Contractual membership

[Guest shiloh357]

Any time you are in a congregation and they start forcing things on you, and you have to start signing things, that is the time to leave.

I don't think anyone should be allowed into a leadership position in a church until they are known, and until it has been established that they are doctrinally sound.

However, all of this junk about asking people about their income and forcing them to commit to a certain level of attendance, and other such controlling nonsense, is a sure sign that such a place has problems.

The only time anyone should ever be expected to be committed to attendance, is when they take on a leadership position. If they take on leadership responsibility, then they need to have the integrity to be committed to be at church when needed.

[OneAccord]

I think the motivation behind these contracts and such is that a lot of these churches are a branch of a larger organization and the leadership is required to submit statistics and such about the church growth, financial health, etc. If you are not documented on paper and signing the appropriate forms it's diffiuclt to keep track of these stats.

Reminds me of Satan's ploy of getting David to number Israel...........

[other one]

I don't think they're saying those who don't 'join up' aren't saved.

Edited November 28, 2004 by other one

[Guest hubertdorm]

I don't think they're saying those who don't 'join up' aren't saved.  I think they are realistically recognizing that somebody like YOU might come in and raise quite a ruckus, and they are just saying clearly:  THIS is what we teach, and if you don't want to hear it, this isn't the church community for you to join.  I don't see what could be more polite than to let you know ahead of time what you're getting into.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why do I have to be in full agreement just to be considered a member? Is there really a church that has no fault?

I never have agreed fully with the doctrines of the churches I've attended, nor have I been in much agreement about the operation of it, but I don't go causing trouble. I'll take whatever opportunities arise to offer my opinion. But I shouldn't be disqualified for having differences.

[followerofjesus]

This is a sad display of the churches religiosity or churchianity. They want everyone on the mailing list & know whos contributing to the ministry.$

[Anne]

It is a very sad time when churches require their congregation to sign contracts for things such as, attendance, beliefs, money earned, etc.

It seems to me that as time goes on, people are depending more on their position in the church, and less on their position with Christ Jesus.

Your Sister in Christ Jesus

Anne

[Leonard]

I see most of you are not talking about doctrinal issues, but about logistical stuff. Well, to me that would make a pretty big difference. If a church wants to make sure you are substantially in agreement with their doctrine before granting you full membership 'status' (whatever that means!), I have no problem with that. If they begin trying to tug at your wallet and your time, that's wrong. Many churches will work a willing horse to death!

Ho! Weary pilgrim, trail-worn, bruised, weak, and in need of comfort; did you ever work with teens???

[Fr Chuck]

I know exactly what you mean, I became an assistant pastor at one church that required you to sign an atfirmation of principles and also yearly sign loyalty to the Bishop ( head pastor)

It was not till some time down the road that it became very clear it was more of a cult religion than a Christian religion.

It had all the Christian wording and wrappings. There was nothing you could really point out plainly, but if you wanted to do anything that the Bishop did not agree with, you would never be allowed to.

Then we we left the church it was very, very clear what type of place it was.

Every member but one of the entire church would no longer have any contact with us, because we left the church. Wifes best friend would no longer go shopping with her, our sons baby sitter would no longer watch him and so on and so on.

Beware of evil wearing Christian clothing.

[Guest hubertdorm]

Leonard, I certainly believe that the more unity you have as far as doctrine goes, the less abbrassion you'll experience. But, leaning back on my original post, I don't see how any church that has extra membership requirements other than our Lord's can consider it part of His Church. Salvation, after all, is in the church. When a person is saved, he or she has been added to the body of believers by our God. But if say Denomination "X" believes they are a part of the body, then, by default, I am already a member of this body when I go there. I shouldn't have to sign anything.

Logically, if a church questions the membership of a person, it should be on the basis of salvation itself, not doctrine. If the church I'm attending teaches tithing is an obligation, and I don't believe so, I shouldn't be disqualified. Now, the shepherds/elders could come to me and try to convince me of their practice. Okay, that's fine. But I shouldn't be disqualified from "salvation" simply because of it.

On the other hand, if say, I didn't believe that Jesus was God, ah, then there might be reason for a church to say, "This man cannot be a member." I believe that the overseers of a church have the duty of protecting the flock in this way. No one wants false teachers to come into the church. But signed contracts are for courts, not for faith.

[Leonard]

Yes and no, Hubertdorm (intersting name, by the way!):

When Jesus spoke of 'binding and loosing' He was borrowing technical terms from the synagogue. Since Jewish synagogues existed in all parts of the world, and encountered many cultures, the authorities had long before given the individual synagogues a great deal of latitude to 'bind' certain activities, rules of order, etc. upon synagogue members, or to 'loose' other rules of order, so as to not cause a great offense in any given culture.

So when Jesus tells the Church they have the power to 'bind' and 'loose', He is granting to the individual churches a great deal of autonomy. I would respect the rules of order in any church I visited, but would only join the church I felt was 'the best one.'