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| PentecostalTheology.com
By Peter Vandever
I hear people say we are “being the church” because we can not meet. This is hogwash. You can’t “be missional” hiding in your closet in fear of anyone that gets within six feet of you might have a virus. The early church went from house to house but they did leave their own. Just saying.
Evangelism right now is more critical than ever. However, most are living in fear. They won’t dare go out and hug a homeless man or share a meal with a prostitute. They might get this “super flu.”
You can’t “be the church” living in fear from your couch. It requires you go where the people are and enter into their world. Ministries and believers won’t do that out of fear of this virus.
Don’t say you are “being the church” living in demonic fear and pretending it is “wisdom.” Want wisdom? Try Proverbs 11:30
Varnel Watson
THANKS to Peter Vandever A question MANY have asked in weeks past Joe Absher has never needed a building to preach but Bobbi Goff Klein may one day not too far from today FOR Today #WeAreAll Rodney Howard-Browne
Gary Sawyer
Early Church writings teach us that the early church didn’t have buildings.
When Peter was in Rome, he used to meet with believers in a rock quarry to preach.
….in the 1st and 2nd century the Early church was being persecuted by Roman Imperials, believers would meet in secret in private houses.
Can you imagine having a Church service in secret? Can you imagine a church service with Only preaching and no singing or music? . . . .but that’s exactly how the early church did it. Another amazing fact is that the New Testament didn’t exist during that time either (New Testament didn’t exist until sometime around the year 368)
Varnel Watson
are you SURE about that? what does the BIBLE say FIRST – where did JESUS teach Peter Vandever
Gary Sawyer
Troy Day Sure about what? That the early church didn’t have buildings.There were persecuted by the Romans and had church in secret locations to keep from being found…..it is all historical facts …..
Varnel Watson
Gary Sawyer dont forget the synagogues, the Temple, the home churches ALL connected with buildings What you talk about come later as is fixing to come to America These are ALL historical facts indeed 🙂
Gary Sawyer
Troy Day You’re kinda Right, but when most people refer to the early church, they are referring to the church body of believers that was started by the Apostles after the the day of Pentecost after the the Apostles left and went into the world to preach the gospel. In fact, all of the Apostles but one (John) was put to death.
When Jesus was walking with the Disciples is not considered the early church. In fact, they were still considered as Jews at that point. Those who followed Jesus Christ were first called “Christians” by the Romans when the Romans feed them to the lions. . . . . . . I had to learn waaay to much about early church history in Evangelism School (whether I wanted to learn it or not, it was required) . . . sadly I have forgotten many many things, back when I was studying this stuff, I used to be able to tell you the names of some of the early church Bishops and which Apostles they studied under and so on and so on . . . but, since that was not a subject that I revisit very often, I have since forgotten most of the names of those Bishops
Varnel Watson
Gary Sawyer I respect all you learned church history in Evangelism School I myself have a degree in Historical Theology As a matter of fact one of my dissertations dealt with the home churches in Acts History always tell us about a building
Do you know the list of ALL the people at Azusa? No – but you know azusa and it stands for something
In AMERICA at least today – you take the building from a church and you may as well not call it church no more Joseph Castillo NOW this is fACTS from our reality
Ray E Horton
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). We can’t be the church and “win souls” while cooped up at home. There must be a balance, even in this temporary situation.
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever my editorial pick of the day will be by Bob Willis
Young man you need to read all the Scriptures Bible also teaches us to obey the laws of the land and at this time they are not taking away from my freedom of worship and serving God it sounds like if you don’t go to church you would lose out with your spiritual walk with God I think you need to get a little closer to God and have a true understanding of life and how God teaches it. God bless you
SINCE I am probably a bit older I could possible start my comment with young man YMCA style but lets see
all the Scriptures Bible also teaches us to obey the laws of the land
and then LETS see the ones that bro. Willis may not be able to cite out of memory in a communistic prison and guards beating on his head telling him their authority comes from his God TIME for AMERICA to WAKE UP #WeareALL Joseph Castillo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hQw2koqi6I&feature=emb_title
Joe Absher
My dear old mother used to say first comes the laughing then comes the crying
Varnel Watson
Joe Absher are you referring to the holy laughter
Joe Absher
I mean the holy crying
Varnel Watson
THANK THANK YOU very much Robert Cox did you know Romans 13 was….. Written by an apostle who spent about 6 years of in a Roman prison for civil disobedience? Did you know that??
Joe Absher
You don’t need a vacation you need a cave – the old leatherneck and pastor . Clendennen .
Larry Dale Steele
I wonder how many people will use Romans 13 when they are told to do Gay weddings
Varnel Watson
but they ARE told to do them and ARE still using Rom 13 and go about life like nothing has changed
Larry Dale Steele
Troy Day exactly
Varnel Watson
Larry Dale Steele like lobsters dying slowly in the pot
Joseph Castillo
the issue is not a building but a gathering
Varnel Watson
THERE if I may restate the author for our dear sister For us Pentecostals, going to church is like going for food or medication. Our supernatural healing proceeds from the atoning work of Christ. Our gathering together represents the resurrection of His body from the dead and our own resurrection from all disease, sickness and even death. It is a spiritual self-fulfilling need guaranteed in the Constitution http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/today-we-are-all-rodney-howard-browne/
Varnel Watson
Ray Boshers Nelson Banuchi James Michael Sanders As bro Larry Dale Steele said last night It is not the BUILDING but it is the GATHERING For us Pentecostals, going to church is like going for food or medication. Our supernatural healing proceeds from the atoning work of Christ. Our gathering together represents the resurrection of His body from the dead and our own resurrection from all disease, sickness and even death. It is a spiritual self-fulfilling need guaranteed in the Constitution:
NOW author Peter Vandever may be wrong for a lot BUT you cannot blame him for not getting out Just watch his videos and see the remote locations in the world where he has ministered We’ve got to be fair to each other in such difficult times IMVHO
Gary Smith
And you cannot be missional when you are on a ventilator or dead because you didn’t do as physicians recommended. Being wise is not being faithless. Our church is now reaching several times more people with our media ministry than we were before. God has the attention of the lost and lukewarm and they seeking our message in any manner they can receive it.
Varnel Watson
Says who Gary Smith ? Certainly not the BIBLE
JESUS was MISSIONAL on the CROSS in HIS very suffering
Acts 21:11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'”
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Vicki Mart you fixing to get a Corinthian verse sent your way and it aint from ch. 13 either #justsayin
Gary Smith
Troy Day like I said, you can’t do the work of ministry while on a ventilator or dead. Be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove.
Varnel Watson
Gary Smith Well, being that RHBrowne dropped more than $100K to install a hospital grade filtration system to purify the air, I seriously doubt it was concerning finances one bit. I will take the man at his word that this is about his faith.
Gary Smith
Troy Day I have no idea what you talking about and it’s not my goal to get personal or to attack another. Blessings to you my friend.
Varnel Watson
Gary Smith that you aint got an idea was pretty clear from the start Here’s SOME ideas via Robert Cox – it will be just a little digital vaccine It aint gonna hurt It will protect you it will help you It will be just temporary until this lifts Bill Gates is already talking about digital certificates Its not gonna affect your brain activity being on your head It will not paralyze your hand It will help you buy and sell goodies like toilet paper sanitizer and pop corn Its ALL GOOD no worries The world is not ending yet AND NO you will not having problem opening your church once you have a digital vaccine on your head and hand On the contrary THEY WANT YOU to pastor the church once they vaccinate you {digitally}
Gary Smith
Troy Day the mark of the beast will in no way be taken by accident. Those who take the mark will know exactly what their doing, pledging their Allegiance to the antichrist who has not be revealed yet and cannot be revealed until the church is out of here. We are not currently under a one world government or state religion. I will be glad to help you with this anyway I can. I have taught through the Book of Revelation many times. Let me know if i can help. Blessings to you!
Varnel Watson
Gary Smith do you believe in pre-Trib rapture?
Gary Smith
Troy Day absolutely
Varnel Watson
Gary Smith William DeArteaga Peter Vandever a spark on the SPIRIT of EVANGELIST – a pastor will stay home take care of sheep over he internet and still draw a salary until funds end OK Yall pray for your evangelist and missionary because they TOO have children families and bills This COVID-19 has crippled the Biblical 5-fold ministry if you come to think abut it