I recently came across the Youtube video of a user who calls himself BroJustin. Justin (I presume that's his name) is not a big fan of churches. In fact, at the end of his video he states: "I believe church-going is demonic" (link to video - obviously not recommended).
Considering his video I was struck by a few things. Justin raises a few good points about abuses of church going and then primarily appeals to the segment of discontented folks before unleashing the "church-going is demonic" bomb.
What are Justin's good points? There are folks out there who are more interested in whether a person goes to church than in what that person actually believes. These folks seem to think that the only folks who are unsaved are atheists and the small (I think) number of anti-church folks like Justin. Such a priority is out of whack. Going to a bad church could leave someone spiritually worse off than staying at home. The externality of going to church is a good thing, but it is merely an external thing.
What's another good point? Justin raises the problem of unsaved people who feel comfortable in church. There are many churches where this is a real problem. While we do want the unsaved to hear the gospel, the doctrines of God are unpleasant to the unregenerate man.
But these problems with some (perhaps even many or most) churches and church-goers do not negate the fact that church-going is a good thing that is expected of Christians.
What is the Biblical proof?
1) We see it taken for granted in the epistle of James:
James 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
2) We see it exhorted as a duty not to be forsaken in the epistle to the Hebrews:
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
3) We see it practiced (on the Lord's Day) from the very beginning of the church:
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
4) We see that it was a Jewish practice that Paul continued and that we continue:
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
These four proofs should be enough. Christians are to continue the Jewish practice of weekly meeting (assembly) for worship, although we meet on the first day of the week in commemoration of the resurrection of Christ, that great act of redemption that gives us rest from the bondage of sin and the completion of the new creation.
-TurretinFan
Thursday, July 02, 2009
1 comment:
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Whether or not we "like" it, isn't the point, but the inescapable reality of it. God's purpose will stand:::>
ReplyDeleteEph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Eph 1:8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Eph 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
Eph 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
I suppose to one demon possessed, going to Church can be a bit demonic, for some!
Wherever Jesus preached, or one preached Jesus in the power of the Holy Ghost, we see demonic activity.
In our day though, it doesn't always end up the same as these two example citations:
One:
Mat 8:28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
Mat 8:29 And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Two:
Act 19:11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
Act 19:12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
Act 19:13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."
Act 19:14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
Act 19:15 But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"