RE: [TruthTalk] The Outside of the Cup

[ShieldsFamily]

We don't have a church house or a pastor Kay.  We have a home church, as many in the early church did.  No mortgage, no janitor, no secretary, no preacher, no bills.  Our giving is to those in need.  In 1 Cor. 14:26, you find one , if not the only description of a church meeting.  If you read it, you will notice that it is not one guy talking and all the rest listening.  Everyone takes part, much the way I understand the synagogue to function, except we meet first for a shared meal, what the Bible calls a love feast, then a time of prayer requests, followed by prayer, followed by Bible study and discussion. Can you imagine how much money is pumped into buildings and speakers and choir robes and salaries and insurance  that could be spent to feed and house those living in garbage dumps in Manila, or build orphanages in India , or send out missionaries who now want to go but have no funding?  We made it possible for an orphanage in Slovakia to buy a much needed tractor so they could grow their own food.  I think the Lord would rather we do that than hire someone to preach to us We have preachers in this area and probably every area who preach without being paid.  They see it as a calling, not a career.  If they are stable residents, there is no reason why they should not support themselves as Paul did.  If, on the other hand, they are on the mission field or traveling evangelists, I see no reason not to take up an offering to help them. Terry Terry, what you have is indeed the ideal situation for a church (I think).  However, don’t look down too much on evangelical churches that lure in the lost folks and get them saved.  Diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks.  I am thankful there are churches for all different walks.  Izzy