows after traditions of man, how can a true disciple of Jesus remain in such an assembly?
I see no way be be there (and be an active, participating member) without compromising that which The Lord has shown us. Did He present us with these truths 30 years ago only to have us set them aside today in order to be part of a 'church'? OK, let's say we're not really setting them aside, just not doing them for the sake of 'unity' or not causing another to stumble, (some may call it not being so dogmatic and showing love)
Do we,(if sisters) stop wearing a head-covering? Do we start celebrating the pagan 'holy days'? What do we do concerning divine healing? Share our faith and experienced testimonies of God's faithfulness? OR, wear the head-covering, dance before The Lord, give testimonies of healing, share the truth about their 'sacred holidays'. How about what to do when everyone is honoring the American flag, pledging allegiance, getting involved in political and social change, how about the church blood drive, and on and on...How does a person, who's eyes have been opened by God's grace, return to that which they've confessed to be delivered from and expect Gods blessing to remain in their lives as though it doesn't really matter to HIM?
Not preaching nor saying you've done this...or that I have all the answers, at all. Just asking questions...
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #7009 is a reply to message #7008] |
Thu, 01 April 2010 13:25 |
james
Messages: 2142
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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| moulder wrote on Wed, 31 March 2010 09:20 |
Just for the record--I am not currently 'a part' of any assembly; i.e. I'm
not a former-smoker now turned anti-smoking-nazi, here.
I'd love to continue, but duty calleth... more later!
Blessings,
William
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Sorry to hear you're not part of an assembly (I was of the understanding that you and Abiding were among the few who had found an assembly that resembled a NT church...you had mentioned preparing Sunday School teachings...)
Well, ya'll can come down this weekend to B'ham and hide and hunt colored eggs with me, then afterwards we can go hunting for the rabbit...(be sure to dress up in your Easter finest).
"Anti-smoking-nazi"...I love your use the English language.
..."because I'm a man who was once lost in sin, I can't very well judge others"... But I am 'anti-sin'.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #7010 is a reply to message #7009] |
Thu, 01 April 2010 23:30 |
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william
Messages: 1464
Registered: January 2006 |
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Administrator |
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On Thu, 1 Apr 2010, James wrote:
>
> Sorry to hear you're not part of an assembly (I was of the understanding
> that you and Abiding were among the few who had found an assembly that
> resembled a NT church...you had mentioned preparing Sunday School
> teachings...)
>
Well it wasn't exactly a close resemblance...<grin> but I still teach two
classes, one on Sunday AM and the other on Wednesday night at another
church. I've been teaching there for about three years. It started off
just on Wednesday nights and then the pastor asked me to do a men's Sunday
school class (theology). After a few months he reorganized some things
and decided that he would do the Wed. service but that didn't last too
long. More reorganization and he added back the Wed. service and changed
the Sunday class to all adults instead of just men.
We've gone through Galatians, Daniel, Revelation, Luke (that took over a
year!), and now Acts. They all know that I'm a tongue speaker so it was
interesting when we got to Acts two! Currently we are in Acts five.
I've grown very fond of all of the members. I'm actually the youngest
one!
Blessings,
William
[Updated on: Thu, 01 April 2010 23:51]
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #7011 is a reply to message #7010] |
Fri, 02 April 2010 01:56 |
james
Messages: 2142
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
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Several of the guys who did the Exploring Christianity study with me last summer and fall want to do a Bible study apart from the influence of a structured denominational viewpoint. One has suggested the book of Job, another wants to study Revelation, and one wants to start in Genesis.(I'd love to do a study on theology, ethics, or maybe a study of what faith is and how it effects our day to day walk with God) I hope we can come to an agreement and get started in a couple of weeks when tax season is over. I've never done this with such a diversified group, there's a Baptist, a Presbyterian, an uncommitted, and a non-denominational.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #7017 is a reply to message #7007] |
Fri, 02 April 2010 05:16 |
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william
Messages: 1464
Registered: January 2006 |
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On Wed, 31 Mar 2010, James wrote:
>
> I see no way be be there (and be an active, participating member)
> without compromising that which The Lord has shown us. Did He present us
> with these truths 30 years ago only to have us set them aside today in
> order to be part of a 'church'? OK, let's say we're not really setting
> them aside, just not doing them for the sake of 'unity' or not causing
> another to stumble, (some may call it not being so dogmatic and showing
> love)
>
I hear what you are saying, but you can turn it around and ask the same
question this way: Did He present us with these truths 30 years ago so
that we could avoid fellowshipping with anyone who wasn't a beneficiary of
those teachings?
Here are the possibilities as I see them:
1) It's been 30 years and we have 10 more years in the wilderness before
we graduate. Waiting for the burning bush experience may actually be what
we are called to do.
2) Stop messing around and find somewhere on earth we can relocate to so
that we can continue to be taught wonderful truths so that one of these
days we can stand before Him and give an account concerning what we have
been taught.
3) If He tarries, we can continue to wait until we die and at that point
we can thank Him personally for the wonderful teaching He gave to us.
Those are valid options even though I inserted a couple of scary ideas to
show that there will be consequences if we are wrong.
4) We can follow the example of the early church when they were forced to
flee the comfortable setting of their near-perfect church and go out and
preach the word everywhere, even though they were only recent converts to
the new teaching.
Excuses:
--A) We aren't called to 'teach' or 'preach'. After all, the wonderful
teaching that we received was so that we could grow fat and learn how the
faith message can benefit our own lives.
--B) The wonderful teaching concerning body ministry was only applicable
thirty years ago when we had a body where we could minister (assuming we
actually ministered; without a 'call', we might not have even ministered
back then, especially if we weren't called to 'teach' or 'preach' or
'exhort'.).
--C) Only a few of those that were called to hear that word were actually
chosen to minister that word we heard. Even fewer than we thought since
almost all who heard that word ARE NOT MINISTERING, not even those who DID
MINISTER the word during that period.
Is there really a purpose for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit beyond
the personal benefits we derive?
What makes us different than any pew sitter, sitting in thousands of
churches across the land, when it comes to spreading the word we received?
Is that what we really want? Just another church where we can sit back
and hear wonderful truths while someone who is called (or says they are)
does the preaching?
To quote a wonderful teacher, "God has called me to minister to
ministers". If we are going to quote brother Freeman and follow his
sayings let's not forget that this also was something he firmly believed.
Do we believe it?
I have struggled with these same issues. No one here should get the
impression that just because I have been blessed with an opportunity to
minister His word, that I'm somehow different than any of you, or consider
myself one of those 'ministers' that has been called into the "five-fold".
If you could sit eyeball to eyeball with me you would quickly realize that
I can barely speak a paragraph without butchering the king's english. I
am one of the foolish, weak, base, and despised, that Paul mentioned...
yet through Jesus I can do all things. God's word says that not many
noble are called (you know, those who are eloquent speakers); no, He has
called us all to take what we were given and give it out again.
There aren't too many times, driving to the meeting, that I don't think
about Moses begging off because of his lack of speaking ability and remind
God that He is the one who made my mouth and I pray that He will somehow
anoint what proceeds from my mouth and make it intelligible to those who
hear. So please don't get the impression that I'm a natural when it comes
to teaching His Word. I'm saying that in the natural any one of you would
be a better choice to bring forth what we were given.
I do it because I believe that is what we were called to do.
>
> Do we,(if sisters) stop wearing a head-covering? Do we start celebrating
> the pagan 'holy days'? What do we do concerning divine healing? Share
> our faith and experienced testimonies of God's faithfulness? OR, wear
> the head-covering, dance before The Lord, give testimonies of healing,
> share the truth about their 'sacred holidays'. How about what to do when
> everyone is honoring the American flag, pledging allegiance, getting
> involved in political and social change, how about the church blood
> drive, and on and on...How does a person, who's eyes have been opened by
> God's grace, return to that which they've confessed to be delivered from
> and expect Gods blessing to remain in their lives as though it doesn't
> really matter to HIM?
>
If it is true--that it does matter to God-- then how is it that we don't
see ourselves as preachers of righteousness to those who haven't heard
what you have heard? (How will they hear, without a preacher?)
To paraphrase another minister: How can we say we love someone and not
give them the things they need? (Faith without works--is dead.)
And finally, to answer your last question I'll need to ask another--How
does a person, whose eyes have been opened, ask God to pour out more of
His power when we aren't willing to give away what we already have been
given?
As I go though the book of Acts I'm seeing that, while it is extremely
important for the bride to make herself ready, the focus is not on the
bride (ourselves) but the focus is on spreading the message to as many
people as possible. They were on a mission, they were missionaries,
intent on spreading the Gospel far and wide. We are scattered, just like
them, the difference? We wait.
They went everywhere spreading the word while the 'ministers' stayed in
Jerusalem.
Going into the world to preach about the head-covering and preach about
the holidays will be about as effective as those who went about preaching
circumcision to those gentiles who had just received the living water. On
the other hand, going forth with the message that Jesus died for all of
their sins and that the Holy Spirit is a Gift from the Living God that is
offered to them will be effective. Once they receive that message I
daresay that you won't need to preach on the holidays, the Holy Spirit is
much better at setting them free than we will ever be!
So should we wait or should we go... we have examples of both but
obviously I lean toward the latter!
Blessings,
William
[Updated on: Fri, 02 April 2010 16:18]
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #12933 is a reply to message #7017] |
Fri, 06 December 2019 15:39 |
james
Messages: 2142
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Gary mentioned reading older posts the other day and this is one that caught my eye. Ten years after these comments were made by me I find myself having changed/grown in my convictions/thoughts/opinions of what a "church" is and if I can fellowship/worship/share without compromising my faith in Jesus.
I can and I do. I have been attending a SBC church (Southern Baptist ) for almost seven years, I can say with conviction that there are many followers of Jesus there, one can come to salvation by the preaching of God's Word there, and worship is worship, not a rock concert with Christian lyrics. Do most celebrate Christmas? Yep, Easter too, and probably very few pray in tongues, but they have put their trust in Jesus as both Lord and Savior and live lives that reflects godliness. The pastor preaches the gospel message, communion is observed, and baptism.
Is it a perfect assembly of believers? No, because if for no other reason, I go there, and I'm not perfect. But after hunkering down making every excuse imaginable for almost 25 years, I finally realized, just as William said back then, I haven't been called to withhold fellowship, but rather share in fellowship with fellow believers.
Thanks William, your encouragement and wisdom has been very helpful in my life and I appreciate you.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: The Corinthians had a church... [message #12935 is a reply to message #12934] |
Fri, 06 December 2019 17:11 |
james
Messages: 2142
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Yeah. the irony isn't lost on me...
Of course around this time of year I have things to deal with that are sometimes a bit awkward. But I know we should be engaged with fellow believers regularly, though I'll be the last person to judge another mans convictions.
But William, I think when you were sharing and teaching those folks back then God was and will use the seeds you planted to bring glory to His name.
I'll be praying for you as you seek to be where He would have you, doing what He has appointed you to do. I'm not selling the Baptist denominational institution, but the Christian people who worship Jesus assembling together where ever.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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