How Christians Gathered in the 1st Century - Dr. Tom Wadsworth

[Sallie]

This video popped up in my CensorTube feed right after David and I were discussing some of these same topics. I'll put my thoughts in another comment after the video.

[Sallie]

This is his website. This is the first of his content I've come across.

https://www.tomwadsworth.com

[Sallie]

There were two things in this video that I had specifically been thinking about the past couple of weeks. Both revolved around how there is nothing in the New Testament that would lead us to "do church" the way we do it. This is certainly true of the Roman Catholic Church and also true of the vast majority of Protestant churches.

The section about the way the various elements of pagan temple worship became established in the Christian church was one part that stood out to me.

The other is at the very end where they discuss that the Reformation did not go far enough concerning worship and church structure. The Reformers kept way too much Catholicism in the church which you can still see today. I had just made that very point to David over breakfast yesterday.

[Sallie]

The other thing I wanted to point out was the discussion re: how people benefit the most when they are actively involved. Everyone in this forum knows this from life as parents, as homeschoolers, etc.

In the vast majority of churches, there is almost zero opportunity to be meaningfully involved in what is happening during the "morning service" or what Tom more appropriately calls "the assembly."

Participate? Yes.

Meaningfully involved? No.

In most churches, 97% of the people could not be there and everything would go on without them. Their attendance isn't meaningful other than filling a seat so the room is full and giving financially.

Truth.

[Sallie]

This is the book that was mentioned.

Based on where the author teaches (Biola) and the negative reviews, I don't plan on buying it. I'm not interested in one more attack on white Christians.

But I'll put the link here if anyone wants it for reference.

When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community

https://amzn.to/3YmeRZW (aff link)