Mark Byron observes that Leviticus 17:8-9 requires sacrifices to be made in the proper place. He suggests
Sacrifices are to be made at the proper place. One can’t just make a sacrifice on one’s own. I’m not quite sure if this is a proper hermeneutic, but that points to needing to be part of a church rather than worshiping God on ones own.
I don’t know if I’d say you need to “be part of a church” to worship God correctly, but I think he makes a great point. Jesus said it didn’t matter which mountain you worshipped on, as long as you worshipped in _spirit_ and in _truth_. In 2 Timothy 2:5, Paul draws an analogy to our Christian life and says that “if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes _according_ _to_ _the_ _rules_ .” (emphasis added).
Without getting hung up on legalism, it appears that there are rules. Christianity is not a free-for-all. For example, Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 11-14 give us instruction on the form that church should take. There are offices God has given us as a gift to help us mature. Worship must be done in an orderly and edifying manner. Ephesians 5 says it does matter how we order our homes. 1 Timothy 3 tells us that there are rules about who can hold the offices of elder and deacon.
Worship is not about us. Christianity is not about us. Salvation is not about us. It’s about God. We come to Him on His terms and at His bidding and for His glory.
I’ve been echoing that the sentiments of your last paragraph for years now….good points.
Aye, but we are instructed to join a body of believers (church) for fellowship and instruction.
I agree. The local church was given to us as a gift by God, and the normal Christian life should be deeply connected to it.
Help me out it’s in Hebrews but I cannot remeber exactly where
Do not forsake the gathering of the brethren as some are accustomed to do. No this is not an option it is a requirement. It doesn’t say how many or what kind but definitely a must.
Remove the burning coal from the group set it aside and it will go out rather quickly.
The Lion roars, frightens the herd, and seperates out the weak runs them down and devours them for lunch.
Good points. I would define “church” rather broadly. Small home churches would fit that niche even if they would shy away from the word “church.”
The bottom line is that being a Lone Ranger Christian isn’t helpful to one’s spiritual development.
“The bottom line is that being a Lone Ranger Christian isn?t helpful to one?s spiritual development.”
Mark,
I could sit here and outline it, but we all know it is next to impossible to grow spiritually without regularly attending a Church, in one form or the other …
Tony,
Isn’t that what Mark was saying?
that’s exactly what he’s saying .. :)