Comments on: Are you experiencing real community?

By: Christine Sine

Christine Sine — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:11:45 +0000

Bill,
Great articles on your website – I have been looking for resources on community so was drawn to this article then realized that you were quoting my husband! Hmm maybe I need to look closer to home for the resources. Anyhow would appreciate suggestions on good books to read.
Blessings on all you do

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:47:26 +0000

Bill,
It’s been awhile since I’ve ventured on your blog…staying extremely busy here stateside. I actually wrote about this very issue a few months ago. Would love for you to check them out. Here’s the first link: http://recapturedpassion.blogspot.com/2008/08/authentic-christian-community.html,
and here’s the second link: http://recapturedpassion.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-this-your-experience.html,

Have a great one,
Jeff

By: Greg Alford

Greg Alford — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:39:18 +0000

Bill,

I have learned over the years that there is much wisdom in your wordsâ€¦ â€œwe belong to one another, not to a non-profit corporation,â€

This is a truth that, if understood, would be a great blessing to all those believers in the state where I live (Florida) that belong to one of those non-profit corporations.

Speaking of those non-profit corporations; they cannot be found anywhere in the Bible, so are they Unbiblical? I have come to believe that loyalty to them above loyalty to the Word alone is the very reason why many Churches in America are in the sad shape they are now in. I just wonder how these Churches (and Christians) would treat one another if these non-profit corporations just vanished? Iâ€™m betting much better than they do now.

Anyway, it sure is good to chat with you again my Brother.

Grace Always,

By: Bill Lollar

Bill Lollar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:22:38 +0000

Greg: I’m not sure why you’re so uncomfortable with my statement about the “brothers and sisters” that live close by. If they are not genuine believers, they would not be my brothers and sisters, would they? Paul met one group in his journeys that was really “way out there” (they had not yet heard of the Holy Spirit) and yet he considered them members of the body of Christ. See, that’s the real sense of belonging that I’m talking about: we belong to one another, not to a non-profit corporation, when we become followers of Jesus Christ.

By: Tom M.

Tom M. — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:50:31 +0000

I’ve found that Christians that I meet now since I “cut the cord” and participate in house church are very skeptical when I suggest cooperation. I think that they see house church as somewhat subversive, and IMHO for good reason. That said, I do think that traditional congregations of Christians that have buildings, paid staff, etc. have a lot to offer ‘us’and vice versa, and spend a lot of time thinking of how to cooperate. If only I’d spend less time thinking and more time doing something. Oh well.

By: Greg Alford

Greg Alford — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:17:48 +0000

Bill,

I agree with much of what you sayâ€¦ and I can, and do, fellowship with many Christians in my community that belong to a different Church than I belong to. Brother, I have come to realize that most of the things that divide us are indeed not the essentials of the faith.

However, I am very uncomfortable with saying: â€œI have no right to write off my brothers and sisters who live in close proximity to my house, no matter what church they attend on Sunday.â€

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is in truth a Christianâ€¦ I am talking about some of the way-out-their groupsâ€¦ However having been excluded from fellowship by my local Baptist Association because I am a Calvinist has taught me to be very careful about excluding others, but we must draw the line somewhere.

Grace Always,

By: Bill Lollar

Bill Lollar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:54:27 +0000

Greg: Hi, brother! Long time no hear.

One of the greatest sins we need to face as Christians is refusing to acknowledge other Jesus-followers in our immediate neighborhoods. How do we justify this simply because we don’t sit in the same worship service every Sunday?

Before we moved to Wales, we drove 60 miles to attend church in another state, primarily for the reason you’ve given: we didn’t think there was a “biblical” church we could attend locally. Truth is, we just wanted to attend a 501(c)3 organization that ticked all the right boxes for our personal preferences: Reformed theology, expositional preaching, and a more reverent style of worship. Looking back, I’m convinced that was a VERY narrow-minded and completely self-centered approach to being part of the body of Christ.

I would do things much differently today. I have no right to write off my brothers and sisters who live in close proximity to my house, no matter what church they attend on Sunday. Ideally (and what I see in the New Testament) we would all gather in our local communities to encourage one another in the faith, rather than ignoring one another week after week. It must really grieve the Lord that His children are so deeply divided.

By: Greg Alford

Greg Alford — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:58:49 +0000

“it isnâ€™t possible to experience real community by simply going to church once a week.â€

I fully agree! However, when you drive 30 miles to attend church because there are no churches in your community that are (for lack of a better word) – Biblical. It is very difficult to get involved with fellow believers.

We have been looking at home based fellowships on Wednesday nights in each of the communities where we have more than one member to help us achieve “real community” with fellow believers. Yet, we would still be coming together on Sunday as the full congregation for worship.

You have given me encouragement to at least make an attempt to get more involved in the lives of fellow believers.

Thanks Bill,