Hi,<\/p>\n
I have two questions for now from reading your web site, I am sort of looking for the why and wherefore from you and God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n
Thank you,<\/p>\n\t
Being present at a Bible study or worship service doesn’t indicate whether a person is saved from their sins or whether the congregation approves of what they are doing in their life. That unbelievers can be present in the worship is shown by:<\/p>\n
“So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you<\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:22-25).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
While the miraculous gifts are no longer present among the believers, there are several points that can be drawn from this passage.<\/p>\n
\n
- Unbelievers were sometimes present in worship assemblies.<\/li>\n
- That while present, the things that are done may convince the person that they are in sin and need to change.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Thus, we don’t practice closed worship. We don’t interview people before welcoming them to join us in the worship of God. However, our worship both praises God and teaches those who are present. “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification<\/strong><\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:26). Therefore, liars may hear statements about why lying is wrong and that they cannot continue to lie, homosexuals may hear statements about why homosexuality is wrong and that they need to leave their sin to be pleasing to God, and fornicators may hear that sex outside of marriage is wrong.<\/p>\n
This is not the same as becoming a member of the congregation. Members are believers and are expected to follow the teachings of God. Those who live in sin are withdrawn from (no longer considered members) (I Corinthians 5).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hi, I have two questions for now from reading your web site, I am sort of looking for the why and wherefore from you and God\u2019s word. With your invitation to join the congregation for Sunday worship and Bible study; do you have any restrictions on who can and cannot join you for worship…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[35,1004,84],"class_list":["post-24079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-homosexuality","tag-unbelief","tag-worship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22322,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-small-group-meetings-in-place-of-the-sunday-evening-assembly-or-midweek-study-scriptural\/","url_meta":{"origin":24079,"position":0},"title":"Are small group meetings in place of the Sunday evening assembly or midweek study scriptural?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 4, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello. I appreciate your work and respect your knowledge of the Word. I have a question concerning the small group phenomenon in the Lord's church. Is there a scriptural basis for the small group to not assemble at the appointed times (mostly Sunday evening worship and Wednesday Bible study)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83353,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-i-watch-a-worship-service-that-is-taking-place-on-a-different-day-than-where-i-live\/","url_meta":{"origin":24079,"position":1},"title":"What if I watch a worship service that is taking place on a different day than where I live?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If I am from the Philippines and I go to another country with a 12-hour time difference. Here in the Philippines, we have worship on Sundays at eight in the morning. Can I make a video call to join in worship and take the Lord's Supper even though it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17928,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-a-sin-to-go-to-a-youth-group-or-chapel-service-during-the-week\/","url_meta":{"origin":24079,"position":2},"title":"Is it a sin to go to a youth group or chapel service during the week?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I saw that the church only met on the first day of the week to gather and worship. Does this mean that I sin if I go to youth groups on Wednesdays (while still going to church on Sunday), or if my school has weekly mandatory chapel services on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28357,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-people-with-different-views-on-the-second-serving-of-the-lords-supper-worship-together\/","url_meta":{"origin":24079,"position":3},"title":"How can people with different views on the second serving of the Lord’s Supper worship together?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 8, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was recently reading your post about the Lord's Supper being taken on a Sunday night. I have recently joined a congregation where they serve on Sunday nights to just a few people. I do not partake because I believe the Christians assembled did not meet for the purpose\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41298,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-having-members-quote-memory-verses-during-worship-proper\/","url_meta":{"origin":24079,"position":4},"title":"Is having members quote memory verses during worship proper?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, Brother Jeff, During our worship on Sunday, we sing (Ephesians 5:19); we have teachings from the Bible (or a Bible study part), since we have not allotted a day for our Bible study but only on Sunday; we pray; we have the \"collection of the saints\" (I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13317,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-shouldnt-the-lords-supper-be-served-again-for-latecomers\/","url_meta":{"origin":24079,"position":5},"title":"Why shouldn’t the Lord’s Supper be served again for latecomers?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 21, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In your\u00a0training, you state that you should not serve again for latecomers. What is the reason for that, given Paul's instruction to \"tarry one for another\" in I Corinthians 11:33? I am in agreement with you, but interested in your rationale. 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