Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is ...
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Gosh, that might be kind of hard to do since we are taught by churchianity that we only get "serviced" on Wednesdays and Sundays. This is more insight into the lie that calls itself the church and it sheds light on what we are supposed to be doing.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Meeting together can take place ANYWHERE. Do you see any requirement listed there to meet in some designated babylonian temple passing as a "church." I don't. We are told to meet together for the express purpose of encouraging each other, geography and buildings are irrelevant. With that purpose in mind, meeting together to encourage one another, do you see the need to pay somebody (pastor) to meet there with us so they can teach us how to encourage one another? I don't see that either. Do you think that maybe if all these "pastors" ditched their high rent buildings and building projects that maybe more poor people could be fed, maybe the church could be known as a body of believers who GIVE to the world not some leech on the back of society that drains the lifeblood out of people then spits them out? That's kind of a radical concept isn't it?
2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
How many "model for you to follow" "pastors" do you know? You know, the kind that work night and day laboring and toiling so that they would not be a burden to any of you? These people that follow this example are out there, but again, they are few.
The Lord tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. That's not just a figure of speech, he meant it. How much does it cost you to meet together for a cup of coffee or lunch at McDonalds or at your house and encourage one another? Not much. I see lots of churches in people homes in the bible and ZERO monument to man buildings with their tower of babel steeples on top. That clue us into something maybe? When we meet to encourage each other we sit face to face. When you meet to be "serviced" we sit with my face staring at the back of your head, see anything wrong with that?
The true church is small and decentralized, led by the Spirit of God. Due to the nature of a small and decentralized body, there is no opportunity for any one man to become some idolatrous rock star figure that we see on every street corner today. That also eliminates all the pride issues that most "pastors" deal with since they have taken it on themselves to be the center of attention during each "service" instead of Jesus being the center of attention.
A plurality of elders is another "check" on the ego and idolatry of todays "church." When you have a plurality of elders no one man usurps the rightful place of Christ in the church. We are the key players in the unfolding drama that is the christian experience on this earth, not some clergyman calling himself a "pastor." We encourage each other, we build each other up. The problem with many people is, they would rather pay some hireling to do all that for them so they can do their "duty" by sitting in one or two "services" per week, paying the hireling then getting on with their life doing their own thing for the other 7 days minus two-three hours that week.
Its a bit much to ask to encourage each other daily I guess. Its a bit much to ask to pray without ceasing and meditate on the the words written in the bible day and night. All that is for the "pastor" to do right?
We do not live in the 1800's or 1700's or anytime before that anymore, we live in the 2009+ years where we can encourage each other by meeting, by cell phone, my email, by web blog, by letter, by twitter and I'm probably missing many other ways but you get the point. In a day when apostasy has taken over and the true church is scattered to the four winds, do you think maybe any/all of those ways of encouraging one another are a good idea? I do, and no high priced building to pay off, no hired hand salary to be paid, we can give every penny directly to the Lord by giving directly to the poor.
Matt 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Or if we want to support a brother who has devoted himself to missionary work, we can support him, or give to that lady sleeping in her car alone with all her belongings in front of the laundrymat or a million other things in this lost and hurting world.
or how about this one:
Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
The bible says sell your possessions and give to the poor, not give to your "pastor" right? Do you think if you never give another penny to another hired hand again, but instead you give directly to the poor the Lord is going to be upset with you? I don't see any levitical priests running around any of these so called "churches" so goodbye "tithe." New testament giving is willingly not under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver. A tithe is given under compulsion, how can that fact be reconciled? Nowhere in the entire new testament are we commanded to tithe..NOWHERE, I wonder why not? Isn't that kind of a HUGE omission by the Lord when all we here about in todays "churches" is Mo'money, mo'money, mo'money, tithe, tithe, tithe or else!
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
What I have decided in my heart to give? Not what the pastor said I had to give? Yep, that's correct.
FREEDOM
What this all boils down to is FREEDOM from the idolatrous monstrosity calling itself a "church" today. They try to shackle you to their idolatrous institutions with unfounded threats and the doctrines and traditions of men that cannot be found anywhere in the word of God. You are FREE to meet your brothers and sisters wherever you want to encourage each other. You are FREE to give away your money and belongings directly to the poor with not another CENT going to the babylonian priests who preside over churchianity. You are FREE to worship the Creator of all things as you are led by the Spirit to.
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
done for today, grace and peace
Be Anxious For Nothing
6 years ago