michaelvpardo
Well-Known Member
I'm just saying that the important thing is to trust the Lord and follow his guidance.while i dont know for sure, i have a feeling that what we call “church” now are deemed “love feasts” by the Bible, which would change the dynamic there quite a bit i guess, but one point might be that we are now worried about abandoning our love feasts, and not Church, having mis-labeled “Church”
ah, did the number work for you? It just struck me as a commentary that it was disconnected; doesnt mean that it is though i guess
well, id agree with “counterfeit” maybe, but as much as i dislike Rome, i guess we also still need Rome, kinda weird
and Catholic Charities is the best modern example of “storehouse” that i have been able to find; they help anyone in need! Although i guess they are more like a satellite of the RCC
I had a friend in my old neighborhood named John.
I'd see him riding his bicycle past the house, muttering to himself, sometimes angry and with cursing, but I met him in a Saturday morning mens' prayer meeting. I think he came for the bagels and friendly faces.
It turned out that John had been born partially strangled by his own umbilical cord and had suffered brain damage. He had very limited learning capacity and I gave him a collection of audible Bible tapes so that he could listen to scripture.
Sometimes I had him as a guest for lunch and then read scripture to him and answered questions to help him understand. He had some issues with covetousness, always admiring wrist watches and asking me for old wallets, places to hold tracts and "pictures of Jesus". His mother and father were Catholics, but welcomed the moderation of his behavior when sitting "under the word."
He clearly believed the Lord with a very simple faith, and the Lord spoke prophetically through him on one or two occasions. The Lord is not limited by our limitations. His word is a source for our faith, but His Spirit makes His word alive in our hearts. Agape is transforming to both the one who receives it and the one who gives it. Our understanding comes from scripture, but the application of agape to others is really a defining point of any church and the only way to satisfy the royal commandment.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
A church without love is a lifeless church and love goes beyond banners, balloons, and handshakes.