More on the concept of church as a family of adopted sons ( Ephesians 1:5 and several other N.T. passages)
The illustration has been given of how unseemly it would be to be consuming milk only as an adult; and we see that analogy in the book of Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 3:2). We need to back up a bit to be certain that a given individual actually IS in the faith; or their "mature" conduct could simply be conditioning through rote memorization and behavior modification to attempt to "fit in" much as we put on a persona at work and with our friends and family that has certain distinct characteristics.
Once we are fully trained; of course in the natural as well as the spiritual we are expected to go on and make Disciples as the Great Commission states. This has been lacking with the emphasis on spreading the Good News and often guiding people to the nearest church without studying their doctrine or doing follow up. I find it best in my opinion and with some experience street witnessing to recommend a person goes to whatever local church preaches the true Gospel whether it is my own place or not. Obviously having multiple people spreading the Good News from a given local congregation gives more of an impetus to attend; although in the past I was more committed to a "house church" where some people eventually became more invested in given churches.
It is hard for many to envision a scenario like Paul the Apostle at least in our nation who a cording to Acts 21:13 had to rebuke those weeping after hearing the prophetic warning about his impending death. It reads- Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
A lot of churches today send someone out and have a very limited communication sending monthly stipends at least from my experience. That was different with the "house church" who had close ties with a brother witnessing in Uganda.
The illustration has been given of how unseemly it would be to be consuming milk only as an adult; and we see that analogy in the book of Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 3:2). We need to back up a bit to be certain that a given individual actually IS in the faith; or their "mature" conduct could simply be conditioning through rote memorization and behavior modification to attempt to "fit in" much as we put on a persona at work and with our friends and family that has certain distinct characteristics.
Once we are fully trained; of course in the natural as well as the spiritual we are expected to go on and make Disciples as the Great Commission states. This has been lacking with the emphasis on spreading the Good News and often guiding people to the nearest church without studying their doctrine or doing follow up. I find it best in my opinion and with some experience street witnessing to recommend a person goes to whatever local church preaches the true Gospel whether it is my own place or not. Obviously having multiple people spreading the Good News from a given local congregation gives more of an impetus to attend; although in the past I was more committed to a "house church" where some people eventually became more invested in given churches.
It is hard for many to envision a scenario like Paul the Apostle at least in our nation who a cording to Acts 21:13 had to rebuke those weeping after hearing the prophetic warning about his impending death. It reads- Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
A lot of churches today send someone out and have a very limited communication sending monthly stipends at least from my experience. That was different with the "house church" who had close ties with a brother witnessing in Uganda.
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