FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . . .
Q. How can I tell if a church is the one that I read about in the New Testament?
A. You can't tell by the name alone. Just a name is not enough to identify an individual. You would want to look at all of the characteristics to insure you have the right person. Likewise, to be the church that Christ built, we must follow the pattern of the New Testament church. Before the first century was over, the Lord was already displeased with some of the congregations (Rev. 2-3), the passage indicates that unless they changed the Lord would no longer consider those congregations to be part of His church, therefore what do you suppose our unchanging Lord thinks about what we see around us today?
Q. How come you meet in houses while others meet in church buildings?
A. The New Testament clearly teaches that Christians met for worship in members homes (Acts 2:46; 5:42; 8:3; 12:12; 20:20; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 2; 2 Jn 10; this is the approved apostilic example), yet they evangelized everywhere (the temple, synagogues, market places, etc), and we do the same. They had the means and the ability to purchase buildings exclusively for assembling, but instead of doing such and mimicking the Old Testament system, they chose to sell their surplus property and give to needy saints (Acts 4:34-35). It wasn't until the time of Constantine (early AD 300's) after the joining of church and state that physical buildings were employed by the church soley as meeting places, clearly this is a tradition of men (Mt 15:9) and not of God, therefore we must always ask the question concerning our traditions "do they make void the word of God (Mt 15:6)?" For more info on house churches click here
Q. Why don't you use a choir, an organ, or some other type of musical insrument in worship to God?
A. The commandment to the early church was "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19). “Speaking” here means to talk, utter words. Words are the medium of choice by the Almighty, not humming, making noises likened to instruments, but that which can be understood and edifies. 1 Cor 14:26 teaches that all things done in the assembly are to be that which edifies, educates the saints. "To yourselves" is a reflexive pronoun, which indicates "action of the subject upon itself" this is not reciprocal, which would allow one group to sing (such as a choir), and then another (such as the rest of the congregation), but rather this group (one plurality) is acting, speaking, singing to itself (and unto God; Col 3:16), it is one event, thus this verse only authorizes singing. There are two basic types of music, instrumental and vocal, the command here is to "sing" which includes only vocal music, this therefore excludes the use of mechanical instruments as seen in Old Testament. We are not under Moses but Christ, He has been given "all authority" (Mt 28:18), that leaves no authority left for Moses (Mt 17:1-5), in fact, the person that attempts to justify religious practice by going back to the law of Moses is severed from Christ, they have fallen from grace (Gal 5:4). There is no example or command from God for an instrument to be used in the New Testament. Men introduced instruments into the worship assembly about 600 years after the death of Christ, in fact the word "accapella" means "in the style of the church." Christ stated "But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their precepts the commandments of men" (Mt 15:9), thus worshipping God as He has not commanded (will worship; Col 2:23), does result in vain (empty) worship. This is a "purity of worship" issue. Is your worship tainted with things of the world (rock bands, light shows, chaotic emotionalism; 1 Jn 2:15-17), or is it from your inner person ("spirit"), and according to the Truth (Jn 4:24; 17:17; 1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16)?
Q. How often do you have communion?
A. On the first day of every week (Acts 20:7). Also 1 Cor 16:2 (ESV, NASB, YLT) implies that the common assembly was to take place on "every" first day of the week, at which time the inspired apostle expected them to observe the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:20); these facts can also be verified by early uninspired Christian writings; (e.g. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, p. 185-186, The First Apology Of Justin, Justin Martyr).
Q. What is meant by the phrase "fruit of the vine" as seen in Mt 26:29; Mk 14:29; Lk 22:18?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Do you observe the Lord's Supper as a full meal as many house churches do today?
A. NO, cleary the Lord's commands (1 Cor 14:37) given through the inspired apostle condemns such a practice (1 Cor 11:20-22; 33-34a)...
1Co 11:20 When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper: 1Co 11:21 for in your eating each one taketh before other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 1Co 11:22 What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not . . . 1 Cor 11:28 But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup . . .1Co 11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another. 1Co 11:34a If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment.
The inspired apostle clearly instructs them on how to partake of the Lord's supper, with "the bread" and "the cup" just as the Lord had revealed (v 23-25), together (v 33), and not as a full meal, if they wanted to partake of a common meal they were to do that at their separate homes (v 34a). Now there is nothing wrong with the saints partaking in a fellowship meal, or love feast as it is refered to as in the Bible (Jude 12), but not in conjuntion with the Lord's supper, and that is what is specifically being dealt with in this passage, God through Paul says no! Dont do them together! It only leads to trouble. One is for the body, the other for the soul. For an in depth analysis of this section of scripture click HERE
Q. What is the Biblical truth concerning marriage/divorce/remarriage?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Is Holy Spirit baptism for us today as many are now teaching?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Does the Bible teach that a person is to pray to Jesus as we see many doing today?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Does Eph 2:8-9 teach there is not one single thing that a person can do to be saved as many Protestants assert?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Does not Acts 2:21 "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" teach that a person is saved by praying to Jesus?
A. If that is the truth, why did not the Jews start praying when they were cut to the heart by the Holy Spirit inspired message in Acts 2:37, instead they said "what shall we do"? Peter did not tell them to fall on their knees and pray to Jesus, instead he told them "repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins." We can also look at Acts 22:16 where Ananias told Saul (Paul) "arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name." The fact is we call on Jesus' name (His authority) in the waters of baptism, through faith in the working God in the act of baptism (Col 2:12), this is the circumcision of Christ wherein God cuts away our sins and forgives our trespasses (Col 2:11-13). Peter's statement in Acts 2:21 is a quote from Joel 2:32 (LXX) wherein it is more literally translated "whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah (Yahweh) shall be delivered," that statement can mean pray to God, and we should include prayer in what ever we do (Phili 4:6; 1 Thess 5:17), but contextually and more generally it means to "make Jehovah (Yahweh) your God, count on Him for help, and you will be saved" in contrast to the many other gods that men followed in those days. The same is true for us today, if we call upon the name of Jehovah (Yahweh), make Him our God, count on Him for help by believing and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ, we also shall be saved.
Q. What does the Bible teach concerning demon possession taking place today?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Does the Bible teach that a person's spirit ceases to exist as an individual entity after death as some religious bodies (Jehovah's Witnesses) assert?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Does the Bible teach that children inherit the guilt of Adam's sin and therefore are in need of forgiveness as some religious bodies (Catholics, Lutherans, etc.) assert?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. What title should I use in speaking to your preacher?
A. The Bible does not give the preacher a title such as "pastor" or "reverend". "Pastors" pertain to those men, also known as elders, bishops, or presbyters who have the spiritual oversight of a church (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). The word "reverend" is used only one time in the Bible, and it is speaking of God (Psa. 111:9). Jesus warns against such titles (Matt. 23:5-12). Although the work of the preacher may be described as that of a minister (servant), or evangelist (bringer of the gospel), there is no special title by which he is to be addressed. Therefore, address the preacher in the same manner as you would any other man.
Q. Does the word of God authorize women to be preachers or teachers of men?
A. This question is clearly answered by the NT, that vehicle through which Christ rules over "all things to the church which is His body" (Eph 1:22-23), the answer can be seen HERE
Q. Are the miraculous spiritual gifts as seen in the Bible for us today?
A. For the answer click HERE.
Q. Do you not then hold all participatory assemblies as per 1 Cor 14:26 as many do today?
A. For the answer click HERE.
"That you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written" 1 Cor 4:6
Contact us:
Kenneth Windbiel
715-557-1126
kensanwind@yahoo.com
We teach publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20),
therefore if you would like to set up a house teaching session
or meet in a public place to discuss the gospel of Christ,
please contact us through any of the options listed upon this web site.
"Greet also the church in their house . . .
All the churches of Christ greet you" Rom 16:5, 16
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" 1 Pet 4:11
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