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What is Mutual Edification?

By Jeremy Myers
6 Comments

What is Mutual Edification?

What is the purpose of the church when it gathers together? I have been revisiting this question through the posts by Alan Knox on his blog.

While I would personally love to see mutual edification in the form of Bible Study and encouraging one another dominate all gatherings, this is a personal preference and not something I find commands for in Scripture. Certainly, there are numerous examples that the early church did something like this in their gatherings, but just because the early church did something does not mean that we must do it also.

Two of the favorite passages trotted out to defend the idea of mutual edification as the commanded purpose for church gatherings are 1 Corinthians 14:26 and Hebrews 10:25. I’ve done extensive studies on both, and while I can’t post all the research here, let me summarize my findings.

In my commentary on 1 Corinthians, I introduced the section of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 with this:

Paul is not providing a prescription for how all teaching in all churches must be conducted. To the contrary, when it is recognized that in Paul’s surviving letters to the Corinthians, he nowhere addresses elders, this section is best seen as a description of how a church could get it’s teaching when there are no trained and qualified elders to perform the teaching. In Paul’s other letters, when he is providing correction or instruction, he always addresses the elders, and calls upon them to lead their church in the direction he advises.

I go on to point out that this in no way limits the participation of all members of the church, but rather expands and magnifies it. Regardless, the instructions Paul gives to the Corinthian believers cannot be universally applied to all believers everywhere throughout time. It is not a universal command. His instruction is for a specific group of believers in Corinth about 2000 years ago who were dealing with some very specific issues.

So how about Hebrews 10:25? I recently made a post on this for the book I’m writing, and you can read more there, but here is the summary:

So what does Hebrews 10:25 teach? It is telling believers to fulfill their God-given purpose, and encourage others to do the same. And what is this purpose? Each person has their own unique purpose in God’s plan, but the general purpose for us all is to live life and love others like Jesus. Sitting in a building for two hours on Sunday morning may not be the best way to accomplish this purpose. This may be helpful for some, but not for all. To allow people to fulfill their purpose, we must set them free from the man-made requirement of “attending church.”

Bottom line, I’m not really arguing with Alan Knox. I have really enjoyed his posts, and I encourage all my readers to add him to their Blog Reader. Like Alan, I would personally love to see mutual edification as the main function and goal of all gatherings of believers. And I suppose it could be, depending on how you define “mutual edification.”

Is “mutual edification” happening when two believers go volunteer at the homeless shelter, or work together to raise support and awareness for human trafficking? I think so, but such things are never mentioned (that I’m aware of) in the “mutual edification” passages of Scripture. If mutual edification is happening in such mission-oriented actions, then I’m all for saying that mutual edification is the purpose of gathering as believers. If, however, mutual edification is limited to sitting around on couches (or in pews) to sing songs, pray, and study the Bible, I’m not sure if I can agree. I’m all for such things, but only as part of the purpose of gathering, not as the totality.

Maybe, if I could suggest it, Alan Knox could do a final post in his Mutual Edification series in which he defines the term. What is and is not “mutual edification?”  Maybe he kind of already did in his “Principle” post.

But what do you think the term means? When you think of “mutual edification” what comes to mind?

God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: Discipleship, Theology of the Church

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Ever Stick a Fork in your Eye?

By Jeremy Myers
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Ever Stick a Fork in your Eye?

Somewhere along the way my sense of humor drank too much coffee and stunted its growth. My wife knows what I’m talking about.

But a friend of mine at work gave me a book today called The Great Derangement, and although I’m already reading several books (see my reading list to the right), I decided to read a few pages and see what the book was about.

I was laughing right away. It’s not a religious book, and the author uses quite a bit of profanity, but he makes some astute observations about religion and politics in the United States. Here is what he says on page 22 about his visit to a megachurch:

I’d say the craziest, stupidest stuff, trying like hell to get a raise out of people, and not only would I not get one, I’d for the most part be completely ignored—smiled and nodded at, and then just waved on through into my seat in the megachurch.

That’s the way it is in America. You can literally stick a fork in your own eye in public, and so long as your check clears, no one will even bat an eye.  …You can say a lot of very weird $#!+ when you’re a Brother in Christ, so long as you don’t forget to sing along at the right times.

I can’t tell you about some events going on in my life right now, but this is exactly what I’m experiencing. So when I read it, I laughed out loud, and thought I’d share the quote with you. Enjoy!

God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: Books I'm Reading, Discipleship

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$52,000+ Raised!

By Jeremy Myers
2 Comments

$52,000+ Raised!

Once again, we want to say thank you to everyone who helped us raise money to rescue girls from sex slavery in Russia. As you know, our fund raising efforts were part of a larger campaign to raise $50,000. I am excited to report that over $52,000 was raised (See more here).

The people who helped raise funds could choose from one of three options:

  1. Providing Food and Clean Water to Orphans in Africa.
  2. Protecting Girls in Russia from Forced Prostitution through Ministry Centers
  3. Providing for School Fees for Kids in Africa

While all three are important, of the $52,000 raised, almost $40,000 went to rescuing girls from sex slavery in Russia. You were part of that. Thank you.

When we receive reports that girls were rescued, we will post the news on this blog. Keep checking back.

To learn more about Human Trafficking and sex slavery, check out some of these posts:

Human Trafficking Posts

  1. Sex Slaves
  2. Would You Fight Slavery?
  3. Rescue Russian Sex Slaves
  4. Rescue Russian Girls from Sex Slavery
  5. Stop Her Nightmare
  6. Another Girl Rescued Today
  7. Girls for Sale
  8. Goal Reached!
  9. I Want to be a Prostitute
  10. $52,000 raised!
  11. 31 Million Sex Slaves
  12. Renting Lacy
  13. More Than Rice
  14. Human Trafficking Ring Busted
  15. The Other Big Game
  16. Sex Slavery, Planned Parenthood, and Your Tax Dollars
  17. How to Minister to Prostitutes
  18. Wisconsin Woman Held as Sex Slave in Brooklyn
  19. Coked-Up Whore
  20. Human Trafficking has Many Faces
  21. Into an India Brothel
  22. You Need a Girl?
  23. Human Trafficking Media
  24. The Son of God is Selling Children
  25. My Girls Raised $300 to help stop Human Trafficking
  26. Rape for Profit
  27. Human Trafficking Statistics
  28. Help Rescue Girls from Forced Prostitution

God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: Discipleship

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I Want to be a Prostitute

By Jeremy Myers
19 Comments

I Want to be a Prostitute

Some people say that prostitutes like what they do. That they enjoy it. As my family and I have been trying to get involved with rescuing girls from the sex-slave industry,  we recently read Renting Lacy by Linda Smith. It it, she has a section where she shows how ludicrous it is to think that some women want to be prostitutes.  This, of course, is especially true for child sex-slaves, many of whom are 9, 10, and 11 years old.

Here is what she writes:

When I grow up, I want to be a prostitute.

I want to be used by men however they wish.

And I’ll say, “Oh baby, yes, I love it. I love everything about you.” And I’ll hold back my vomit and keep on my smiles to convince them, so they’ll stop slapping me. But because I love it, because I love the taste of everything  about them, they’ll say I’m a slut, a dirty little girl who needs to be punished. They’ll burn cigarettes into my skin, jab me anyplace they like, bloody my nose, blacken my eyes, laugh at my tears, hold a gun to my head, cut me, tattoo me, as their eyes grow large and excited. I’ll scream and cry and beg because I can’t act anymore.

I don’t want to be riding a pink bicycle with a basket in the front. I hate the little girls with their hands held tightly by fathers, fathers who look at me in disgust and cover their daughters’ eyes so they don’t see me. I don’t want to be one of those girls with a decorated bedroom and frilly pillows on my bed. I don’t want to giggle and talk about whether a boy likes me or not. I don’t want to decide for myself whether to wait for marriage to have sex or remain a virgin.

When I grow up, I don’t want to attend college, consider joining a sorority, or have my own apartment. I don’t want to try different career paths or figure out who I am. I don’t wish for a wedding day in a church or on a beach with bridesmaids, a dad walking me down the isle, little flower petals beneath my feet. Who cares about baby showers or decorating a nursery? I don’t want to learn how to cook or decide between being a stay-at-home mom or a working mother. I don’t want any of those things.

Because when I grow up, I want to be a prostitute.

Can anyone believe that?

Don’t believe the lies. Prostitutes did not choose to be prostitutes. They are enslaved, in one way or another. What are you doing to end such modern day slavery?

To learn more about Human Trafficking and sex slavery, check out some of these posts:

Human Trafficking Posts

  1. Sex Slaves
  2. Would You Fight Slavery?
  3. Rescue Russian Sex Slaves
  4. Rescue Russian Girls from Sex Slavery
  5. Stop Her Nightmare
  6. Another Girl Rescued Today
  7. Girls for Sale
  8. Goal Reached!
  9. I Want to be a Prostitute
  10. $52,000 raised!
  11. 31 Million Sex Slaves
  12. Renting Lacy
  13. More Than Rice
  14. Human Trafficking Ring Busted
  15. The Other Big Game
  16. Sex Slavery, Planned Parenthood, and Your Tax Dollars
  17. How to Minister to Prostitutes
  18. Wisconsin Woman Held as Sex Slave in Brooklyn
  19. Coked-Up Whore
  20. Human Trafficking has Many Faces
  21. Into an India Brothel
  22. You Need a Girl?
  23. Human Trafficking Media
  24. The Son of God is Selling Children
  25. My Girls Raised $300 to help stop Human Trafficking
  26. Rape for Profit
  27. Human Trafficking Statistics
  28. Help Rescue Girls from Forced Prostitution

God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: Discipleship

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The Assembling of the Church

By Jeremy Myers
2 Comments

The Assembling of the Church

Alan Knox is doing a series on Mutual Edification and the Church over at his blog, The Assembling of the Church. He is asking some good questions, which are helping me think through some issues for the book I’m writing.

In one place, he writes,

It is correct for us to say that Scripture does not tell us how the church should meet together. It is completely incorrect to say that Scripture does not tell us why the church should meet together.

I don’t disagree, but I would place a different nuance on both statements. Regarding the first statement, while I suppose it is true that Scripture does not tell us how the church should meet, I think Scripture does tell us how they did meet. For the most part, they followed the example of the Jewish Synagogue. Yes, this isn’t explicitly stated, but it is implied all over the place in Acts and the Epistles. I eventually want to write a book on this too.

Regarding the second statement, he goes on to say that “Scripture indicates to us that ‘mutual edification’ is the purpose of the gathering of the church.” I would say mutual edification is a purpose, but not the purpose. The reason I say this requires a rather long explanation based on the definition of church which I won’t get into here. But the bottom line is that I’m nervous about saying that mutual edification is the purpose for the gathering of the church because this is not a far step away from saying that mutual edification is the purpose of the church, which it most definitely is not.

If you had to read that last sentence over again because it sounded like I was saying the same thing twice, you just proved my point. When you say “mutual edification is the purpose of the gathering of the church,” most people hear “mutual edification is the purpose of the church.” While the first statement might be true, the second statement is not.

So I’m excited to see what Alan writes in the next few posts. He is very good about responding to comments, so join in the conversation. I know I will. See you there!

God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: Discipleship, Theology of the Church

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