1 Corinthians 16:1-5 Sunday Worship

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 NIV
Paul instructed the Corinthians to set aside an offering to be used for the mission of the church on the first day of every week, on Sunday. They brought their offerings when they gathered together on Sunday to break bread and to remember all that Jesus had done for them.

More than once, I have heard the excuse not to come to worship because worshipping on Sunday is a man-made ritual taken from a pagan custom of worshipping the sun. We worship the Son, not the sun, and He was indeed risen on the first day of the week, Sunday. Excuses like this in no one way justify anyone gathering with members of the Body of Christ to hear the Word, to join in the breaking of the bread, or to fellowship with other believers.

We know that the Sabbath, the day of rest, is Saturday. But, the gathering of Jesus' followers happens on Sunday. This "ritual" was not created decades later by an institutional church. It began on the day that Jesus was resurrected when he went to the disciples who were gathered together in fear in that room behind locked doors. Those first disciples continued to gather together for worship on the first day of the week, on Sunday, in remembrance of the Lord's first appearance to them after his crucifixion.

"On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight." (Acts 20:7)

Only one or two hours on Sunday to celebrate what our Lord has done for us? Rejoice! for the Lord is risen! Rejoice too that, most probably, none of your pastors have the habit of preaching 'till midnight, unless of course the service doesn't begin until 11 p.m..

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezra 9 - Marriage With Non-Believers

Intermarrying with those who are not people of God.  This was not a good thing! 

And... for those who have married and still marry those who are not of the same faith it is still a pretty tough thing.  I can't even begin to remember how many marriages I have attended or officiated at where one was at the time a Christian faithfully worshipping God and the other was not.  The marriages may endure, though there are so many more trials and tribulations for them to endure.  How many times I have heard of the sadness of the believer that their spouse cannot share their faith - the loneliness that is felt as they go off to worship on Sunday mornings - alone.  On rare occasion, the faith of the non or marginal believer (if there is such a thing) will grow thanks be to the witness of Jesus Christ through the believer.  But, more often, the one who was once faithful begins to follow in the ways of the world, in the ways of the spouse and they are no longer seen communing with the Body of Christ, either.

Because of the grace of God, all things are permissible, but not all beneficial.  It sure would make life easier if we would take into consideration the faith of our future partners in life when we make that commitment to love them until death parts us.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ is like a marriage.  When we choose to bind ourselves to things or people of this world that would draw us from him, that is adultery and it leads to idolatry. 

No matter which way we look at it - marrying an unbeliever has you treading on dangerous ground.