I hope you all had a good weekend. Praise God, I did. Dinner out with the wife and in-laws on Saturday, and a great nap on Sunday! -- but not during our class, thankfully.
Our overall theme for studying this book is, "The way we practice our faith can, indeed, affect the faith itself." Always keep that filter on when assessing the things we talk about in this class. Yesterday, we discussed chapter 2 of Pagan Christianity. That chapter dealt with the history of church buildings. The authors argue, and it is almost universally accepted, that church buildings did not come about until after the 3rd or 4th century A.D. Their greatest boost occurred during the rule of the Roman emperor Constantine, who "legitimized" the Christian faith by giving it actual brick and mortar places of worship. This made it respectable to the Roman citizenry and put it on par socially with other religions of the time. His use of government money to do this also allowed for honest to goodness pagan influences when old pagan temples were converted to Christian temples. But in the three to four hundred years prior to Constantine, churches met in homes.
Now notice that last sentence. People didn't meet in churches. Churches met in homes. This is because prior to Constantine, it was understood within Christianity that the church wasn't a building, but rather the church was the people who both believed in, and submitted to Jesus Christ. There was no conflation of terms or concepts. One did not go to church. One, along with fellow christians, was the church.
Our Theme (which ties into the overall theme) for this discussion was found at the bottom of page 38: "To put a finer point on it, the church building is based on the benighted idea that worship is removed from everyday life." Anybody who can show how the theme of yesterdays discusson ties into the overall discussion will get a cardboard cookie if they can do it in three sentences or less. If you want to do that, then reply to all so that we can all benefit from your wisdom.
In discussing the above theme I gave an example about how we now view the church building or property as a sacred space. In that example, I confessed how the other day in the middle of the week I was jamming to some Led Zeppelin on the way to church, but then turned off the radio the second my front tires hit the church asphalt! When should I have turned off the radio? Where, really, was the sacred space?
Why is it that people go to church on Sunday, and live a different life Monday through Saturday?
We discussed how sacred spaces ended after the crucifixion of Jesus because He destroyed them:
- Matthew 27:35-51 - of course pay very close attention to verse 51 and consider all that it means in terms of "sacred space"
- Acts 17:24 - Considering the Matthew verse above, did God really live there anyway?
- Mark 13:1-2 - What is Jesus saying here. Once you've figured that out, compare and contrast it with Matthew 21:12-13, and Matthew 23:37 - 24:1. Notice in chapter 21 he refers to it as "My" house, but in 23:38 he says "your" house will be laid desolate. Speculate about a life seperate from the sacred space.
We discussed just exactly what is God's house:
Finally, we talked very quickly and at lightening speed about the church as a body and how every member functions. We talked about how meeting in a sanctuary for worship isn't really church life at all, or if it is, its only a very, very small portion of it. In a church sanctuary, it is very difficult to do what is described below, but quite easy in small group settings.
- Romans 12:4-8 - The body of Christ has many parts. We all make up those parts, and we all have different gifts, and we all should use them in church life (vss. 6-8)
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-14 -- One spirit gives each of us a gift. And each of us (individually) is to use that gift for the common good (vs 7) in our church life.
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 -- Our gifts are to be used to build up people -- afterall what is the church?
- 1 Corinthians 14:26-32 -- We tend to overemphasize the order that is clearly prescribed by this verse. But we do that at the expense of the openness and full participation also prescribed by it. Notice in vs 26, everyone has a gift to give, and that all of it must be done for the strengthening of the church.
- Collosians 3:16 -- Notice that we are to teach and admonish one another.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 -- ditto
- 1 Peter 4:10-11 -- Notice, again, it says each one should use his gifts. How conducive is a large gathering of people who sit passively in pews to the concept of "each one" participating and serving?
Again, if you have any questions shoot me an email.
Prayer requests form Sunday: -- now you guys really try to pray for these folks!
Pray for Wilson's brother (Matt) and his family who have contracted the scourge of the swine flu.
Pray for God's direction in my brother's life (Phillip) who is interviewing for a new job and wants to make sure its what God wants for him.
Pray for Huck and Tammy's neighborhood as they recently had a burglary in the area.
Pray for Gary who is looking for a job closer to his home.
Pray for Ryan who is getting his wisdom teeth removed in a foriegn country -- but thankfully by the U.S. military.
Pray for Randy Highsmith as Rhyden Construction folded and he is now out of work. And if you know of any one who needs a book keeper or accounting work let me know so I can relay that to him.
See you all Sunday
Mike Hosey
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