House Church Talk - House church or simply church wherever people are

[Glenn Frank]

On 7/25/04 6:39 AM, "Bruce Woodford" <bwood4d at hotmail.com> wrote:

> But please don't revert to the spectator mode which is the epitome of many
> instituional churches, but so foreign to membership in the Body of Christ!

That is good and true Bruce. Thanks for bringing that back to our attention.
Sitting and listening is the 'MO' of the instituional church, not the house
church. We are all called to 'spur one another on' which at time might not
feel good.


However, we must be able to do this in ways that do not lead to arguing over
point that just go round and round with no resolution. I don't think this
means we never argue either... It is just when an argument fails to resolve
and becomes only match of wits -- no longer about resolving the issue...
Just about winning an argument. I think that the places where Paul tells
Timothy and Titus to avoid arguing do not mean "clam up" they mean just
don't waste your time arguing in ways that will not result in growth fruit.
(2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9)

There will be disagreement and differences of opinions at times and there
will be rebukes, corrections and even arguments, but in all that we are to
avoid FOOLISH arguments that do not benefit anyone -- producing only
quarrels (when the purpose has become winning the argument rather than
resolving the argument to the benefit of all). This we must keep in mind as
we discuss or we become a boxing ring rather than a gathering of the saints.

But I fully agree... I would rather be in a gathering of saints who actually
discuss and work out their faith, rather than a group like the typical IC
where one man shares his view and everyone else sits, listens politely and
either agrees or quietly mumbles his disagreement to his wife and stews
about it.

:-)

Glenn Frank