Matt.18:20
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I feel that this verse is being used to freely, or something, maybe I can't think of the right word. Let me try to explain my point.
My parents attend a building "that my dad calls church", on Sunday morning. This building has an owner that is a very sweet, spirit filled elderly lady. She became owner when her husband (the original pastor of the church) died. She claims to be the pastor of this "church" now, but never preaches. She always has someone else that wants to attempt to preach have the service. When her husband was alive, they averaged I'd say 40-50 people on sunday morning and that would be a good morning. Since the passing of her husband, attendance has averaged 10 people tops on sunday morning. Within a month of her husbands death, several elders in the church including my dad went to her and ask her toput in placea new Pastor, but this angered her and she said this is my building and I am the new pastor. Within a couple sundays of her saying this, the churchs attendance dropped a lot.
I have attended service several times when I have been visiting my parents. I have seen with my own eyes the numbers in the church drop. Everytime I have been there I have heard this lady quote Matt.18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I just can't see how this can be called a Church, it is a building where a few people are gathering togother in the name of the Lord. The Church isn't growing, souls aren't being saved, people in the church aren't spreading the Gospel, bills aren't being met, and the lady has started taking loans to pay the utilities.
Matt.18:20
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I feel that this verse is being used to freely, or something, maybe I can't think of the right word. Let me try to explain my point.
My parents attend a building "that my dad calls church", on Sunday morning. This building has an owner that is a very sweet, spirit filled elderly lady. She became owner when her husband (the original pastor of the church) died. She claims to be the pastor of this "church" now, but never preaches. She always has someone else that wants to attempt to preach have the service. When her husband was alive, they averaged I'd say 40-50 people on Sunday morning and that would be a good morning. Since the passing of her husband, attendance has averaged 10 people tops on Sunday morning. Within a month of her husbands death, several elders in the church including my dad went to her and ask her toput in placea new Pastor, but this angered her and she said this is my building and I am the new pastor. Within a couple Sundays of her saying this, the church's attendance dropped a lot.
I have attended service several times when I have been visiting my parents. I have seen with my own eyes the numbers in the church drop. Every time I have been there I have heard this lady quote Matt.18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I just can't see how this can be called a Church, it is a building where a few people are gathering together in the name of the Lord. The Church isn't growing, souls aren't being saved, people in the church aren't spreading the Gospel, bills aren't being met, and the lady has started taking loans to pay the utilities.
Am I wrong in my thinking?
Quote me one verse in the Bible where it says it has to be in a building. I am Independent Baptist and the members are the owners of the church. We don't even have to give account to the Southern Baptist Conference. We govern our own church policies.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Com'un brother, the only way you can offend me is messing with my Fried Chicken, Potatoe Salad or my Baptist Casarole.
Brother, anyone can have churchservices in the middle of an empty lot under a canopy. It doesn't have to be a building. Theres were the verse comes in, Matt.18:20.
__________________
Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Am I wrong in thinking what is going on here is a Church?
I don't feel that it is correct to be able to use this verse of scripture Matt. 18:20 to defend calling a group of people a Church.
Theres nothing to do with the building. My point of saying that is to prove that there is no fruit being produced. Ibelieve that if a church is a church it would at least be able topay its bills.
Quote me one verse in the Bible where it says it has to be in a building. I am Independent Baptist and the members are the owners of the church. We don't even have to give account to the Southern Baptist Conference. We govern our own church policies.
I to attend a church that is independent. There are now two other churches under my churches "supervision" so to speak. Umbrella type churches. The pastor of the Christian Center here in Lawton is the head pastor of the other two churches, even though those other two churches have pastors.
someone please tell me how to "quote" the right way. I keep jacking it up. I try to quote something one way and the entire message looks quoted, I try another way and nothing looks quoted. I need more computer classes, whew!
I just can't see how this can be called a Church, it is a building where a few people are gathering togother in the name of the Lord. The Church isn't growing, souls aren't being saved, people in the church aren't spreading the Gospel, bills aren't being met, and the lady has started taking loans to pay the utilities.
Am I wrong in my thinking?
Most on here have a problem with women preachers. I don't. However in this situation it's more like a Bible study and she woiuld benefit more by having a Bible study in her home. If it's of God it will grow..this one does not appear to be growing. Reb is correct though. A church is simply a gathering of beleivers. In China, many have home churches. Two hunters can have church at a hunting camp.
Matt.18:20
