«　WEEK 8　DAY 3　»

　　Col. 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light.

　　1 Cor. 14:26 What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has…

　　We are not aware of the influence Christianity has upon us. For example, every believer has the concept that they should attend a worship service. They may not use the phrase worship service, but they have this concept. They also have the concept that a worship service consists of singing hymns, praying, listening to the Scriptures, and listening to a sermon. If we do not drop this concept, every change that we make will be superficial.

　　Furthermore, due to the influence of Christianity we do not bear responsibility in the meetings. We know that there will be some brothers to lead the meeting. Therefore, we do not come to the meeting with a sense of responsibility. Our meetings should not be led by some designated brothers. If anyone is designated to lead the meeting, it should be everyone. All the brothers and the sisters who come to the meeting should bear responsibility for the meeting. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 3, “Being Delivered from Religious Rituals and Walking according to the Spirit,” p. 411)

　　The meetings are not for the responsible brothers. The meetings are for all the saints. Hence, the elders and co-workers should sit in the back rows. At the end of the meeting an elder can go to the front and give the announcements. The meeting is the responsibility of the saints, not the elders.

　　The concept that we attend a meeting but are not responsible for the meeting is a fundamental error. It is a ploy of Satan to render the members of the Body of Christ useless so that they cease to function. As members of the Body, we function mainly in the meetings (1 Cor. 14:26). We should never think that we have a “hidden” function, such as sweeping the floor, cleaning the windows, or visiting the saints, that excuses us from functioning in the meetings. These are good services, but they are not our main function. Our main function is to offer up our portion in the meetings. The main function of the members of a basketball team is to play basketball, not to run errands or buy sports shoes ….As Christians, we are members of Christ, and our most important service is to meet. The meetings are the best opportunity for us to exhibit Christ. As Christians, we are commissioned to exhibit Christ in the meetings. If our meetings do not exhibit Christ, they are a failure. Whether a local church is strong or weak depends on its meetings. If the meetings are good, the church is strong, but if the meetings are poor, the church is weak. We overlook the importance of the meetings because we have been blinded by Satan ….The church exists for the meetings. Our concept needs to be changed. We must understand that the meetings are the main place for Christians to function.

　　The way we function in the meetings depends on the way we live our life. First Corinthians says that Christ is the portion given to us by God (1:2), and Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (v. 24), who became righteousness, sanctification, and redemption to us (v. 30). He is everything to us. Christ is the First and the Last. He is the first One raised from among the dead, and He is also the last Adam (15:20, 45). He is also the second man (v. 47). After He accomplished redemption, He became the life-giving Spirit so that we may be joined to Him as one spirit (v. 45; 6:17). Now we are learning to live by our mingled spirit. Our living is to experience and enjoy Christ in our spirit. This is to live by our spirit. Our meetings are an exhibition of this living. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 3, “Being Delivered from Religious Rituals and Walking according to the Spirit,” pp. 412-413)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1984, vol. 5, “Guidelines for the Propagation of the Lord’s Recovery,” ch. 3