Church Government

favoriteson — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:41:21 GMT

"corporately (as a Church) one has to obey the elders, deacons and preachers, which the Bible says we are to obey since they "watch over our souls" and to "esteem them highly in love"

Leaders in the church have the authority to build us up in love by making a firm stand on the truth of God's word. Leaders do not have the authority to create by laws, interpret the apllication of those laws, or enforce the laws they have created on the basis of what they believe to be their biblical rights.

Most of the time by laws and constitutions are created because it is difficult to build people up in love to the degree that they become self controlled. Yet, one of the fruits of the spirit is self control.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:22-23;&version=31;

If someone is breaking the royal law of love and they are corrected, they should submit to the rebuke.

But if a man is told that they must wear a suit to church, or if a woman is told she cannot wear earings or lipstick, they are not obligated to obey.

posted in Restoring the NT Church - 1 reply

New Testament Giving

favoriteson — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:15:56 GMT

"Please let me know of any Bible verses you find on this subject. "

The law of tithing was instituted by God for the maintenance of the temple in jerusalem and those who served within it.

The same rules apply with a few distinct differences. New testament giving is not obligatory, but when it is done it should be a sincere act of love for God and our fellow man (remember Ananias and Saphira?).

As far as temple maintenance, God no longer resides in a temple made by human hands. Through the holy spirit , God takes up his residence in us. Based upon the giving pattern in the book of acts, they gave to

- Meet the needs of the body (to include those who served the body on a full time basis)
- Assist the poor

While the bible does not prohibit us from giving to building funds or programs, it does give every believer the ability to give to collectively to causes they believe in or to give their money directly to individuals as they recognize the need. here are a few examples

Acts 2
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Mathew 6
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Acts 4
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

2 Corinthians 8
1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."[b]

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Church Government

New Testament Giving