Good day! I hope you are well. You mentioned that some believe they don't need to attend church, as it's not mandatory. Similarly, it's important to clarify that the congregation isn't synonymous with the church. While I understand you're aware of this distinction, it's still essential to reiterate. Attending church doesn't necessarily require a congregation; rather, it involves gathering with fellow believers, irrespective of a specific congregation. The purpose of congregating is to facilitate connecting with like-minded believers. While you might have arguments against this, I believe the Bible supports this notion. Ideally, in the biblical church, believers fellowshipped wherever they went, fostering relationships with one another and following Jesus. Regarding illness, you rightly mentioned that we must trust in doctors, yet God provides guidance for maintaining good health. Though all things are lawful, not all are expedient. Some illnesses result from personal behavior or other factors known to God. Gluttony, often overlooked in sermons, is a crucial issue that requires attention, just like other teachings in Scripture. This is not an accusation but a call for wisdom, which you've taught comes from God to those who are receptive. What takes precedence: God or anything else? I hope God gives you and like members healing in this respect, as these are the least to listen, and the most stubborn in regards to gluttony, in the same respect you say that attending congregational services is mandatory. You said you covered all the tools, but you missed fasting, which is one of the most important tools to use in conjunction with prayer. We must address why people are leaving congregations, sometimes even abandoning the church due to anger towards Christ, God, or the body. Our congregations face various internal issues like adultery, pornography addiction, greed in tithing, lies, fraud, and notably, gluttony. American Christian congregations have a high obesity rate, and Americans exhibit high rates of pornography addiction, with attendees only slightly less affected. God holds us to a higher standard, forbidding lust entirely. I believe salvation doesn't hinge on attending congregational services any more than fasting and repenting of gluttony. Gluttony, encompassing overconsumption in various forms, requires repentance just as much as fellowship and discipleship. I believe hypocrisy and a lack of integrity in leadership, especially when leaders neglect to repent of their own behaviors while requiring it of others, are major reasons for people leaving congregations. Therefore, the same standard we apply to fellowship and discipleship should be extended to fasting, praying, and repenting of gluttony.
Good day! I hope you are well.
You mentioned that some believe they don't need to attend church, as it's not mandatory. Similarly, it's important to clarify that the congregation isn't synonymous with the church. While I understand you're aware of this distinction, it's still essential to reiterate. Attending church doesn't necessarily require a congregation; rather, it involves gathering with fellow believers, irrespective of a specific congregation. The purpose of congregating is to facilitate connecting with like-minded believers. While you might have arguments against this, I believe the Bible supports this notion. Ideally, in the biblical church, believers fellowshipped wherever they went, fostering relationships with one another and following Jesus.
Regarding illness, you rightly mentioned that we must trust in doctors, yet God provides guidance for maintaining good health. Though all things are lawful, not all are expedient. Some illnesses result from personal behavior or other factors known to God. Gluttony, often overlooked in sermons, is a crucial issue that requires attention, just like other teachings in Scripture. This is not an accusation but a call for wisdom, which you've taught comes from God to those who are receptive. What takes precedence: God or anything else? I hope God gives you and like members healing in this respect, as these are the least to listen, and the most stubborn in regards to gluttony, in the same respect you say that attending congregational services is mandatory. You said you covered all the tools, but you missed fasting, which is one of the most important tools to use in conjunction with prayer.
We must address why people are leaving congregations, sometimes even abandoning the church due to anger towards Christ, God, or the body. Our congregations face various internal issues like adultery, pornography addiction, greed in tithing, lies, fraud, and notably, gluttony. American Christian congregations have a high obesity rate, and Americans exhibit high rates of pornography addiction, with attendees only slightly less affected. God holds us to a higher standard, forbidding lust entirely. I believe salvation doesn't hinge on attending congregational services any more than fasting and repenting of gluttony. Gluttony, encompassing overconsumption in various forms, requires repentance just as much as fellowship and discipleship.
I believe hypocrisy and a lack of integrity in leadership, especially when leaders neglect to repent of their own behaviors while requiring it of others, are major reasons for people leaving congregations. Therefore, the same standard we apply to fellowship and discipleship should be extended to fasting, praying, and repenting of gluttony.