cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
Many of the members on this forum don't have a church and I get the sense many feel personally attacked when anyone tries to bring up the importance of joining a local congregation.
Delusion is spreading
- Thread starter Len
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I ignored it, and I will never understand how there was a disconnect between me and that other member. Probably intentional.
cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
Meaning can not attend anymore until they repent of the sin that was committed. In my previous church, the person who was disciplined had been approached privately. This person was blasting the church on social media. When confronted in private, she refused to repent. The Pastor informed the church and we agreed that she needed to be asked not to return until she repented in front of the church. A year later, she asked to return. The pastor brought it up to the entire church to discuss. If only more churches did this, many problems would cease to happen.
cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
Thank you. I'm not sure why this is hard to understand.It seems to me (as I'm understanding scripture) that membership in the church happens when one repents of sin and accepts Jesus as Savior.
As I read Corinthians, I don't read of a 'formal' membership but rather of those who've simply joined the Body of Christ via faith in Jesus.
Those who persist in sin, after the church goes through the Matthew 18 process, are just not allowed to attend to give, in grace, opportunity to repent of sin and then are accepted back in the fold when repentance has happened.
In fact, even in the Matthew 18 passage it seems Jesus simply speaks of separation of the person (who claims Christ....not necessarily an unbeliever who may need to be at church to facilitate coming to Christ in faith after hearing the Gospel) from attending church assembly, a distancing to keep sin from permeating the church.
So, I don't see a requirement for a formal church area membership in scripture ( as I'm understanding) but I don't think that creating one for a church area is necessarily wrong either as there's no scripture banning that.
Church area membership can give another layer of accountability.
But, formal church area membership cannot be a measure of one's salvation.
As I read this thread, I don't think anyone is saying that or saying anyone here is saying this either. But, I think what's being attempted is to just clarify that church area membership does not equal one's salvation (perhaps for the sake of those reading).
And this is important as we all know there are those cults out there that do say that formal church area membership does equate to Salvation.
Salvation is when one repents and places faith in Jesus, whereby permanent, eternal membership (or rather birth into the family of God) into the body of Christ then happens.
cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
My previous church had the congregation meet and discuss what happened. The Pastor brought it up and we were asked what concerns we had and whether we needed to proceed with discipline or not. I found it refreshing. I loved that the message of repentance to come back was also presented. Forgiveness was emphasized after the person repented.
cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
At my Baptist church, you just ask to identify with that specific congregation by talking to the Pastor. Then the Pastor would ask you to come forward, share a little about you in front of the congregation. Then the congregation had a moment to express concerns, like if someone knew you were there for malicious reasons, and then everyone had a chance to welcome you. No paper or anything, just an acknowledgement.
I think this is how it should be. No formal classes, no pledges, just come forward, the pastor acknowledges you, and my old Pastor then would ask by applause if this person, or family is welcomed.
My current church, we had a 3 hour Christian 101 basics class, a lunch, followed by a few Deacons addressing the new group. Way overdone IMO, but because I was friends with a deacon, I completed all the above. Never again.
cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
Then we had to make a pledge of allegiance to that church. JK! Lol
I never knew there were classes to join a church apart from CCD in the Catholic church. Wow.
ItIsFinished!
Blood bought child of the King of kings.
The above bolden (probably intentional) shows the disconnect and intent with a not so subtle accusation. Those two last words should not have been posted Andy. Regardless , I still love you.
lightofmylife
Blessed Hope-Prepare To Fly!
I too have my name on a Baptist church as a member, but after I was baptized as an adult. The only thing they did was add my name to being a member of that church. Plain and simple. As a child I was baptized in a different Baptist church. We moved away before I went to Jr High School to another area.
Dont laugh, I have known of a few churches that required a public pledge…..
Sadly, it is often a family member succumbing to the lifestyle that makes people want to change their theology. I think that's what Jesus meant when He said He came to divide families. We have to choose to love Him more than our own children. I don't know what I'd do if I ever had to face that choice. Our kids are so inundated with that messaging it's hard to trust their souls to Jesus.
And people want to be 'nice'. It is so easy to let our emotions and wanting to avoid confrontations guide how we view Scripture and how we view Jesus. I also question many of the devotionals put out there that cloud people's views of the Bible and interpretation. Especially when it comes to women it seems, there is this focus on self-love and "Jesus loves you even though your house is messy" type of lessons rather than "what does this Bible passage actually say". I like to read my Bible straight through and if I read anything alongside it I will read commentaries.
Most churches I've visited have had this. I think this is fairly common in church circles where the membership can be...uh...contentious. Or, if there isn't a pledge there is certainly membership classes. But I think that is more to weed out the crazies. There has to be some theological agreement. I've never known a church NOT to do this. There are public testimonies too even if you had been baptized at a previous church.
I do think you should be a member at a local body if you can at all help it. I have very strong opinions against online-only. I am super grateful our church is fairly solid. I do wish it would take more of a stand on current issues. I know where most people stand on them and it's certainly the right side. So I don't get why we can't more openly talk about it. When my husband guest spoke and brought some of the stuff up everyone thanked him afterwards for speaking up. I guess it's the anabaptist way.
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cheeky200386
Well-Known Member
I have a son and am pregnant with my daughter currently. I have already talked to my husband and have made peace if either one of them comes out at being gay. My allegiance is to Jesus Christ, and I hope to tell them the truth that it is sin, while clearly telling them I love them too.
The chips will fall where they may at that point. If they reject us, then so be it. I pray I will maintain that stance if the time should come.
Amen, concur.
lightofmylife
Blessed Hope-Prepare To Fly!
Congratulations on knowing you are having a daughter. The sonogram shows that which is something. I had my daughter Angela(Angie) 1st, and a year and 5 months later my son Michael. As parents all we can do is train a child up in the way they should go and when they grow old they will not depart from it.
Jan51
Well-Known Member
I don't see the early church addressing the issue of membership, but many churches do it to protect the church. I know of a small congregation that had no membership requirements, so anyone could vote; they literally lost their church after a business meeting was invaded by a group of outsiders from the community (may have been JWs?) that had connived to come in and overwhelm the vote and did a takeover.
Also, having membership, where the leadership has first listened to people's testimonies before approving people for a congregational vote, acts as a screen for potential leaders and teachers. It is less likely a wolf in sheep's clothing will lead or teach, and it makes the church less liable for criticism than if the yes/no process is more open-ended and possibly subjective. Having a written policy to point people to is a protection.
Coming from churches like this, I was a little uncomfortable when I saw that my current church has someone come forward desiring membership, and after a brief quiet word with the pastor, there is a congregational yea or nay. Fortunately so far it hasn't been abused, but that can easily be a popularity vote in my small community where people know each other.
Also, having membership, where the leadership has first listened to people's testimonies before approving people for a congregational vote, acts as a screen for potential leaders and teachers. It is less likely a wolf in sheep's clothing will lead or teach, and it makes the church less liable for criticism than if the yes/no process is more open-ended and possibly subjective. Having a written policy to point people to is a protection.
Coming from churches like this, I was a little uncomfortable when I saw that my current church has someone come forward desiring membership, and after a brief quiet word with the pastor, there is a congregational yea or nay. Fortunately so far it hasn't been abused, but that can easily be a popularity vote in my small community where people know each other.
Ghoti Ichthus
Pray so they do not serve alone. Ephesians 6:10-20
Lutheran Confirmation class for pre-teens/teens is one to three years, once a week. Holy Communion usually at the end of the first year. Adults, usually six to eight weeks, once a week. The purpose of this isn't Salvation. It's to ensure the person knows the core tenants of the Christian faith in accordance with the Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments. I was confirmed in a Lutheran Church that later became part of the ELCA. The first LCMS church I joined, I had to go through the adult confirmation class when it became available, but I wasn't denied Holy Communion before (Pastor at that church talked to each new person the first Sunday they attended to get to know the person a little bit, find out what he or she believed (or if he or she was a believer/saved), whether or not Baptized, and make a determination about Holy Communion. Low key, kind, informal, and private (not in front of the congregation, although it might be in the Narthex, hallway, or office right before service).
RCC class depends on if the student is a child (usually First Communion at age 7) (one or two years, once-a-week), or adult (six-to-eight weeks, once a week)
Eastern Orthodox (EO) adult catechism classes I'm familiar with are often six months, a couple times a week (or more). Students are called Catechumens and they are taught a LOT of theology with explanation/why, not just the basics). EO is probably the strictest about instruction before being allowed membership and partaking of Holy Communion (Eucharist).
EO allows transfer of membership from one congregation to another without additional instruction, except if there's anything special about the receiving congregation (usually something like a historic event that happened at the physical location of the church or something they do or don't do because of some local law or community sensibility). RCC, the same. Lutherans, so long of the same Synod (or one in altar and pulpit fellowship), the same. ELCA will take any Lutheran without additional instruction.
Ghoti Ichthus
Pray so they do not serve alone. Ephesians 6:10-20
Military Chaplains often conduct religious education classes (or at least they used to when I was in). The Protestant Chaplain, of whichever denomination, taught a general Christian class that would meet weekly for several weeks and included the Ten Commandments and Apostles' Creed, worship basics, about the Bible, and usually a discussion about general denominational differences and how the military Chaplains Corps supports Soldiers of the Jewish and Christian faiths. The Catholic Chaplains taught regular RCC classes and Jewish Chaplains taught Hebrew and Jewish faith classes. Bibles and excerpts and other religious materials were freely available from military Chaplains, including small pocket sized Bibles with a steel plate, which Soldiers wore in the upper left shirt pocket over the heart. There are documented cases of these Bibles saving lives 
No idea what the military Chaplains are doing these days because of PC, especially since there are so many non-Judeo-Christian Soldiers.
It's nice how the Apostles' Creed makes a nice outline of The Gospel and Salvation. Makes setting up a basic class for unbelievers and new believers very, very easy
No idea what the military Chaplains are doing these days because of PC, especially since there are so many non-Judeo-Christian Soldiers.
It's nice how the Apostles' Creed makes a nice outline of The Gospel and Salvation. Makes setting up a basic class for unbelievers and new believers very, very easy
Bedra1958
Well-Known Member
Trolling is a thing in social settings. I apologize for implying the negative.What a harsh thing to say. Who are these couple posters you’re speaking of?
Brethren in Christ can disagree without being called a “troll.”
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