I have a question about going to church.  My family and I want to start having church, however we were thinking of just having it ourselves.  We wanted to watch church on T.V. on Sundays and then talk about stuff in the Bible ourselves.  Is this okay to do?  Do you have to go to church, or is it okay to have it at home?  Thanks for your time!  God bless!

Sincerely,
Homeward Bound

Dear Homeward Bound,

If you are starting a congregation out of your home, there are Biblical examples of that, but if you are just staying home instead of assembling with other christians… that would be wrong.  Philemon had a congregation that met in his house (Philemon 1:2).  The church in Troas met in a large home (Acts 20:7-8).  The location of a church doesn’t matter because ‘church’ refers to people, not a building, so if you were starting a church in your home, that would be fine.  However, that would come with the responsibilities that belong to the church.  You would need to be willing to have others assemble with you in your home.  The Lord’s church should seek to increase numerically and spiritually (Eph 4:16) whenever possible, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to start a church in your home and restrict its membership to your family.  That would be akin to Diotrephes who kicked people out of the church (3 Jn 1:10).

If you aren’t talking about starting a full-fledged congregation, then you need to be a part of one.  It isn’t enough to watch sermons on television and talk about the Bible.  The Lord commanded us to assemble with one another (Heb 10:25).  We are supposed to get together each Sunday and partake of the Lord’s Supper together (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 11:20).  God intended for christians to be a part of a local congregation with elders and deacons to help shepherd them (1 Pet 5:2).  God knows what is best for us, and it is in our best interest to assemble with other christians in a local church.  We are all different, and our differences help to strengthen us, protect us, and better serve Christ (Eph 4:14-16).

I have been struggling with the question of whether or not it is more effective to pray out loud or to pray silently.  I have heard that when you pray out loud, it goes out into the spiritual realm and that your words come back to you, etc.  I also heard that God spoke and things were done and that there is definitely power in our words.  I know that only God knows our thoughts, but are there any instructions on how to pray?

Sincerely,
Whisper Quiet

Dear Whisper Quiet,

God never emphasizes silent prayer above vocal prayer or vice-versa.  We have examples of both in the Bible.  Nehemiah prayed silently before the king, and his prayer was answered (Neh 2:4).  Hannah also prayed silently, but with fervor, and her prayer was answered (1 Sam. 1:13).  On the other hand, righteous Stephen prayed with a loud voice (Acts 7:60).  There is no specific instruction given by God in regard to volume.  What you have heard about “it goes out into the spiritual realm…” is a great example of a manmade tradition being passed down – the Bible never says that.

We are told to pray to God and not for attention (Matt 6:5).  We are also told that if we mistreat our spouse, our prayers will be hindered (1 Pet 3:7).  We are also told that God doesn’t hear the prayers of the wicked, only the righteous (Pr 15:29).  James says that a righteous man’s prayer does much good (Jas 5:16).  God teaches that it is our character that determines the effectiveness of our prayers, not the volume.

The preacher of my church resigned. The last Sunday he was there, he brought another preacher and told us he was our new preacher and that he had the right to do this whether we liked it or not.  Us members of the church thought that we had to vote him in for him to become our preacher.  Can he do this without the members voting on him?  We don't know a thing about this man except he is our used-to-be-preacher’s brother-in-law.  We don't know what we are supposed to pay him or nothing.  He just took the job, and that’s it.  Weren't we supposed to vote on him as members of the church?

Sincerely,
Under New Management

Dear Under New Management,

Every congregation is commended to God’s Word, and that is what has charge over them (Acts 14:23).  All congregations must be very careful whom they allow in their pulpit.  It is each churches’ responsibility to keep false teachers at bay (2 Tim 4:3-4).  No one has a right to force his way into the pulpit.

In fact, the apostle John dealt with a situation where someone tried to take control of a congregation.  Diotrephes loved to have power and be honored in the church (3 Jn 1:9); he also loved to kick people out of the church that disagreed with him (3 Jn 1:10).  The apostle John made it very clear that he would punish and expose Diotrephes for that behavior.  Your congregation has the right and the responsibility to choose your own preacher… one that follows and teaches God’s Word.

My friend said it would be wrong to use our church's projector for my block party's movie night.  I can't afford to rent one, and I DO pay into the collection basket, so don't I own a share of this projector anyway?  It isn't stealing because it's kind of mine.  I know it is wrong to offend my friend's conscience, so I will make sure he doesn't know.  I'll take good care of it.  If he does happen to find out, what verse can I point to, so he sees reason?

Sincerely,
Host With The Most

Dear Host With The Most,

It would be hard to give you a verse to show your friend he is wrong because he is right.  The moment you place your money in the collection plate, it is no longer your money.  You are setting the money aside and taking up a collection to further God’s work (1 Cor 16:2).  That money is a gift that you are giving back to God, not an investment in future entertainment plans.  By your logic, the preacher’s car, home, clothes, etc. are also “kind of” yours.  Maybe you can drive his car (which is paid for from the collection plate) on Tuesdays at three o’clock, and others can use it at various times convenient to them… kind of like a timeshare.

The point is that our offerings to God should be gifts, and we should be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7).  Once you give the gift, it belongs to the church, and the church has very specific rules that govern its use of money (see “Blow Out The Candles” for further details on the specific responsibilities of the church).  So go ahead and avoid offending your friend’s conscience by leaving the projector where it is.

The following is a follow up to the question “Almost Home Alone”:

 

Does it not also say, “Where one or two are gathered in My name, so shall I be there also”?  When you come together, you are assembled.  I do appreciate this site.  My friend (name omitted-AYP) showed it to me.  The first churches were small and met in homes.  In Alaska, sometimes there were only there or four people in our churches.

Sincerely,
Home Bound

Dear Home Bound,

Yes, it does say that where "two or three are gathered in My name, there shall I be" (Matt 18:20).  However, that is simply to point out that size doesn't matter for fellowship with Christ.  If you are saying that you and your mother are forming your own church in your home – that is one thing.  However, what you said was that you were unable to join the church on most Sundays but still considered yourself a member of that congregation.  Many congregations do meet in homes, and that is completely appropriate (Philemon 1:2).  However, your situation is not one of a congregation forming in a home… but of two un-well people who cannot attend and be with the church.  There is a distinction between those two situations.  Two sick and homebound individuals do not have the responsibility of taking the Lord’s Supper, but a church gathered together on the first day of the week does (1 Cor 11:20-21).