The New Covenant, particularly the letters of the apostle Paul, teach us and describe to us the functions and rules of a local assembly. "I am writing these things to you...so that...you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God" (1 Timothy 3:14-15).
- Gather under the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are not suppose to gather under any denomination/man-made names/labels (1 Corinthians 1: 10-12).
- Take the Bread and the Cup with one cup and one loaf of bread (1 Corinthians 10:17) every Sunday every week (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
- Brothers should lead the meetings (1 Timothy 2:8).
- Sisters should wear veils to cover their head and hair (glory) (1 Corinthians 11: 6,10,13).
- Sisters should keep silent (1 Corinthians 14:34). They are not to teach men (1 Timothy 2:12).
- Brothers should have short hair and sisters have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14-16).
- Have a backseat (1 Corinthians 14:16). The reception must be screened to protect the fellowship from outsiders (not in fellowship). Disorder may be caused by unlearned Christians and/or unsaved visitors.
- No money, donation, or Tithes should be taken. Unsaved and people from the backseat (room of the unlearned) can not give money (3 John verse 7). Only Christians inside the fellowship can give any amount of gift from their heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).
- Elders should lead the local assembly (1 Timothy 3). Leadership is not for one man (so called pastor) elevating himself above other believers who, in fact, are themselves priests.
If the place you are attending does not follow any of these rules prescribed by Paul the apostle (given to him through a direct revelation from God), it is NOT the "real church". Then, you are not in the right place. If so, you have to get out of there and find the right one as soon as possible for the advancement of your Christian life.
The letters of 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy teach us, Christians, how to conduct ourselves in meetings. They teach us how to be gathered under the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can not just brush these teachings off and follow whatever pleases us or whatever is popular.
If Paul is still on earth, where do you think he would be attending on Sundays? Would he go to different denominations or would he follow what he wrote?Something to think about.