Simple Assembly Guidelines – Online (Rev. 1)
The Goal
Our intent as true kingdom disciples is to replicate every unchanging tradition of God handed down in the New Testament Scriptures (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thes. 2:15; 2 Thes. 3:6) and never the traditions of man/devil (Matt. 15:3,6; Mark 7:8-9,13; Col. 2:8). In so doing, we please God in all respects (Col. 1:10).
God’s tradition for weekly meetings (1 Cor. 16:2) and mutual edification for His saints are simple assemblies, one of the eight New Testament meeting types. These weekly meetings were held in homes with elder oversight, and never in a building.
The simple assembly is for those seeking an open, often unpredictable Holy Spirit led forum, exploring and/or escaping the controlling and stifling unbiblical institutional church model, and true kingdom fellowship. It’s not intended to be all things to all people.
Home Church – Simple Assemblies Background
We may learn much more about home churches here. And many helpful pointers regarding these meetings can be found here. A history of how pagan practices invaded and changed these simple assemblies can be found here.
After Pentecost, the unbiblical titled “Pastor” led and/or institutional church in a building with a controlled set schedule is neither described nor prescribed in the New Testament. Pastor is a spiritual gift, not a title or office. Let’s look carefully at the Scripture record:
Acts 2:46 Day by day…breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart…; Acts 20:20 how I (Paul) did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house; Rom 16:5 …greet the church (the ekklesia: congregation of saints) that is in their (Prisca and Aquila) house; 1Cor 16:19 …Aquila and Priscilla…the church (the ekklesia: congregation of saints) that is in their house; Col 4:15 …the church (the ekklesia: congregation of saints) which is in his (Nymphas) house; Philemon 1:1-2 …the church (the ekklesia: congregation of saints) in your (Philemon) house; 1 Timothy 3:15 …the household (oikos – house, a family) of God
How We Act
Christ clearly taught that to love Him is to obey Him in every command and to then be loved fully in return (John 14:23-24). We are to be unified in everything like the Trinity (John 17:20-21). The Apostle Paul confirmed this in rebuking the wayward Corinthian church/assembly (1 Cor. 1:10). Helpful teaching on unified agreement can be found here, here, and here. We never “agree to disagree.” The practice of being irreconcilable is a heinous sin, and leads to apostasy. We seek another’s interest more than our own (Phil. 2:3). We are to be holy (separate from the world) in all our behavior (1 Peter 1:15).
In the assembly itself, we are to first and foremost build up others, seeking their edification. A true servant knows it’s not about them, but their service to others. In other words, what did you bring in your spiritual gifting for the saints? Then in bringing for others, we gracefully receive from the Holy Spirit through our brethren for our own edification!
We are not to monopolize the meeting, although at times a saint may need special attention in an extremely trying time. Disagreements are to be handled honorably, and some may be tabled to another of the New Testament meeting types. Anyone who persists in disunifying or any other sinful behavior may be reproved, rebuked, and eventually avoided (2 Tim. 3).
During the week outside the meeting, the sincere seekers hopefully will interact with kingdom works as the Holy Spirit leads.
Conclusion
Again, we stress that the simple assembly is for those sincere seekers, and not primarily for the sporadic distracted attender. Those with split affections toward the unbiblical institutional church model will probably fade away quickly as they seek an entirely different religious experience outside what Christ intended in His clear tradition.
We must reserve the right to remove any online simple assembly member who will not invest in the face-to-face edification of the saints, or who persists in unrepentant and repeated sin. In some platforms, we have limited space for video encounters. Therefore, we must make room for other more curious and/or zealous seekers in certain situations.
If you might have any questions, inquiries, suggestions, or grievances, then please reach out at once!
Contact us at Walk Worthy for more help, or to air any grievance in an honorable way.
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A PDF of these guidelines is here.
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