A Gathered People 5

Greetings one and all! Chapter 5 in A Gathered People is Assembly Among Churches of Christ: Our Formative History. This chapter addresses Churches of Christ in the US and about the assembly and it's role in the church. Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell are father and son. They both grew up in the Presbyterian church. They and Barton W. Stone sought to restore the ancient order of things. They aimed to sanctify the Lord's Day. They said that "every occasion of the 'assembly of the saints' is a 'meeting with the Lord'." They believed people couldn't be so casual on Lord's Day and believed that we were aware of the Lord's presence we wouldn't be so causal when we met together. Gathering in the Name of the Lord was serious business. The Regulative Principle stated "Restoration of the Ordinance of the New Institution to their place and power". Divine Ordinances for Christian Assemblies echoes the Five Acts Model (of sorts) mentioned earlier in the book. They stated five acts that were included in worship services (singing, praying, preaching, communion, and contribution), but wasn't mandatory. At least these five things were included, but sometimes more than that. Word and Table was a special time that included those five things and a lot more involved. Christian Assemblies as Test of Loyalty seems to go on among some. One church does worship one way, another does things differently. And both churches go to war over it. How rediculous! Thus, the Regulative Principle is clarified. Acts 2:42 is seen as the most basic worship needs. Everything else is do-able. Positive Law and the Assembly is big. Positive Law states, "the highest test of respect for divine authority since it tests the condition of the heart as it penetrates deep down in to the in most depths of our hearts". Meaning, it tests our attitudes and desires. Here they read from different parts of the Bible and test themselves there. The Sanctity of the Assembly is where we encounter the presence of God in the assembly. We are not to rush into God's presence, but must ready our selves and make we are sanctified to meet Him in the assembly.
In conclusion, worship is where we encounter God. He meets us there and transforms us as we worship Him. What a marvolous thought!
This is a facinating book! Please get it and read it! You'll be blessed!
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On another note, the current AIM class in Lubbock is in Mexico City this week. The AIM students go there to work with missionaries there for a week to gain a world mission. Please keep them in prayer especially during this time. They will get to go on the buses, the mass transit system, and lots of walking. Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. Please keep all of those who are there in prayer. More about AIM on Wednesday. God bless you all!
Zack