House Church Talk - Re: Pattern or simply an adaptation?

[Flash]

Bruce - I cannot disagree with anything that you say here, and also
appreciate what Glenn has driven us to examine - thanks to both of you.

I have a question regarding the word relationship.  This is not even a word
found in the Bible.  How can it be central focus?  Can we use the Bible
terminology to speak of what we know as relationship?  Suggestions please.
I use the word relationship easily as you do, but am bothered that it is not
in the Bible.  So, what are the words used in the Bible that connote
relationship?  And, is it more precise to use these words than modern words
such as relationship?

Also, I would point to the reality that it is not only NT times that speak
to what we refer as relationship.  Look at anyone in the OT to also see real
relationship.  Isaiah 53, psalms, David, Moses, Abraham - all very keen on
what we term relationship.  What is the real term which the Bible would
direct us to use.  Otherwise, I'm gonna start baptising in olive oil...

>From a Luddite,
Dan ChicagoArea

> You are absolutely right, brother! Relationships ARE the big deal for new
> covenant saints! Nurturing relationships with God and with our brothers
and
> sisters IS THE PRIORITY, and NOT  the question of FORM  (house churches or
> institutional churches). So since relationships are the priority, my
> question is: Should we not seek to use forms that are best suited for
> nurturing relationships with other members in the Body of Christ?  Which
> forms are best suited for the purpose?....
>
> -sitting in pews in large auditoriums which are designed to PREVENT face
to
> face, eyeball to eyeball contact between pew sitters and are designed to
> discourage interaction between them and limit the exercise of gifts and
> ministry to a small minority OR
>
> -sitting in chairs or on the floor of livingrooms where everyone is facing
> one another and is expected to interact with the others, and where ample
> opportunity is afforded to all to exercise their particular gifts and
> receive a variety of ministry derived from the giftings of others?
>
> Does this help?  NEITHER, house churches nor institutional churches are
ever
> set forth in scripture as THE PATTERN to follow. But, in view of the
> purposes that scripture sets forth as the reasons for church gatherings,
we
> need to ask, "Which forms are best suited to the purposes for which God
> would have us to meet?"
>
> Your brother in Christ,
> Bruce