The Gathering of the Church is so far from what Paul said should happen, we can't even recognize it as such. Consider this scripture:

I Cor. 14

26-40   How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Comments by Joan Boney ...

One time I met a woman who attends Church of Christ and she invited me to come to their church group.  I responded, "But you don't go by I Cor. 14 for the gathering of the church as the apostle Paul said to do."

She said to me, "We do I Corinthians 14 at Church of Christ." 

I just shook my head and walked off.  This woman was completely blind as to what was going on at her own church group.  Neither did she know Bible.

*****

Looking at that which Paul said was to happen when we come together as the church.

*  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

The Holy Spirit was free to share through whom God willed.  One week one would speak a doctrine.  The next time you met, the doctrine would be brought forth by another.  It would all be done by God.  "Does anyone have a word from the Lord."  This would be asked by faith.  Someone would have a word that had been on his heart.  So by faith he would speak and edify the church.  It would not be preplanned by man as churches are today.  Everything would be instant, exciting.

I've never seen a gathering of the church by these rules. 

Sometimes the Sunday school class is a little more like this, with a little freedom for the Holy Spirit to speak.

The main service at the church everywhere I've been is almost completely devoid of opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move through the congregation.

It is nothing like Paul said was to happen when we come together as the church.

The church gatherings today are a performance by man.  Man decides what will be presented.  Man even practices beforehand, with his choirs and such.  It is a type of entertainment, a performance, rehearsed and planned by man.  It is nothing at all like Paul described we were to do in the gathering of the church when we come together.

*  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

We are so far from this today I don't think we even know what Paul is saying in the above scripture.

*  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

I've certainly never seen this before at any church, not even in the Sunday school class let alone the main service. 

In the OT there is an example of the Book of the Word of God being lost for generations and found again when they were restoring the temple.  It was taken to the king and read to the king.  When he heard this, he repented and grieved greatly over their sins. 

This is how I feel about the churches.  It is like all these scriptures telling us what to do when we come together as the church are missing and have never been seen before by us.

*  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

There are several church groups today who ban women from speaking at the main service.

But these same churches allow women to speak at Sunday school class, often to teach the class.

They apparently do not consider the Sunday school class to be the gathering of the church.

What I believe God showed me about women speaking is the way these women were speaking.  They were asking questions and disrupting the gathering of the church with their questions.  This would not be permitted at the gathering of the church.  In the church we are supposed to share that which God has shown us, a dream, a doctrine, a revelation, an interpretation ... thus Paul says: And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Nevertheless, this section of scripture is misused in today's church and perverted by fleshly eyes.

Basically, none of us have ever see a church set up like the apostle Paul says to set up the gathering of the church.

Therefore what we are seeing today is something else, an image of man as to what church is. 

And there is no judgment upholding the many portions of scripture which man, by his own flesh, removes.

The apostasy in the churches today ... antichrist in the churches.

God gave me the following dream:  A big church was filled with people.  I went in and found one seat in the balcony.  It was a seat behind a post.  A woman said to me, "You can't see much from that seat."  I replied:  "There's nothing much to see at these places anyway."

*****

Paul says:  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

I do acknowledge I Cor. 14 is what is supposed to happen when we gather as the church.

If that is not what is happening at church, then I further acknowledge what Paul said as a commandment of the Lord but not attending churches where they ignore this doctrine in setting up their gatherings.

I have often looked for a home church where it would be more likely to find this setting for the gathering.  Even then it is difficult for really none of us have seen the things happen in the gathering that Paul says are to happen.

It is a very sad, perilous time in churches ... even as Paul said it would be in the last days.

We simply have to hold to scripture and refuse to turn away from scripture even when the mass of church goers do something very different in their churches.

Certainly we cannot sit with them when they are casting aside scripture.