[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.]
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Summary in 400 words or less:
Many modern people seem to indicate that they are “spiritual, but not religious,” or “I’m a Christian, but I don’t go to church” which is often code for “I don’t have people with whom I worship God.” Some of them articulate that they have a problem with authority (e.g., they don’t want a preacher to tell them what to do, how to act, what to believe, etc.). Some of them are distrustful of people or of strangers. Others may have discomfort with “organized religion” or fear being abused or taken advantage of or see the church as a “Christian country club”. Others are leery of being told to give. Yet others may say “they’re all set” or they don’t sense the need for Christian community; perhaps they are less relationally-oriented. They may even think they can be Christians without a local church.
Key points:
That people are spiritual does not preclude the need for the church for a variety of reasons.
In bullet point form:
* teachers/pastors/preachers (“teaching elders”) are not just one of many voices; they are trained and entrusted with properly teaching the faith (Eph. 4:11-15)
* true, better teachers/pastors/preachers should dialogue with members of the congregation (possibly before sermon) to figure out some possible applications e.g., John R. W. Stott
* we gather together to worship (scatter to serve God)
* we discussion possible application(s)
* we learn about community and the needs of others
* those of us who may feel blessed with more may give to those who are more needing
* learning about truth and how to apply the truth
* recognizing we are not self-sufficient; even let’s say we bring people to Christ — each of us is not responsible for the spiritual well-being of others — we need other people!
* recognizing our insufficiency and finitude and having humility to learn from others, seeing better examples of certain things (e.g., someone more sanctified than us, someone more gifted with the gift of encouragement, etc.)
* practising “one another” passages
– encourage by each others faith Romans 1:12
– love one another Romans 13:8; 1Thess. 4:9; 1Peter 1:22; 1John 3:11, 4:7, 11; 2John 1:5; increase and abound in love for one another and for all 1Thess. 3:12; like Christ loved us John 13:34-35, just as Christ commanded us 1John 3:23
– love one another with brotherly affection Romans 12:10
– live in harmony with one another Romans 12:6
– build one another up Romans 14:19; 1Thess 5:11
– live in such harmony with one another Romans 15:5
– welcome/accept one another just as Christ accepted you Romans 15:7
– instruct one another Romans 15:14
– wait for one another when you come together to eat 1Cor. 11:33
– care for one another like the human body cares for itself 1Cor. 12:25
– greet another warmly / with a holy kiss Romans 16:16; 1Cor. 16:20; 2Cor. 13:12; kiss of love 1Peter 5:14
– serve one another through love Gal. 5:13
– carry each other’s burdens Gal. 6:2
– bear with one another in love Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13
– speak the truth to one another Eph. 4:25 / do not lie to one another Col. 3:9
– forgive one another Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13
– submit to one another Eph. 5:21
– in humility count one another more significant than yourselves Phil. 2:3
– encourage one another with these words 1Thess. 4:18
– seek to do good to one another and to everyone 1Thess. 5:15
– stir up / encourage one other to love and good works Heb. 10:24
– do not speak evil against one another James 4:11; do not grumble James 5:9
– confess sins to one another and pray for one another James 5:16
– offer/show hospitality to one another without grumbling 1Peter 4:9
– put on the “apron of humility” towards one another 1Peter 5:5
* “Sinners anonymous”, hospital for sin-weary more than a museum for the collection of the saints
* “Being at church makes me as Christian as being in a garage makes me a car”
* “Not going to church because of ‘hypocrites’ is like not going to the gym because of ‘out of shape’ people”
* probably want some caveats about healthy / unhealthy and good/bad churches
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Collaborators: Chris Lee
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