As the Triune God dispenses Himself into His people they "put on" the new man. That is a new humanity - a humanity mingled with Christ.
"And have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Where ... [in this new man] there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave , free man, but Christ is all and in all." (Col. 3:10,11)
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-Removed-If that the only thing you care about ?
Give me the time stamp on the video of the activity which you find so bizarre.
I'm pretty sure it is all in your imagination as I recall groups of saints here, there, and everywhere in the meeting hall standing and sitting.
It is bizarre that one person informally doing the calling of a hymn or the suggesting that all stand for that hymn is all you're concerned about.
Did you recall the Lord speaking about straining out a gnat only to swallow a camel?
This is kind of majoring in very minor things and totally missing the more significant things.
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-Removed-I see.
Well, I am reminded of Romans 14:17 about "joy in the Holy Spirit".
"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and JOY ... in the Holy Spirit."
We know we are in His kingdom because of the "joy in the Holy Spirit". And because of the righteousness and peace which God bestows in Christ.
The first time I came to a Lord's Table meeting of the local church, I had never experienced a Christian meeting so centered on Christ Himself. It seems there was always some place for me and my problems, me and my spiritual career, me and my ambitions.
Here was a meeting in which Christ was completely the center. All self love and self glory sank in shame. What a way to start the new week. This is the first day of the new week - the 8th day - the Lord's Day.
This commemorates the day of His rising from the dead. It commemorates how we live daily - by "eating" Christ.
Sorry if I over reacted to you there.
Here's a smaller yet equally joyful one in San Jose California.
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There are many idiosyncratic habits that different denominations get into in the way they conduct their meetings. I'm quite sensitive to how the authority is distributed within a congregation. The older man left front row is in charge isn't he. Some of the other men won't sit down until he gives the ok by sitting himself. I just find these things interesting.
It is an informal meeting. And it is very much like a family.
No I rephrase that. It IS a family.
Some of the following and leading you notice are tendencies of a family like recognition of maturity and example.
The local churches established by Paul and his co-workers always had a plurality of elders. There was no stipulation on how many elders should oversee a local church. But there was always more than one appointed.
There can be spontaneity in a joyful Christian gathering yet not so much as to be disorderly and a spectacle of confusion. The balance of spontaneity and order is how the Holy Spirit leads us.
This is seen much in First Corinthians 12-14.
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I have been meeting in the church life for many years.
The form in which the meeting took place is very familiar to me.
When I attend the Lord's Table meeting I do not gaze around for peculiar things to take note of. I focus on worship of the Lord Jesus.
In fact the first Lord's Table meeting I attended in the local church in NY very much was a unique experience. I was never so much in a meeting which drew my attention from everything else TO the Lord Jesus.
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-Removed-In other words you are implying that I was
underhanded,
sneaky,
not forth-coming,
deceptive,
less then candid ?
No. And I don't know how much mileage you're going to try to get from this rather silly "gotcha!" fantasy you're pursuing.
Are you cooking up some kind of complaint that the Lord's Table meetings on video were ruled over authoritatively in some tyrannical fashion by overbearing bosses ?
I see brothers and sisters standing alternately.
I see a brother hold up fingers which indicates probably for the reading of a certain numbered verse to the song.
I don't t see the overbearing person dictating standing and siting that you suggest.
There is no one person presiding over that gathering as far as I can see.