Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

How they gather and where they gather is not defined. JB

- improper context
- improper exegesis
- improper hermeneutics
- missing the proper study guide references
- missing the approved list of backing sources


With all that going against you, my suspicion is that you are correct.

that you are right JB

You're STILL incorrect.

Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

Yes.

But we know the impropriety lies (pun intended) in another spirit.

A place to worship a fiction.

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People are intrinsically intelligent

When people are put together, they could become a herd
When people turn a herd, they could become sheeple
When people turn sheeple, they could become dumb animals
When people turn dumb animals, they become treated as such

Matt 18:20
20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." (NAS)

G4863

sunago
soon-ag'-o
From G4862 and G71; to lead together, that is, collect or convene; specifically to entertain (hospitably): - + accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.

Also if you had any REAL Biblical knowledge you should observe in the greater context WHY they PHYSICALLY gathered together. Obviously the IGNORANT haven't observed.


James 5:14
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; (NAS)



Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

into a matter of time. WHEN Jesus spoke those words was there a church anywhere to be found? The answer is no, the assembly that is spoken of in James came later. So lets go back to the beginning where is all starts: "Wherever two or three are GATHERED in My name....." JB

James 5:14
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; (NAS)


How do you call the elders together to anoint somebody sick with oil on the internet JB?

Your allegorical interpretation continues to bury you JB.

Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

Jesus spoke some time before James and Jesus is regarded as the authority in all things. JB

Even Jesus submitted to the AUTHORITY of the written Word of God.


Matt 4:4
4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
(NAS)





Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

Jesus said his words came from the Father, take a look at John 14:10:

John 14: 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words THAT I SPEAK to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Where does James say or even hint at something similar? He doesn't.

If Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20) then the Father and Son are in the midst of those gathered." JB

The Bible is clear


2 Tim 3:16-17
16 ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
(NAS)

Heb 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (NAS)

That's what God's Word says JB, so how do you get the elders together to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil on the internet?



Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

The devil does do that, when met with resistence from those submitted to God's TRUTH


James 4:7
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
(NAS)



Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

where is the guarantee that rubbing a person with olive oil will heal them?

I have been to hundreds of prayer meetings both big and small and not once did I observe the following:

- a person confind to a wheel chair get healed
- a person with a mental handicap recover
- a person who was deaf or blind regain their hearing or their sight
- a person with an amputation regain their lost limb

each of these people believed in God and had sincere faith that God would heal them.

The elders where powerless
The preachers where powerless
The congregation where powerless
The faith healers where powerless

What do you have from James to say to these people? JB

You don't get anointed to get healed, you get anointed as an act of obedience and IF it is God's will for you to be healed then you will be healed. If not, YOU DON'T STOP being obedient.

It's the same with attending church. You assemble PHYSICALLY with other Bible believing Christians because as the writer of Hebrews states this brings opportunity to STIMULATE REAL LOVE and ACTIVELY GOOD DEEDS and to FORSAKE THIS ASSEMBLING is NOT A GOOD HABIT.


Heb 10:24-25
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another} and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. (NAS)



Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal

How can you say that going to church will, in your words will "STIMULATE REAL LOVE", when as an example you go out of your way to insult and try to ridicule people on this forum? I am afraid your words don't stack up straight. JB

The exact verse I was thinking of, and the verse that my dad brought to mind often times. Although he was an avid church goer, he did mention that "church" could be a very small gathering, wherever ..

To me church is the mountains. I can be the lone human, or with my wife, but their is that other presence and it is church to me.

Of course, as once happened, when the bears joined us it was time to leave quickly, as we ushered ourselves out and let the bears commune all on their own.

I agree with your father. I have nothing against large groups of people gathering together as a church. The only problem I have with large churches is trying to remember everyone's name. JB

I am the Church!

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.