[One Proud Dad]

Everyday I rely more on scripture than I do the church and people.

[mikeus_maximus]

Everyday I rely more on scripture than I do the church and people.

Very wise. Anything beyond the Newt testament pattern of work and worship of the church delivered by the apostles is lawless speculation and presumption-- a "taking away and adding to" what the apostles "once delivered", that which was "complete to equip us for every good work."

Most churches today are an apostacy, with little true respect for the scriptures as the word of God.There are a few that do. But for the most part, a first century Christian would think our common use of the term "church" (Gr. 'Ekklesia')to be very strange. To him or her, a church was
not a building. Nor was it an organization with synods and councils and creeds and such. "Ekklesia" was an everyday term for a group of people-- even the mob at Derbe or Lystra was called an ekklesia. Christ's church, in the scriptures was His 'called out people."

Yes, they were told to assemble together. But they weren't authorized to create an organization other than the local, autonomous congregation, to work and worship as the apostles taught-- not according to what some central body thought would be a good idea. When we see the spread of immoral and corrupt doctrines among the Methodists and Episcopalians and other groups, we realize the divine wisdom of the biblical pattern. A true follower of Christ will look to him and his apostles and their teachings-- not some central council-- for what is acceptable to Him.

[oceanperch]

Been that way many years for me.

I tell you life is so much more peaceful.

[wallcrawlr]

agreed. simple and well put.