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Chapter 2 - Page 1 -
Why Do We Meet Together?
By Adam Bartlett
I believe that if this question were presented to the members of congregations and if the answers were honest that there would be a large variety of reasons. I do not believe there was ever a doubt in the first century as to the reason to come together. Acts 1:14, 2:1,42, 3:1, and 4:23-31, and many others give the unmistakable evidence that the main focus was on prayer and then on evangelism. What has happened today? Jesus even stressed the same sentiments when running the "Traditional" church members out of the Temple. Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of 'Entertainment'", NO, "a house of 'Traditions'", NO, "A HOUSE OF PRAYER." Many churches are no more than social clubs and rarely is evangelism a focal point or even emphasized.
If you read the book of Acts you will soon see that they met to pray, and usually for more boldness to go out and proclaim the Gospel. Their ministry was out in the places where the people were: wow, how ingenious, taking the message to the people. Quite a contrast to the 'organized' church of today whose motto is, "if you are not here every time the doors are open you are not committed or presenting a good witness". I would even go as far to say that some would even say that you are in "sin". I would like to pose a question at this point to all those caught up in this "Tradition" instilled thinking; Where is this philosophy of Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night services in the Scriptures? I will save you some time, it is not in the Scriptures, it is a man made "Tradition" and has become the rule by which we judge our fellow Christian's spirituality.
For some people the concept of going to "church" is something that has become a ritual; it is something that they have just come to accept as normal spirituality. Unfortunately there is absolutely no spirituality in going through the motions, no matter how good your intentions. God is not interested in how many times you darken the doors of your local church, and most especially if there is no fruit of any spiritual significance in your doing so. You are not doing God any favors by being at the church every time the doors are open. It is amazing how that we have become so dependent upon the traditions that have been instilled in us and never question their authority nor the accuracy of their existence. There is an undeniable need for the Body of Christ to become sincere Bereans and not accept everything that is hand fed to them without asking some very necessary and honest questions. I do not believe that this problem that faces the church today is anything new. I believe that we can see the origins of it all the way back in the book of Exodus. Look at what Chapter 19 says:
Exodus 19
9: And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
10: And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11: And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12: And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
13: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Continued on... Page 2
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