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 A whole post of foolishness!          

Quote from: Reformer on Sun May 31, 2026 - 11:57:28

Church Edifices
[A sign of Apostasy?]

Sects have one common mark of distinction—Church Edifices. Each religious persuasion constructs its own "holy icon" with which to be identified. I see far more negatives than positives involved in owning property. I could give a whole "grocery store list" of reasons why believers should steer away from buying and maintaining real estate to "play church" and "conduct worship services," but two basic reasons are the costs to build and maintain a "house of worship" and the financial obligations of keeping an elitist (pulpit ecclesiastic) vocationally afloat.

Too, once a "house of worship" has been constructed, the believers who created it cease being the ekklesia—"called out ones"—and become a church—"called in ones." Jesus said to get out and go, but we have come in to stay." The first church structure was built in about 233 A. D., and I'm convinced it, among other innovations, became the deathbed of Christianity.

Believers have become addicted to their comfort zones and neither hell nor high water will dislodge them. After all, the pews are comfortable, the indoor plumbing convenient, the milieu appealing, and the pulpiteer's handling of "worship services" is right on time and on target. How did we ever get this way? The blame should be placed upon the shoulders of the "chief priests and elders"—the clergy and their benefactors.

Our idols—church structures—have isolated us from the world's needs, immobilized us, glued us to cushioned pews, and induced us to import outside "specialists" (clerical pulpiteers) to do our ministries. Is it any wonder the world looks upon us in disgust and laughs at our efforts to "save" them?

The Golden Calf & Church Idols

Do you recall when Moses' descent from the Mountain of God was delayed? The idolatrous children of Israel built an idol in the form of a golden calf and bowed down to it (Exodus 32:1-8). In posting their evil behavior on public display, they corrupted themselves. If their idol worship conveys any validity for our current age, the Christian community may also be charged with idolatry, for she has built for herself "golden calves" in the likes of church edifices while Jesus' return from glory is being delayed.

I do not hesitate to affirm that our church structures and edifices are monuments that testify of our idolatry. The controversy is not whether it is right or wrong to meet somewhere. We each agree that a place or location is necessary. The issue is whether or not we have built church structures and edifices and set them apart—sanctified them—as holy expedients. I say we have. The evidence surrounds us. If I might be so bold, the modern church is as guilty of idolatry as were the children of Israel who erected Asherah poles as symbols of worship.

"Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved [consecrated] stone in your land to bow down before it" (Lev. 26:1).

Ours was once a noble movement. That movement apostatized and "fell from grace" centuries ago when Jesus' command to "get out and go" was replaced by "come in and stay." My whole point has been that our priorities are misplaced. We spend millions of dollars on our idols—venerated structures and edifices—and very little on evangelism and feeding the world's hungry. I will say it again: We are as guilty of idolatry as were the children of Israel and the pagans of their day.

We esteem our church structures as the "works of our mighty hands"—as though God Himself built them. We refuse to be ousted from our comfort zones. The cushions are too comfortable, and we delight in being hand-fed by hirelings who induce sleep by their stagnated "sermons." We are stalemated with no hope of recovery unless we reform the whole system or start over.

Good point.

I would add that the smallest gathering spoken of in Scripture is often a family. Where two or three are gathered together in Christ's name, He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Division begins with two, yet so does fellowship, witness, and ministry.

There is more than one kind of ministry of two working as one. Husband and wife serve together. The Holy Father and the Son of Man worked as one. The disciples were sent out two by two. Other believers gathered as one family of many, serving as a visible sign to the unbelieving world.

The gathering itself was never meant to become the object of attention. Rather, it was a picture of our Holy Father drawing dying mankind to His living Word. When the sign points to itself rather than to Christ, the purpose is lost.

The flood came from above. Likewise, true inspiration comes down from God and is not produced by the traditions or inventions of men.

Consider Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu. On the very opening days of the priesthood they violated God's command and offered strange fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). They added what God had not commanded.

The fire of God's judgment consumed them. This was not the cleansing fire of Christ that did not consume the bush, but strange fire offered according to human wisdom rather than God's instruction.

Throughout Scripture there are examples warning God's people not to exalt outward forms above the living God. Visible gatherings, ceremonies, and ordinances were given as shadows pointing beyond themselves. They were never intended to become monuments to human achievement or objects of confidence.

As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 11, even the gathering of believers is meant to proclaim the Lord and direct attention to Him. The purpose of every sign, ceremony, and ministry is to point to Christ and His faithfulness, not to itself.

God bless.

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Tue Jun 02, 2026 - 04:53:52A whole post of foolishness!          

Quote from: garee on Tue Jun 02, 2026 - 07:40:49Good point.

I would add that the smallest gathering spoken of in Scripture is often a family. Where two or three are gathered together in Christ's name, He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Division begins with two, yet so does fellowship, witness, and ministry.

There is more than one kind of ministry of two working as one. Husband and wife serve together. The Holy Father and the Son of Man worked as one. The disciples were sent out two by two. Other believers gathered as one family of many, serving as a visible sign to the unbelieving world.

The gathering itself was never meant to become the object of attention. Rather, it was a picture of our Holy Father drawing dying mankind to His living Word. When the sign points to itself rather than to Christ, the purpose is lost.

The flood came from above. Likewise, true inspiration comes down from God and is not produced by the traditions or inventions of men.

Consider Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu. On the very opening days of the priesthood they violated God's command and offered strange fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). They added what God had not commanded.

The fire of God's judgment consumed them. This was not the cleansing fire of Christ that did not consume the bush, but strange fire offered according to human wisdom rather than God's instruction.

Throughout Scripture there are examples warning God's people not to exalt outward forms above the living God. Visible gatherings, ceremonies, and ordinances were given as shadows pointing beyond themselves. They were never intended to become monuments to human achievement or objects of confidence.

As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 11, even the gathering of believers is meant to proclaim the Lord and direct attention to Him. The purpose of every sign, ceremony, and ministry is to point to Christ and His faithfulness, not to itself.

God bless.