Who is not welcome in your church?

[bryan]

Does your church have open or 'soft' rules stating certain types of people may not attend your church?  I've encountered some of this recently and would like to hear your thoughts.

Here are a few specific examples I've experienced in the past year.  Please note I'm not judging these practices, simply describing them to see what you think.

In a small, home-based fellowship consisting of six families, some friends asked if they could attend as well.  Some of the elders (aka fathers of the families) said one woman could not attend since she had remarried.  It didn't matter that her previous husband was abusive and in jail for violent crimes.  Remarrying was judged as wrong and thus she could not be with us.

In that same home-based fellowship, another family was considered and it was rejected because their political views were judged to be too progressive.  The existing members stated they could not tolerate such views in their fellowship.

I'll note that fellowship dissolved earlier this year when some views on marriage, women, and homosexuality divided the group and several families decided to leave instead if using biblical discussion to reach a rational consensus.

In exploring some local churches, I've attended a couple bible studies to get to know some of the members in a smaller group setting.  The first one was from a large church and looked promising as they were using a Gruden apologetics book and just starting.  In the first meeting, they reviewed the chapter topics, restated the key concepts, and asked for questions.  One person asked for some detail about a concept and was rebuked with the group leader saying "We believe this concept in our church" and made it clear no discussion was welcome.  Further questions were treated similarly, so after a few meetings I stopped attending since they apparently only wanted people who repeated the phrases from the book.

Another local church had a board meeting to deal with a current member.  This member had been there for several years and ran all the audio for their services.  Last year, he had been convicted of viewing child pornography online, spent some time in jail, lost is job,  and was now applying to be a night janitor at the church to clean things when nobody else was there.  While he had not committed any crimes other than online viewing, they banned him and his family from the church.

In the past few months, I've seen several churches make it clear people aren't welcome if they ask the wrong questions, are from the wrong social class, have remarried, and more.  It is all frankly quite disturbing.  Biblical examples constantly show we should help people in need, yet what I'm seeing lately is rejection of people searching for help. 

 

[hmbld]

Quite sad.  I've not seen this yet, our Pastor has brought the subject up, how Jesus came for sinners, and all should be welcomed at church.  Have these been non-denominational churches you've encountered this at?  I live in a rural area, yet there are countless churches to choose from within 30 miles or so, maybe keep looking until you find one that lines up with what you read in scripture?  What is really sad is the only people who go to churches are sinners, yet they want to keep out other sinners.  

[simplejeff]

26 minutes ago, bryan said:

In a small, home-based fellowship consisting of six families, some friends asked if they could attend as well.  Some of the elders (aka fathers of the families) said one woman could not attend since she had remarried.  It didn't matter that her previous husband was abusive and in jail for violent crimes.  Remarrying was judged as wrong and thus she could not be with us.

There are regular churches around the world likewise,  operating as GOD'S WORD says to.  If someone sins and does not repent, and refuses to repent,  they are to be put out.

26 minutes ago, bryan said:

In that same home-based fellowship, another family was considered and it was rejected because their political views were judged to be too progressive.  The existing members stated they could not tolerate such views in their fellowship.

In GOD'S WORD,  it says even not to associate with a man of temper,  or a greedy "christian",  and so on - there is a need for correct operation according to GOD'S WORD instead of man's principles.

27 minutes ago, bryan said:

I'll note that fellowship dissolved earlier this year when some views on marriage, women, and homosexuality divided the group and several families decided to leave instead if using biblical discussion to reach a rational consensus.

Churches and even families have been divided because of this .  When one family member was openly and unrepentedly gay,  the family was split - the ones following JESUS "biblically" were separated from the ones tolerating jezebel.

The ones enforcing GOD'S rules of marriage - no living with "partners" etc -

are set apart (holy) by GOD from the others. 

There's a lot of other things causing separation also - a few are separated by GOD - "set apart"/holy -

and many are separated by 'human' divisions (very common).

[missmuffet]

I do not attend a Church. I have not found a Church that I am comfortable with.

[Neighbor]

We certainly do have standards. There are standards for membership, for regular attendance, and for participation. There are also pastors, teachers and counselors available to have discussion with anyone that may wish to talk regarding most subjects of interest and concern, but not  to interrupt our worship and classes. We have our families, our children, at these places of worship. We are not about to put them at risk by letting a person that cannot pass a background check be anywhere near them as teachers nor participants, and certainly not give them  access to buildings that contain records about children, family matters and counseling histories. Whether that be janitorial ministry of helps or pastoral counseling for marriage they are monitored  and must meet very strict standards.

We do use Matthew 18 as our guideline for procedures regarding failures of our members. We gather for worship, for learning His word, and for fellowship of the saints; and not for politcally correct entertainment of depraved reprobates. To think a custodian would not be checked is to not really think it through. Our local body Of Christ Jesus is not a secular quasi governmental program for welfare and equal status based upon financial need trying to meet some crazed standard of all is equal and all is to be tolerated. It is a place of worship. It is not for everyone to come do their own thing, our God is not a god of chaos, but of order and of all things being done to His Glory and honor. That requires decorum, order and rule.

That said; most anyone may come seek out what we are about  visit and worship with us. Plus we, members and missionaries that home church with us , along with our volunteers, and our pastorial staff  go into all the world- least from the Pacific rim,  Africa,  Europe, and  including our local community, with the word of God, helping  those with needs that we might assist satisfying in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus. All done as  encouragement in starting locally run church bodies that learn and do expository preaching of the Gosple and the word of God. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Edited April 8, 2017 by Neighbor

[Guest BacKaran]

Why do you have membership? Is it required and if so why?

[OneLight]

We are to preach the word of truth to all people and then let the Holy Spirit work in their lives.  I find nowhere in scripture that tells me to exclude anyone from knowing the truth if they seek it.  We do find where we should not invite certain people into our homes, when to turn people out and give them back to satan so their lives will be saved, when not to eat with people, etc., but never a word about who can hear scripture and who cannot.

Keep in mind that local churches are governed by a selected group of people who stand on their own rules, be it personal in home churches or denominational.  I have come to expect this when visiting churches.  For this reason, it does become hard to find a church to belong to.  Yet, if you want a say in how a church is to be run, you have to agree to their rules, sign on the dotted line, and commit to their teaching.  I much rather just go as God leads me and let them all figure this our for themselves.

[Logan]

5 hours ago, bryan said:

 

 

Another local church had a board meeting to deal with a current member.  This member had been there for several years and ran all the audio for their services.  Last year, he had been convicted of viewing child pornography online, spent some time in jail, lost is job,  and was now applying to be a night janitor at the church to clean things when nobody else was there.  While he had not committed any crimes other than online viewing, they banned him and his family from the church.

 

 

I hope you don't actually believe he is less guilty because all he did was watch because that's honestly what that sounds like. 

[Jeff2]

Churches differ on their standards. Standards exist to establish order. If you are not welcome, find a place that does not have that restriction.

The main person(s) who should never be welcome in your Church, are those that come in and try to change your Church and its doctrine, or its standards. You shouldn't welcome a divisive person that does not believe as you do. 

Edited April 8, 2017 by Jeff2

[HisFirst]

Bryan, I am a bit confused with the remarrying teaching :what is Biblical and not.

I thought the Biblical version was you CAN re-marry if the ex has passed.

But to bar someone from attending church or a Christian group because their ex is still alive is not something I could see Jesus doing.