Traditions concerning the church Previously: church name, membership, attendance; elders; deacons; preachers. In similar fashion we look at discerning some of the traditions believed/practiced about when we “come together as a church” and when we don’t.

CAVEAT Traditions are NOT wrong in and of themselves. Some “traditions” are based upon truth. Others “traditions” are based upon opinion (whether acknowledged as such or believed as truth). We are talking of “traditions”, NOT laws (either expressed or implied).

WHEN THE CHURCH MEETS “The five acts of worship”

“The five acts of worship” Singing ………………………..….......Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 Praying ………………………… Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1-2, 8 Giving …………………………..1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:1-5 Preaching/teaching ………….Acts 20:7; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Lord’s Supper …………………….……….1 Cor. 11:17ff SINGING: if this is a command for the church when coming together: women are teaching men….yet are told to keep silent. 1 Co. 14:34 PRAYING: GIVING: Teaching is for needy saints. Do we send men to actually take “the gift” to those in need today (as in 1 Cor. 16:3)? PREACHING: LORD’S SUPPER:

Using Bible Authority principles Why don’t we…? If the passages do not necessarily teach/imply an authoritative demand to worship corporately but we teach as though they do… …Could we not do the same for other acts of deemed as “worship” (Rom. 12:1)?

“The five acts of worship” …a closer look Singing ………………………..….......Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 Praying ………………………… Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1-2, 8 Giving …………………………..1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:1-5 Preaching/teaching ………….Acts 20:7; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Lord’s Supper …………………….……….1 Cor. 11:17ff SINGING: if this is a command for the church when coming together: women are teaching men….yet are told to keep silent. 1 Co. 14:34 PRAYING: GIVING: Teaching is for needy saints. Do we send men to actually take “the gift” to those in need today (as in 1 Cor. 16:3)? PREACHING: LORD’S SUPPER:

Imagine using “Bible authority” to teach the following… “Greet one another with a holy kiss” when we gather together as a church? Rom. 16:16 “Wash one another’s feet” (tied to Lord’s Supper) before partaking the Lord’s Supper? Jn. 13:14 Night only… to take Lord’s Supper? Acts 20:1-8 We would rightfully cry “context”, yet many of the previous passages say/imply nothing of such when the church.

WHEN THE CHURCH MEETS “The women are to keep silent…”

“Women are to keep silent in the churches” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Inconsistencies: Some women don’t speak at all. Others speak during Bible classes but not in “worship”. Some verbally designate that “worship” has ended to accommodate women being able to speak… because the group is no longer formally recognized as being “the church”.

“Women are to keep silent in the churches” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 This passage – as in its greater context – has to do with TEACHING. Those speaking in tongues needed to keep silent unless there was someone to interpret. V. 28 Those prophesying needed to take turns. V. 31 In this context women were to keep silent (otherwise they couldn’t teach in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. Cf. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16

WHEN THE CHURCH DOESN’T MEET

It’s still the church… made up of many individuals It is true, the church is not the individual and vice versa. 1 Cor. 12:27-28ff That said, biblical authors (as many today) look at the conglomeration of individuals as it pertains to their “church” affiliation. Cp. Rom. 16:5, 23 Even when the community of believers are not together “as a church” it is still considered as such. Cp. Acts 8:1-3

Big Takeaways

What we practice when we come together is perfectly acceptable to our Lord.

Let biblical passages be what they were meant to be When a narrative states some activity do not use hermeneutics to turn that narrative into a law. Allow for clearly expressed teaching to determine what is binding. E.g. “cup” Cp. Matt. 26:27 When a teaching is broad (or narrow) in scope, do not force it to be more narrow (or broader) than what was intended by the author. E.g. “lift up holy hands” 1 Tim. 2:8 Doing so opens the door for others – in similar fashion – to bind practices we would not deem necessary.