The Greek word translated as "church" is εκκλησια (ekklasia). This Greek word is composed of two parts, a prefix εκ- (ek-) and a word derived from the root καλεω (kaleo). εκ- means out. εκ- (ek-) and εξ- (ex-) are two forms of the same word, and we get our word "exit" from this Greek word. καλεω (kaleo) means "call". So together ekklasia means the called-out (out-called). In Greek society, this word referred to a group of citizens of a Greek city-state who were called out of the common population of the city, called together to address matters of concern. They were called out when there was a need to repair the streets, walls or gates, or if a king or other dignitary was coming to visit the city, or they were involved in war. They were called together to develop a plan for dealing with the situation.
In the Greek ekklasia only citizens had the full right to speak. And all the citizens had this full right. There is another Greek word which is profoundly interesting in this same context. The word παρρησια (parrasia) means the right of freedom of speech, which every Greek citizen had. In the New Testament Theological Dictionary (a 10 volume set of books) the description of this word is most enlightening. After describing this right of speech that all citizens (but only citizens) had, it says of this right "there is no greater loss than to loose it." This right is extremely important in Greek culture, and also in the Christian ekklasia. This word parrasia is also used in the Bible for the right that we have as Christians, citizens of the heavenly kingdom. But where do we have this right?
Today, in the typical "church building" you certainly do not have this right. You are not prevented from speaking because of some "rule" prohibiting your right to speak, but rather there is no opportunity for you to speak. And even if you were encouraged to speak, if you are sitting in a crowd of a thousand people in a big building, there is no way you are likely to ever have an opportunity. When we look at the meetings of the believers in the book of Acts at the very beginning, we find that they met in houses. And in a house with perhaps a dozen or so people you are very likely to have the opportunity to speak often. And not only did they have the opportunity, they were encouraged to participate whenever they came together. In 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul gives us an insight into the meetings of the believers. He says "What then brothers, when you come together each of you has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."
Some teachers today like to say that what is described in the New Testament was just what happened at the beginning and has no prescriptive value today. What they mean is there is nothing that says that we today should meet the way the early church met at the beginning. But they are quite incorrect about that assertion.
Immediately after the birth of the church in Acts 2, it describes what that brand new church was like and what they did. In verse 41 it says "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." That was the birth of the church. And the very next verse says "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Notice that the very first thing mentioned that they did, was "and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching". It was the apostles' teaching that was the guide for what they did. Those apostles were the only men in the entire history of the world who were personally trained by God in the flesh, Jesus, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords! Now let us look at what Paul says about the practices of the early church. The word "traditions" is a negative thing in many places. But Paul uses the word in three places quite positively. The word traditions does not refer to teachings per se, but rather to the practices that follow along with the teachings. So the apostles' teachings produced practices, things that they did in response to the teachings.
People like to emphasize how bad the church in Corinth was because Paul wrote so much in correcting them in so many ways. But in the wisdom of God we have this letter with descriptions of many things that are not found anywhere else in the Bible. Thank God that Paul wrote this letter to them, in which we get so much information, especially about practical things and what things were actually like in the churches. Many of the things described here were normal in all the churches, but only needed a little adjustment in the meetings in Corinth.
Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:2 "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you." This is the first place Paul uses the word "traditions", and it is positive here. So it was good that they kept these traditions, like coming together to eat the Lord's supper as a full meal, but they were eating everything before the poor could come and they were getting drunk. The problem was not that they were eating a full meal together, but they were being selfish and getting drunk! So when we come to 1 Corinthians 14, we see the tradition of when they came together "each one has ..." something to contribute to the meeting. That was good, but some were proud of their special gift and were building up themselves instead of building up the church. So Paul's correction was let all things be done for building up!
The next two times Paul speaks of "traditions" are in his second letter to the Thessalonians:
2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
and;
3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
So first Paul praises the Corinthians for keeping the traditions, and then he not only tells the Thessalonians to keep the traditions they were taught, but further commands in the strongest way to withdraw from every brother who is not following the traditions.
Do you need any evidence stronger than that?
We DO NOT have a better idea about how to meet today.
It is time to RETURN all the way back to what the Lord of lords and King of kings taught us through His personally trained sent-ones (the apostles.)