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David Nestor's avatar

I also think this is an excellent article. The assembly is for the saints, not for evangelism. Also, taking advantage of emotions in a "captive audience" is not right nor fair. Unchurched or non-Christian visitors should be impressed with God as they observe our assembly. Anyone coming forward to be baptized probably should have been baptized before the assembly (c.f. "that very hour") -- why wait? We have too many traditions that have enough tenure that we have made them "law" to our detriment. As Gary Anderson below said, "We need to be like the Bereans," and we are not doing a good job of that with our traditions.

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Aimee Williams's avatar

great thoughts on this, and insight. I agree that this feels odd coming from a standpoint of trying to be like the 1st century church. It's tradition, of course, and I think it's a better idea, as you say, to invite people to talk with someone privately ( unless they want to make a public confession).

I feel bad for really good preachers who think that they didn't give a good lesson unless someone comes forward!!!

People can also be shy and not know who to go to or even who to ask to go to if they have questions...in most denominations the preacher is also the pastor or priest, so maybe we have the tradition of going to the preacher for most things too...hm. more tradition I suppose.

Kudos to the previous commenter David for also calling our gathering an assembly, as it is called in the New Testament.

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