Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 11/16/2009

Question


Mat 18:20  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."   Ok but this does not say you must go to church to do this. I worship pray and have bible study and reading with my husband and son and with friends. I pray all day through out the day. I live my life the best I can according to how God wants it. I am saved by Jesus Christ. So it says where two or three but does not say it must be in a church.

God wants us to get together for the purpose of prayer and Christian fellowship.
I have Christian fellowship with family and friends at home in conversation emails and in sharing the word of God and intercession in the use of prayer.

Heb 10:25  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Where does it say it must be done in Church. When a family comes together and pray and read from the bible and share the word with those Who are Christians and with those who are not is that not the same. I speak and share the gospel as the Holy Spirit prompts me to do not when I feel I should do it and say what I am guided to say not what i think I should say.

This is about as strong a command that the Bible presents for attendance at church. We go to church to (1) study the Bible together in a group setting, because when we do so, our minds open to other ideas that will help us to understand difficult passages; (2) Worship together—corporate worship brings unity to those who are in attendance, and unity is one of the most important teachings of Christ; (3) We receive instruction that helps us to understand how to put into practice the teachings of Scripture; and, finally, (4) we have time, before services and afterward, to fellowship—talk and get better acquainted with—other members of the church.

If you don't want to go to church, of course, you are free to stay away. But you will be missing a great blessing.
I don't feel we miss out on blessing because we are not in church I am blessed and am led to bless others and a group setting can be family and friends at a home or anyplace anyone comes together to worship and pray and study the bible
I come not to judge or say you are wrong I am trying to understand this. I know many who are unable to attend church due to health reasons or because they have to work Yes we should not work on sunday but we live in this world and some have to work does that make them a sinner and not a receiver of blessing no I do not think so. I think blessing come from being follower of Christ and living your life according to how God wants you to live it. I also think it is important to not surround your self with just Christians in the church or outside the church. We are to take what Jesus has taught us and go out among those who are lost and teach them the word and the love of Christ and the love of God not judge.
I am curious about this subject. I also find when you do not attend church and those who do point a finger at you and tell you that you are just not praying enough, you do not have a good realashionship with God, you make excuses and are not faithful. I feel in many ways this is standing in judgment because does anyone come into my quiet place when I close my door and pray do they hear my prayers do they hear what Gos speaks to me. Do they know what the Holly Spirit is guiding me to do or to say, I do not think they can. Because of this thinking doubt is put into the mind of many who are faithful followers and love Jesus and Love God. This doubt can pull a person away from their relationship with God and give up. I am sick and suffer from illness and I am told it is because I do not pray enough and I have sin and I have no faith to believe God will heal me again not true we were given no promise of a perfect world we are told in scripture we will endure suffering and persecution and there will be sickness. God did not heal Paul but Paul had great faith and healed others so maybe God has His reasons and will use that illness and use it to bring glory to Him maybe a sick person shows great faith and in that people will se wow even in the trials and pain and suffering they still have faith and are still blessed by God. We need to start to think of how we judge and speak and make scripture how we want it because of this many are never found and many are lost. Guilt, shame, and doubt do not come from God but man does it everyday. I always say to those who tell me I lack faith because I do not go to church or because I am ill and I tell them that is between me and God and before you show me the weeds growing in your garden look in yours ans see how it is overrun with weeds.
Until I see scripture clear and say you must go to church I think it is just mans way in this world in the flesh deciding what they think scripture says. Jesus was in the streets.
I would love for you to help me on this is is on prayer for me and comes up after 2 dear people I know have told me I am possessed because of my illness and have no faith and am sinning and not having trust in God is why I am sick and why I do not go to church. This is not the first time. When we as Christians will start to speak the word as is and not as we think. Most of all stop determining what God has in plan for each and everyone.
Thank you for your time in reading this I do not judge you either I am just trying to understand all this.
Marie

Answer
Dear Marie,

Thanks for your interesting description of Christ’s meaning of Matt. 18:20. You’re right. It doesn’t matter the size of the group, or the place at which it meets. Jesus is there in the midst of those who come together to worship.

You have your family and friends meeting together in your house to study the Bible and worship together. That’s just as much a church as the building down the road. In fact, as you probably know already, the church is the people, not the building. The building is merely where the church meets. The New Testament churches all met in people’s houses for worship. (Check out: Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 1:2; et. al.)

Corporate worship is important, and fellowship with like believers is crucial. But there is no stipulation as to the size of the group. So your family church is as legitimate as the one down the road. And the format of worship need not be formal: the Bible does not stipulate the liturgy. The important ingredients are the study of the Bible and prayer.

I understand your difficulty with your illness, and the snide remarks others make of it. Your conclusion is valid: Illness is a part of the sinful nature of humanity in this world. God didn’t promise to heal all illness, and the fact that you are ill has nothing whatever to do with a lack of faith. The only really important thing to remember is this: No matter what the conditions of life, God is with you.

I remember some time ago, when I had kidney stones. The pain was the worst I have ever had. But I knew that God was with me. It didn’t lessen the pain; but it surely gave me a peace of mind to know that the Great Physician stood by my side.

Here are some of the promises that help me to know His guiding, caring love:

Heb 13:5  . . . he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; . . .

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

There are so many more promises of the love and care of God for those who worship Him. Why not, in one of your meetings, use a concordance and look up in the Psalms and Isaiah and the Gospels—in all the Bible—the promises of God’s presence and care. It will warm your heart and bring you closer to Jesus.

You might look at the Bible Study Guides on my web site, www.PettyPress.com, and see if they could be of use in your group. And if you have any Bible questions for which you can’t find an answer, I’d be glad to be of service. You can send them to my personal address: PettyPress@gmail.com.

Don’t worry what people say about you. It’s really their problem, not yours. And as Jesus said, pray for them.

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

When Jesus was on the cross, He spoke of those who were killing Him and insulting Him:

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

You and I (for no true Christian has escaped the sneering remarks of those who hate them) must have that kind of attitude toward those who try to insult us or make us feel guilty.

God bless you as you continue to serve Him. Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com I’ve posted 18 e-books, 42 Bible Study Guides, and much more.