Why a Network

The predominant form of government throughout history has been based on voluntary systems of individual responsibility and choice. The people governed themselves through faith, hope, and charity in self-disciplined networks of tens, hundreds, and thousands rather than the centralized governments of the world that operated by force, fear and fealty. This was the difference between the ways of Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, and Caesar and The Way of Jesus, Moses, and prophets. This was the Christian conflict with Rome.

Why the Network

We all have authority over what we choose to do or who we choose to follow.

We should not seek to exercise authority over others and the only guide we should seek is the Holy Spirit.

We created these email groups so people could form the network that we see the early Church forming before and during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Early_Church

They formed a voluntary society based in righteousness and love of one another.

They did this so that they could form a social safety net that could preserve society as a whole, not just themselves.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Social_safety_net

If they had not done this self organizing of them selves then PAUL and others of the Church would not have been able to efficiently bring aid to the Corinthians and Galatians and Ephesians etc. who were seeking to be followers of Christ during the dearths that swept across the world.

Fortunately, the followers of Christ formed that network of charity according to His "command" to the true ministers of Christ who required people to organize in that ancient pattern.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Commanded

The seven men chosen who were scattered throughout the empire were elected by the people and appointed by those ministers appointed by Christ would not nor could not have done their job if the people did not form that broad network.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Seven_men

The followers of Christ were not just doing nice things locally for their community nor local congregation. Paul came across followers of John the Baptist in Acts 19 who did not know Jesus and informed them of what he did in appointing the kingdom to His Holy Ekklesia. And they were baptized so they could become a part of the charitable network we see functioning in Acts that was providing aid through pure religion.

This idea of networks of charity and love is required by Christ, as it always has been since the living first altars of clay and stone.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Clay_and_stone

It is true that we individually seek salvation in Christ.

To merely preach having local congregations is not preaching "the kingdom of God". To help those immediately around you is not seeking the righteousness of God who sacrificed His son so that the whole world might be saved. To just help those near or dear to you is not what the early Church did.

There is no corporate "His Holy Church" except in the love of Christ. But you only love Christ if you love the light and keep his commandments.

• 1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many."

Those Social bonds of the kingdom were not created by isolated home church groups who put off creating a network of fervent charity.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Social_bonds

We are not "creating a system" but hopefully conforming to Christ. The network of fervent charity seen in the acts of the Apostles was and will be essential in God's plan and in The Way of Christ.

• Matthew 5:46 "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"

We are merely looking at and following that Way which the early Church did.

That seems to us to be what Christ preached and commanded.

• Luke 6:32 "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them."

No one has to join the network but these groups are not sufficient for the purposes of Christ. They are only an opportunity to seek the way.

https://preparingyou.com/wiki/The_way

• 1 Corinthians 1:12 "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

Galatia, Corinth and Ephesus and many places where Christians sought their salvation with fear and trembling were casting also their bread upon the waters.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

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