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Post by Michael J Loomis on Mar 12, 2010 21:04:33 GMT -5
This week on The Journey Ed Hassertt and I did three live broadcasts discussing the future and what a preterist church might look like. We looked at the model of the Church throughout the book of Acts and contrasted that with the situation that most preterist's today are in. And the reality of it is in most cases that we are all spread a lot like the first century Church was. So we were thinking...Why not for the time being do exactly what they did? And so...Ed and I would like to get some feedback from you guys. Especially from those of you that are not able to meet within the context of a local fellowship and what your needs are so that we can start meeting them. In other words...We want to start an Online Preterist Church and equip those of you that are spread out so that when the time comes and more people begin embracing preterism, the local fellowships will be a natural outgrowth of what we can provide now online. And so what we need now is some feedback from you guys. Here are a few ideas we've had that we would like to implement. Ed Hassertt and I would begin doing three live broadcasts per week. Two of them would be a basic verse by verse teaching through the book of Acts. The third one would be a live call in show where we would highly encourage listener interaction while discussing the other two teaching programs that week. Ed would be available during all the other live broadcasts and other set hours for general discussion and counseling when needed by the members of this new online church body. Ed would also be available for more individual needs like personal and marriage counseling in a private chat room, on the telephone or for video conferencing on Skype for a more face to face interaction if desired. In other words we would like to provide you with someone much like the first century church found in the Apostle Paul, but in a much more modern setting where technology allows us to do the same things the Apostle Paul did. This would simply be something real that we can do now until the time comes where more small fellowships can be formed where people can meet from "House to house," on a regular basis. We would also like to make this a resource to equip those of you around the U.S. and the world that would like to facilitate home fellowships. Please listen to the following three broadcasts we did this week and let us know your thoughts. The Journey Part 1 ad70.net/audio/tj/tj03082010.mp3The Journey Part 2 ad70.net/audio/tj/tj03112010.mp3The Journey Part 3 ad70.net/audio/tj/tj03122010.mp3Please give us your feedback--> feedback@ad70.netThank you, Michael J Loomis |
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Post by Allyn on Mar 12, 2010 22:07:22 GMT -5
Thanks Mike. I bookmarked this thread and will listen to the links over the weekend.
I think this is a great idea. I am not sure how it will work but I am interested. We need to start somewhere.
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Post by MoGrace2U on Mar 12, 2010 22:55:34 GMT -5
Once when visiting San Diego I came across a church meeting in a park. It was great. I suspect that was much how the early churches met as well as in each others homes. But unless we have the presence of someone like the apostle Paul who was given the care of the churches in Asia, I don't see how such things can be centralized. He appointed bishops and elders and that seems to be what we are expected to follow - esp. since now he is gone, though we have his writings. Anything more and you are going to be about creating another denomination. Which is probably unavoidable anyway you look at it. And then we will end up being just another sect. It would be nice though to gather together for worship and not just to listen to a lovely song.
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Post by Allyn on Mar 13, 2010 8:36:35 GMT -5
Thanks Mike. I bookmarked this thread and will listen to the links over the weekend. I think this is a great idea. I am not sure how it will work but I am interested. We need to start somewhere. I haven't listened yet, but I had a thought over night. My main hope is that some actual teaching material will be developed soon. This, in my opinion, would be the most essential tool along side the Bible for the use of preaching and teaching by otherwise regular people with a heart for clearly showing the whole biblical idea of all things fulfilled. The teaching material could be developed for a Bible study/small group setting. Also, I would love to see something like what I developed for the Baptist church in my town which I once attended. It was a live stream of the teaching time in the service and I had made the web page in such a way that the live stream, a small section containing the Bible online, sermon notes, and live interaction were all right on the monitor screen at once. It went over great and became very useful to people who could not otherwise attend. My first hope, however, is that some very gifted men and women get together and actually produce teaching material that can be purchased and used in small group settings. |
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Post by Sower on Mar 13, 2010 22:22:14 GMT -5
I was involved in a small bible study group that met on Sunday evenings modeled after Acts. It was wonderful. I like the idea very much!  The Sower~ |
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Post by didymus on Mar 15, 2010 22:28:42 GMT -5
It sounds to me like the beginning of yet another denomination. Now, you might say that isn't the intention. But that wasn't Martin Luther's intention either, nor John Calvin's, nor Menno Simon's, etc.
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Post by Once4all on Mar 16, 2010 1:46:43 GMT -5
I agree with didymus. Also, even though the members may all have preterist belief in common, they will differ on other things, which eventually will result in splits.
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Post by mellontes on Mar 16, 2010 10:54:59 GMT -5
Perhaps there would be a new denomination started...perhaps there would be many splits.
But this is a natural result of what IS going to happen.
If preterism is true, and I most certainly am a proponent of it, then we should be proclaiming the truth as we see it. This stage is already very evident, from forums, books, conferences, etc. The preterist view is becoming known; in fact, it is becoming a thorn in the side of futurism so much so, that books are being written to "refute" preterism, resulting in the rebuttal of the refutation, etc.
There will be a day (perhaps not in our generation) that there will be millions of preterists world-wide. They will want to gather and meet face to face and have fellowship and discuss the Bible and worship the Lord our God. Right now, there are very few of these "physical" fellowships around. There will be more in the future.
And once we have lots of preterists with lots more preterist churches, then unfortunately there will be splits. We are already experiencing these splits "electronically." One day they will be visible splits.
This is the natural progression of the physical church in an endeavor to purify the truth...
I look forward to it - should I be alive to participate.
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Post by Morris on Mar 16, 2010 13:26:45 GMT -5
There will be more in the future. Aha! So you ARE a futurist! I knew it!   |
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Post by mellontes on Mar 16, 2010 13:57:15 GMT -5
There will be more in the future. Aha! So you ARE a futurist! I knew it! Oh, no...all this time and so many posts and finally I have let it slip. I suppose I will get bombarded by all the futurists offering their congratulations! |
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Post by didymus on Mar 18, 2010 3:23:36 GMT -5
WOW! In this thread, Bev, Ted and I are in total agreement. Can this sever stand the strain? That's Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy and engineer Scott being total agreement on the Enterprise. It just doesn't happen to often.  |
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Post by preteristaynrand on Aug 1, 2010 10:26:22 GMT -5
 If God is Spirit and He is worshipped in Spirit and Truth, and the Kingdom of God is a Spiritual kingdom that resides in the hearts of those who believe the words of Jesus then the Preterist church probably ... looks INVISIBLE..... Still looking for a bumper sticker that reads," ATTENTION- In case of rapture, can I have your car?" untiemybowtie shouldaboughtahonda
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Post by preteristaynrand on Aug 1, 2010 10:28:37 GMT -5
...or the Preterist church probably looks like ....Jesus
Yea, that's it, the Preterist church looks like Jesus.
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Post by MoGrace2U on Aug 1, 2010 11:37:28 GMT -5
...or the Preterist church probably looks like ....Jesus Yea, that's it, the Preterist church looks like Jesus. There you go! Anything else is just going to be men at work. |
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Post by Allyn on Aug 1, 2010 11:50:40 GMT -5
If God is Spirit and He is worshipped in Spirit and Truth, and the Kingdom of God is a Spiritual kingdom that resides in the hearts of those who believe the words of Jesus then the Preterist church probably ... looks INVISIBLE..... Still looking for a bumper sticker that reads," ATTENTION- In case of rapture, can I have your car?" untiemybowtie shouldaboughtahonda Welcome to Preterist Voice, preteristaynrand. Be sure to check your email for your activation number. You should have received it almost immediately after registering. Again welcome. |
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Post by Morris on Dec 22, 2010 12:13:00 GMT -5
I've been doing some (even further) reading and studying as of late, and of various topics, but I think I've found an example of what a Preterist church might look like. The Gospel of John. In other words, it is 'formed' after 70AD and does not mention any "end" to look forward to. |
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Post by mellontes on Dec 22, 2010 16:41:39 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the church today is patterned much in the likeness of the Roman Catholic tradition. The churches in the NT were not buidings with big signs and spires making it easy for those Pharisees to come and get them; they were in homes.
The church were people not brick and mortar places of worship. And this has digressed into local membership, etc. in order to be part of a visible, local church.
We don't go to church; we are the church.
And what would it look like? Normal people dressed in normal clothes talking about Scripture.
Compared to normal people gathered into their cliques dressed in their "Sunday best" talking about anything but the Scriptures...
That's my cynical view on things...
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Post by Once4all on Dec 22, 2010 18:26:48 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the church today is patterned much in the likeness of the Roman Catholic tradition. The churches in the NT were not buidings with big signs and spires making it easy for those Pharisees to come and get them; they were in homes. The church were people not brick and mortar places of worship. And this has digressed into local membership, etc. in order to be part of a visible, local church. We don't go to church; we are the church. And what would it look like? Normal people dressed in normal clothes talking about Scripture. Compared to normal people gathered into their cliques dressed in their "Sunday best" talking about anything but the Scriptures... That's my cynical view on things... I don't have a problem with church buildings. Houses are buildings, too. I don't recall reading anywhere in the NT that synagogues were wrong. In fact, they were attended by Jesus and the apostles. In Luke 7, some Jewish elders approached Jesus on behalf of a centurion, appealing to Jesus to heal the centurion's slave. The Jews asked Jesus to consider this healing for the centurion because ""he is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue." (Luke 7:4-5) So, anyway, I don't find anything scripturally wrong with buildings being built as a place for the church to congregate. |
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Post by Morris on Dec 23, 2010 14:08:53 GMT -5
To me, both Ted and Bev are each correct.
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Post by didymus on Dec 23, 2010 15:11:55 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the church today is patterned much in the likeness of the Roman Catholic tradition. The churches in the NT were not buidings with big signs and spires making it easy for those Pharisees to come and get them; they were in homes. The church were people not brick and mortar places of worship. And this has digressed into local membership, etc. in order to be part of a visible, local church. We don't go to church; we are the church. And what would it look like? Normal people dressed in normal clothes talking about Scripture. Compared to normal people gathered into their cliques dressed in their "Sunday best" talking about anything but the Scriptures... That's my cynical view on things... I don't have a problem with church buildings. Houses are buildings, too. I don't recall reading anywhere in the NT that synagogues were wrong. In fact, they were attended by Jesus and the apostles. In Luke 7, some Jewish elders approached Jesus on behalf of a centurion, appealing to Jesus to heal the centurion's slave. The Jews asked Jesus to consider this healing for the centurion because ""he is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue." (Luke 7:4-5) So, anyway, I don't find anything scripturally wrong with buildings being built as a place for the church to congregate. I believe Ted's major point is that those who are in Christ are the church, whether they be in a building, a boat, a car, an open field, etc. I agree with that whole-heartedly. The idea of creating yet another man-made denomination based on one set of doctrines has been done over and over again down through church history. Why would we seek to do it again? All that will do is add to the division we already have. If we are really Christians, we should be seeking unity of the believer, not further division.  |
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Post by mellontes on Dec 23, 2010 15:17:55 GMT -5
So, anyway, I don't find anything scripturally wrong with buildings being built as a place for the church to congregate. I don't think anyone said there was anything scripturally wrong with having buildings made to fellowship at. I know lots of Christians who meet at a Masonic Temple. They rent their basement on Sundays... It is nice that we are able, at least in the greater North America, to be able to build buildings and posts signs of the fellowship desired. They couldn't do that in the first century and still can't do it in many parts of the world... |
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