Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Someone once pointed out that there are 26 references to city churches in the Bible and four references to house churches. Not sure if the numbers are correct but they'll do.
Assuming there is one church per city: Where is it, where does it meet, who are the elders, how do we know? You can't answer these questions because your teaching is just a theoretical doctrine, it's not practical, even though it claims to be about practicality. How strange is that?
All you have, Oregon, is a way to say everyone else is wrong but you. Sure you can go on and on about how you think you are right and how you think the Bible backs you up till you turn blue, but you haven't given anyone anything, because you don't have a way to work it out. What's the point? Could it be your Bible interpretation is wrong, hmmmm?
Bottomline: If you can't tell people how to practically practice the local ground doctrine then please stop telling them to practice it. Doing so is an absurdity in case you can't figure it out for yourself.
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Igzy,
A few thoughts for you to consider. Have you ever discussed the concept of one church one city with a catholic clergy? In one of my conversations this came up. The catholic priest said that is what the RC believes and practices. Each city has one bishop. The one bishop represents the one church in that city. Thus you cannot have more than one bishop per city. This idea does seem to be similar to your concept about the one church per city being tied to one eldership per city.
You have pointed out in another post how this teaching of one church one city has damaged some believers. You pointed out that it spoiled them for fellowship etc with other Christians or Christian groups.
Please journey back with me to the days we talked about paying attention to Life and not right and wrong. On several occassions with the young people on the college campus' in the Dallas area and with the church, I spoke about others may be actually keeping the oneness of the Spirit and practicing the reality of the local church and we can be in the mere dead letter and actually be practicing division. In Austin, were you ever admonished in this way?
Finally for now. I have found this teaching to be very practical and very easy. It is almost like falling off a log. You just meet in the Lord's name only. Receive all whom God has received. That is all believers in the Savior Redeemer Son of God Jesus Christ. If some of the believers want to eat meat and some do not, then let Christ be their Lord. If some are weak then bear them up and assist them in whatever way you can. Do not quit on folks just because they go through a hard time.
The leadership seems to take care of itself and we do not need any little lords anyway. Everyday you need the Living Christ and the active Lordship of Christ to keep you going. It is really no worries mate. It is very simple, sort of like Rom 14:17-19, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. NASB
Hope, Don Rutledge