Here is something Phil Arnold wrote long ago and recorded at my house one afternoon.

For a newer song, check the prior entry.

-- Steve

Mr Bu by 911Smudge

Here's something that some friends and I did recently.

Victim by 911Smudge

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard arguments about creationism being taught in school alongside evolution. After all, each one takes a certain kind of faith. It is a kind of protectionism that is being allowed. After all, if one position is so undeniably accurate, then can it not withstand commentary and criticism by presenting alternate interpretations, and positions which either support a different view or expose flaws in the protected view?

It is easy to get upset when your view is not being considered, like the Christian conservative creationists who want the rest of the story told in schools.

It is more difficult to see the need for giving the other view a voice when your position aligns with the currently held popular view.

Make application where you see fit.
-- Steve

... but this blog at http://www.tillhecomes.org/two-or-three-are-gathered/ says what I have been thinking.

Your thoughts?
-- Steve

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In a previous post, I suggested that you do not go to church; the church goes with you. Or to put it another way, wherever you go; there goes the church.

This raises questions about Matthew 18:19-20, which says that wherever two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus, He is there with them in their midst. This verse is often used in one of three ways.

Matthew 18:19-20 – Three Uses

First, it is used to condemn lone ranger Christians. You know, the ones who have church by themselves on the ski hill, in the bass boat, or (most likely of all), asleep in bed. To these sorts of Christians, people quote this verse and then say, “You can’t have church by yourself.” Of course, they frequently go on to say that you can’t just be with one another believer, there also needs to be a preacher, and some singing, and prayer, and an offering, and communion, and… well, you get the picture.

The second way this verse is used is to make pastors feel better when attendance is low at a Sunday service or prayer meeting. I remember one Sunday service in my first church when only five people showed up, counting my wife and myself. I distinctly remember quoting this verse to the congregation to help us realize that even though nobody else came, Jesus was there with us. It didn’t make me feel any better…

The third way this verse is often used is to defend house churches. Traditional, brick-and-mortar church people say something like, “You can’t really use your gifts in a small fellowship. You have to be part of a big fellowship where all the gifts are present and everybody is helping each other.” It is highly unlikely that everybody is using their gift in a big church either, but regardless, the house church proponent will often quote Matthew 18:19-20, defending the view that although only a few people gather, house churches are churches too.

Personally, I don’t think any of these uses are proper.

Matthew 18:19-20 in Context

Matthew 18:19-20 is one of those verses (like every other verse in the Bible) where context is key. In the immediately preceding passage, Jesus is providing instructions on how to restore a fellow believer who is sinning. It is after these instructions that Jesus talks about two or three gathering in His name.

So what Jesus is saying is that when the church is trying to restore a sinning brother or sister, He is there with them, helping them make wise and loving decisions for the good of the sinning person and the entire church. The verse has nothing to do with determining what is church and what is not, and everything to do with how the church can help one of its straying members.

Matthew 18:19-20 in Theology

Even without the context to guide us, however, a little theological reflection reveals that Matthew 18:19-20 cannot be used to define a church meeting. If Jesus is saying that He is only present when two or three are gathered, then does this mean that Jesus is not present with each one of us as we go about our day? Is He not with you when you pray, and when you go to work, and when you face trials and temptations? Is Jesus not with the Chinese pastor in a solitary confinement prison cell? Is He not with the single mother as she struggles to raise her children by herself?

To ask such questions is to answer them. The rest of Scripture makes clear that we are in Christ and He is in us, and He will never leave us nor forsake us, and no matter where we go or what we do, He is right there also.

So can a solitary believer be the church after all? We’ll address that question later this week, but for now, what do you think?

Jenny and I went out of town for the weekend to Amelia Island for our 31st wedding anniversary -- a wonderful trip. Now to diet.

One of the memorable parts was our visit to the Fernandina Beach congregation.

The class was a wonderful surprise. We knew from the website that they were studying "A Church That Flies : A New Call to Restoration in the Churches of Christ" -- but better yet, Tim Woodroof, the author of the book, was there teaching the class! He also did the morning's lesson as a series from another book he wrote, "A Spirit for the Rest of Us."

I was not put off by their fellowship hall, their coffee served therein for the adults in the class, the Christmas tree with tags on it for individuals to pick a needy child's name and gift wish.

I did not stumble from the music piped into the auditorium during the break, the slides mentioning their party for the next Saturday, from the clapping during the singing, from their being no collection plates but boxes placed in strategic areas.

It was a very friendly, loving, God-searching/showing family, and it was a joy to be a part of it for two hours.

How did we find such a place? Well, I can tell you that it was not found by using any of the popular directories, either in print or on the web. Frankly I distrust and even loathe them.

Why?

• They perpetuate the notion that the Church of Christ is a denomination.
• They are limiting in fellowship to those who think like the directory's author and are "conservative and non-institutional".
• The above two lead to a blurring of autonomy.
• The directories are often wrong as to time, place, and even 'soundness' at times.
• They add your congregation when you did not ask them to do so.
• Many will refuse to delete your congregation when you specifically ask them to based on arguments listed above.
• They just make more work by someone having to search around the Internet for anyone who may have their church listed, to make sure times, phone numbers, etc. are all current.
• Lastly, in the age of Google and other search engines, there is no need for any directory to be made and maintained.

Many few years ago, I started making a conscious effort when out of town to visit congregations that would certainly be left out of any of the approved lists. Why? Because if I went to any "sound" church I could almost tell you exactly what would be done, what would be said, what order it would be done in -- just a cookie cutter presentation of a (non?)-denominational Church of Christ.

So next time you have to be away from your home congregation, step out a bit. Experience for yourself what is going on where other brethren meet who may not think exactly like you do. Find the common ground and look for ways to mend the divide, and try to understand how this other, also God-serving group, came to some of their decisions.

Your thoughts?