House Church Talk - The Local Church

[goodwordusa at att.net]

Paul Cox wrote:

> So I believe that what the Lord recognizes as the church in every city
> is the aggregate of all the true believers in that city, regardless of
> the multitudinous games being played by self appointed popes who claim
> to have the up-to-date accurate revelation.

I tend to agree with your view of what the church really is, Paul.  

But I think you are being a little harsh on the local popes.  As I see it, 
being a self appointed pope is ok, so long as when one looks in the mirror he 
can see that he is really and rightfully a pope because he is wearing the 
right kind of hat.  

After all, when we leave this life, this world and present evil age, and we 
all stand before the one true and faithful Judge of all the universe, we must 
be ready to give an answer for all that we have said and done.  A hat, in 
that day, may prove a poor excuse, but it may be better than no excuse at 
all.  (If we can make the Judge laugh, will He be forgiving?)

For we will all be judged by our works, whatever we have said and whatever we 
have done in this life.  Unless of course our names are written in the Lamb's 
book of life, and we have already been removed out from under the sentence of 
death and judgment into life itself, through genuine faith in Jesus Christ 
(Jn 5:24, Rv 20:11-15).

Jim