Alone has nothing to do with full time or not... Honestly, I don't see what you are talking about in Johnny's post at all. :huh:
What Johnny is speaking of is the need we have for each other. We are not on our own complete. This is true physically, one works and provides this way, another is in the ministry full time, etc. But it is even more true spiritually. We have the mind of Christ, together. When we come together under the same vision and direction from God, then God is among us. He lives in us individually, and among us as a group.
This is something most of the church has completely lost; the shared life.
The disciples shared everything, they lived together, they shared meals... And Christ was among them. Meeting two hours a week is a complete and absolutely different reality. It does not require sharing more than a few words and a big room. It does not require sacrifice. We must live and die for each other... John 3:16 is one of today's most popular verse... But we are in dire need of understanding 1st John 3:16
1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Those are not just pretty words... They are the height of the standard of what forms the church. 'You will know them by their love' implies a sacrificial and absolutely radical love for the brethren, that gives everything as Christ gave everything. We are to follow his example in this way, and give our lives up for the brethren. A disciple cannot have a separate private life... It is poured out for the brethren.
Who is going to decide how much time is enough time,if you are pepared to critcise what people are doing surely you can povide a clear standard, as far as laying down one's life you must remember this is America and our time of real trial and persecution has not come yet....opportunities for doing so are fats approaching.
I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that this is what I was saying, my post said nothing about having a secular job or not.
The topic was fellowship with the brethern - what does that have to do with a job?
Amen!
This is exactly right.
Fellowship and work take time,along with family responsabilities,we have a 24 hour day,we sleep on average 8 hours a day and i don't know about you but it has been years since i was only required to work 8 hours at a job then you have different schedules...i worked nights for two years...on and on it goes...people have to work and care for their families,perhaps the shared life is understanding this and not adding on extra guilt trips and burdens that accomplish nothing.
Who is going to decide how much time is enough time,if you are pepared to critcise what people are doing surely you can povide a clear standard, as far as laying down one's life you must remember this is America and our time of real trial and persecution has not come yet....opportunities for doing so are fats approaching.
Fellowship and work take time,along with family responsabilities,we have a 24 hour day,we sleep on average 8 hours a day and i don't know about you but it has been years since i was only required to work 8 hours at a job then you have different schedules...i worked nights for two years...on and on it goes...people have to work and care for their families,perhaps the shared life is understanding this and not adding on extra guilt trips and burdens that accomplish nothing.This reminds me of how inconsiderate people who retire become about how other people use time,since they now have an abundance of time they forget what it was like to have most of your time taken from you.