Church membership

[Guest man]

 

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right.

Exactly! May The Lord come and heal his church so that at least the buildings can be used to truly represent His love and care! Open the doors, let the people in. And we wonder why Christianity gets such a bad rap...this is only one example. Thank you Man, for posting this.

 

 

 

[GoldenEagle]

 

 

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right. 

 

Wow, your kidding me? Children that young are on our own streets? I had no idea that was even allowed here in the U.S.

 

 

That's just in the twin cities. (Minneapolis and St. Paul) Just imagine Chicago, Detroit, New York or any large city where temps hover in the 20s and teens for months at a time. Imagine what it must be like to reach out to the one organization who's one main purpose is to minister to the needy and have them turn you away.

 

It is definitely a horrible situation if it as you say.

 

Perhaps someone needs to challenge the status quo then there? Has a petition been made to the local churches? Do none of the churches reach out to orphans and the less fortunate?

[Fez]

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right.

Do you?

[Fez]

Church membership, as opposed to just going to church?

 

I have never been, or been made a "member" of a church. I am on the leadership team of my church but have never signed anything or been read anything that denotes me as a "member".

 

We kind of just attend, most of us for 10 years or more and we don't talk about members in our church at all.

 

So simple question. What is this member thing as opposed to long term attendance?

It has to do with a committment, sort of like the difference in being married or shacking up?  In both instance, you may remain together for many years or even for a lifetime, but without marriage, people feel free to leave if things aren't working out.  It happens in marriage too, but not with the same ease, because a committment is being broken.  It is easier to leave a church you aren't a member of than one where you are on the church roll.

Commitment is meant for The Lord...not a group of people or a building. I don't think The Lord meant for us to be committed to a certain group of Christians, but to the body of Christ as a whole. I see nothing wrong with church hopping...I think it is a great thing to be free to do actually. Instead of getting caught up in your own clique and becoming people pleasers, perhaps you can be more free to go where The Lord calls you to go that day. Because perhaps The Lord is sending you outside your comfort zone to someone who needs you. Or perhaps there is something there that He wants you to witness. Just saying.

I am not necessarily disagreeing with you.  Fez just asked for a difference in a church member and a long term visitor?  I was just answering his question.

But surely it is just as easy to walk either way? Why would being a member make any difference. It's not like its a binding contract? I am on the leadership of my church, prayed in after the church was told it was being considered, and waiting a month for any reasons given why I should not be from the congregation, I have never signed anything.

[Boash]

We are not members of the church we attend. It's Baptist and although we agree with most positions they hold to we don't agree with all. By joining I would feel obligated to hold or adhere to, which honestly in all good conscience I could not do. I mean for instance let's say you got involved with youth, as a member I believe you would be expected to endorse that particular denominations beliefs whether or not you agreed with it. We enjoy the fellowship and the pastors teachings, we get involved with everything that we are allowed to do, many of them things the large percentage of the membership as a whole doesn't even bother with. But when it comes to a lot of positions in the church are concerned we are excluded from them. Take daycare for example, although they continually plead for help and my mother in law has repeatedly volunteered. And although she is a long time day care professional she is refused on the basis of not being a member. Now keep in mind she and my father in law have been going there twice as long as my wife and I, then say someone who has been attending for say 3 months and joins can, now which of the two do you think they should know more about. It almost seems as they use it as a punishment. The pastor and I have met several times and have good conversations and he feels we are pretty comparable on most things and wishes he could have me involved with............if only I would join. My question is why can't I? These types of things regarding membership don't make sense to me but then again it's not my call.

 

What specifically are the positions (assuming theological) you don't agree with the local church you attend?

 

Typically, most churches in many positions (i.e. childcare, leadership, etc.) will not allow a non-member to be a part of a given ministry. I'm unsure if this has at times to do with insurance, background checks, etc. in the case of childcare...

I can see for example the local church not wanting someone who doesn't think homosexuality is a sin to mentor youths... Or that sexual relations is to be within marriage and not something kids should just "experiment with" as young people. Not saying you believe those things but giving a examples.

Joining a local church IMO is also understanding that you accept the authority of said local church. Often times this also means when one joins one has the option to vote in matters regarding church decisions.

The alternative is you can always go find another church where they don't have such rules...

[Boash]

Sorry GE that didn't work all it did was copy you previous post. I'm not quite as adept using this tablet as I am with a computer. So here goes by adding another post minus the quotes. As far as doctrinal differences I hold towards wine and bread when breaking bread, they adhere to cracker (for lack of a better description) and juice. I hold to Psalm 83 and Isaiiah 17 being seperate from Ezekiel 38-39 while they believe it is all one event. I hold the angel point of view to Genesis 6 they hold to the line of Seth. When it comes to teaching or working with the youth I believe the qualifications should include that they hold to literal interprtation of biblical accounts. Such as belieiving the creation account, the flood account, Jonah etc.. in other words they should be concerned with what the person believes as a whole no just the salvation issue. In todays world children are getting a secular world view fed to them by the boat load. They won't hear the biblical accounts unless they here it in the church. I think they should be extremely concerned what is going on down stairs with the kids while we are upstairs in the service.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Boash

[Guest man]

 

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right.

Do you?

 

 

 

Do I what?

[Fez]

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right.

Do you?

 

 

Do I what?

Open your doors to these people.

[Guest man]

 

 

 

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right.

Do you?

 

 

Do I what?

Open your doors to these people.

 

 

 

Yes I do.

[Fez]

On any given night here in Minnesota there are approx. 4500 children that are homeless. Of that, nearly half are under the age of six. Right now the temps are in the low 40s but we're under a winter storm warning. Four to six inches of snow by morning.

 

There's not a church in the metro area, and there's well over a thousand of them, that opens their doors to these people. Those buildings sit heated, empty and locked while the homeless brave the elements. 

 

That's not right.

Do you?

 

 

Do I what?

Open your doors to these people.

 

 

Yes I do.

Would the next step not be to join one of those churches and work at getting them to open their doors from within?