Perry
From: "Terry Clifton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] differences Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 13:02:57 -0600
David:
My view of first century Christianity is preachers in the streets preaching
to the lost rather than Clergy in air conditioned comfort preaching to the
choir. It is Peter saying "Silver and gold have I none", rather than Clergy
with salary, and insurance and car allowance and secretary. It is people
meeting in homes and using what they had to feed the poor rather than
building a higher steeple or buying bigger stained glass windows. It is
Paul working his way across the world to tell people about Jesus, rather
than a missionary who needs three thousand dollars a month in support so he
can go live among and witness to people making two hundred dollars a year.
It is about brothers and sisters in Christ actually knowing one another. It
is about deacons who are servants instead of the people who tell the
preacher what to do. It is people who actually tell other people about
Christ, rather than hiring a "Reverend" to do it for them. Tell me what's
wrong with that picture.
Think for a moment about how much good could be done for the needy if the
more than three hundred thousand Pastors in this country preached for the
Lord instead of for a living, and used that money for good works. If that
sounds like a lot, throw in the money spent on mortgages and flowers and
janitors and song leaders and choir robes and electricity. Christianity has
become big business
As to Frank Viola, I have never met the man. However, I have also never met
anyone who was there during the first three centuries, so the only way I
have of knowing what went on there is to read what others have documented.
Actually, he points out that someone met in a building as early as 180 A.D.,
but says Constantine was the one who made church buildings not only common,
but ornate.
> > Terry wrote:
> > > We just aren't in total agreement on this one.
> >
> > Why not? Is it because Frank Viola wrote that the first church building
> > started with Constantine? Or is it because your view of first century
> > Christianity is one where believers huddled secretly in homes for fear
of
> > persecution from unbelieving Jews?
> >
> > Peace be with you.
> > David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA
> >
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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