Twice A Week
Question from a God's Message reader:
ONCE
A WEEK, our religious congregation holds a fellowship which I believe
is the counterpart of your worship service. I learned from my
officemate who is a member of your Church that you attend such
gathering twice a week. Why does your Church hold two worship services
weekly? Is it not going beyond what is taught in the Bible?
Vicky R. Bermudez Waipahu, Hawaii (Editorial from the June 2006 issue)
Editor's reply:
The
first-century Christians gathered for worship on the first day of the
week (Acts 20:7), or on Sundays, but there were also times when they
held their worship services in the Temple "every day" (Acts 2:46) or in
all the days of week. Conducting worship services on any other day
besides Sunday is not something new, nor is it unbiblical, because such
practice was likewise observed during the administration of the
apostles. As the ones appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ to
administer the Church after His ascension to heaven, the apostles had
the divine authority to decide on matters pertaining to the faith. It is
important to subject one's self to the authority of those whom Christ
entrusted to administer the Church, for the decisions they make in
behalf of the Church are affirmed by God in heaven. Thus declared Christ
to the administrators of His Church:
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matt. 18:18-19, New Revised Standard Version)
Taking
into consideration not only the spiritual needs of the brethren but,
most of all, God's will that every member of the Church be brought to
the condition worthy of receiving salvation on Christ's Second Advent,
the Church Administration today has deemed it necessary for all the
congregations of the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) to hold
worship services twice a week—on the midweek and on weekends.
For
their part, the faithful members of the Church of Christ heed the
Administration's exhortation not to neglect such congregational worship
services, firmly believing that doing so edifies their faith (Heb.
10:25; I Cor. 14:26).
For questions, comments, and suggestions, send your letters to any of our editorial offices (see staff box, p.1). Or, e-mail us at pasugo@inc.org.ph We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of space and clarity. Sender's name may be withheld upon request.
(June 2006 Issue | God's Message Magazine)
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