Comments on: Who is the Church Service For? (Part 3) http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/ Living life on mission Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:40:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Amanda http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/#comment-11526 Amanda Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:36:05 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/#comment-11526 Jeremy, <i>But that’s true with everything. I know I’m way off in areas, and pray daily that I learn about these areas before I damage too many minds.</i> Very good point. I know the same is true with me, and I pray everyday for the LORD to give me more understanding, but I'm also thankful for these shortcomings as well, in both myself and in other people. It helps me keep my eyes on Christ, and reminds me to not put any one person or any specific teaching or doctrine on a pedastel, because no one is perfect. I can agree with someone or a doctrine on one thing, but that doesn't mean we need to agree on everything else. (Is that even possible?) And I'm glad you can use the links, if anything, they make a person think. :) Jeremy,

But that’s true with everything. I know I’m way off in areas, and pray daily that I learn about these areas before I damage too many minds.

Very good point. I know the same is true with me, and I pray everyday for the LORD to give me more understanding, but I’m also thankful for these shortcomings as well, in both myself and in other people. It helps me keep my eyes on Christ, and reminds me to not put any one person or any specific teaching or doctrine on a pedastel, because no one is perfect. I can agree with someone or a doctrine on one thing, but that doesn’t mean we need to agree on everything else. (Is that even possible?)

And I’m glad you can use the links, if anything, they make a person think. :)

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/#comment-11335 Jeremy Myers Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:54:42 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/#comment-11335 Amanda, Thanks for the links. I am familiar with the Plymouth Brethren and think that in some ways, they are right on, but are way off in many other areas. But that's true with everything. I know I'm way off in areas, and pray daily that I learn about these areas before I damage too many minds. That site does appear to be a good resource. Thanks. Amanda,

Thanks for the links. I am familiar with the Plymouth Brethren and think that in some ways, they are right on, but are way off in many other areas.

But that’s true with everything. I know I’m way off in areas, and pray daily that I learn about these areas before I damage too many minds.

That site does appear to be a good resource. Thanks.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/#comment-11262 Amanda Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:37:24 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/12/04/who-is-the-church-service-for-part-3/#comment-11262 I'm enjoying reading the thoughts you have here regarding what God really meant "church" to be. I first started thinking about this issue a few months ago when a family friend gave us a pamphlet by a man named Mark Frees titled "Is the One-Pastor System Biblical?" Here is a link to the article online, if you want to read it. http://cnview.com/churches_today/is_the_one_pastoral_system_scrip.htm I think Mark Frees makes some very good points in this article, and it opened my eyes quite a bit to some of the problems churches have today and why, but I have to say I don't completely agree with the conclusion he seems to come to. While I agree that the Bible doesn't teach that God's blueprint is for a one-pastor system only, I know that God can still use a church with just one pastor, as there is no such thing as a perfect church, and God obviously uses hundreds of churches all over the world to spread His Word, and to <b>serve</b> others. Mark Frees himself was once a pastor of a non-denominational church, but came to the conclusion that the one-pastor system isn't Biblical while doing a study of the church in order to teach it to the congregation. I don't know what happened, or why he left, but he is no longer the pastor at that church, and I believe has since joined a "Plymouth Brethren" congregation, though they don't use that name themselves. The Brethren are a group that I have been studying quite a bit as well, as I really like the set up they have in their churches, but like I said earlier, I don't think that the system they have is the only way God can use His children. But either way, the Plymouth Brethren from over a hundred years ago and since have given us many valuable writings, and the writings of C.H. Mackintosh especially have been very encouraging to me as I learn more about the LORD. (I would also recommend this site: <a href="http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/index.php?scid=1" rel="nofollow">The Biblical Resource Database</a>, for hundreds of articles and resources regarding almost any Biblical subject imaginable. Regardless one's personal convictions regarding God's plan for the church, it is an invaluable resource.) Many Blessings (and sorry for writing so much.) ~Amanda I’m enjoying reading the thoughts you have here regarding what God really meant “church” to be. I first started thinking about this issue a few months ago when a family friend gave us a pamphlet by a man named Mark Frees titled “Is the One-Pastor System Biblical?” Here is a link to the article online, if you want to read it. http://cnview.com/churches_today/is_the_one_pastoral_system_scrip.htm

I think Mark Frees makes some very good points in this article, and it opened my eyes quite a bit to some of the problems churches have today and why, but I have to say I don’t completely agree with the conclusion he seems to come to. While I agree that the Bible doesn’t teach that God’s blueprint is for a one-pastor system only, I know that God can still use a church with just one pastor, as there is no such thing as a perfect church, and God obviously uses hundreds of churches all over the world to spread His Word, and to serve others.

Mark Frees himself was once a pastor of a non-denominational church, but came to the conclusion that the one-pastor system isn’t Biblical while doing a study of the church in order to teach it to the congregation. I don’t know what happened, or why he left, but he is no longer the pastor at that church, and I believe has since joined a “Plymouth Brethren” congregation, though they don’t use that name themselves. The Brethren are a group that I have been studying quite a bit as well, as I really like the set up they have in their churches, but like I said earlier, I don’t think that the system they have is the only way God can use His children. But either way, the Plymouth Brethren from over a hundred years ago and since have given us many valuable writings, and the writings of C.H. Mackintosh especially have been very encouraging to me as I learn more about the LORD. (I would also recommend this site: The Biblical Resource Database, for hundreds of articles and resources regarding almost any Biblical subject imaginable. Regardless one’s personal convictions regarding God’s plan for the church, it is an invaluable resource.)

Many Blessings (and sorry for writing so much.)

~Amanda

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