The Reformers were just men.

[st. Worm]

Sorry horizon but I am not going to be drawn into the "man made doctrine" argument. I can just as easily say your views are man made too. We both have used Scripture to arrive at our answers so to say mine are man made while yours aren't is not really correct. I don't think I have said you have to have doctrinal purity as you are claiming to join my church, just doctrinal agreement. No church has perfect doctrine even those that claim not to have "man made" doctrine. Won't you agree that no man or church has 100% perfection in interpretation?

SW

[st. Worm]

Horizon,

we are just going around in circles. Your interpretation of the Bible in this matter is no less man-made doctrine than the Lutheran Confessions or the Lutheran churches requirement that members agree on unity of doctrine for its members. In fact, I would say your interpretation is nothing but taking a few verses completely out of context so its of little value.

To argue against church membership procedures because "you can find no evidence of it" in the Bible does not negate the practice nor mean its not biblical. Any sane church would want to examine new members before allowing them to join even with regard to just confirming that they understand the gospel or not. Or perhaps your church doesn't even care if new members understand the gospel. I mean after all, there was no "such practice" of confirming that new members based on their understanding of the gospel in the New Testament (your argument, not mine).

Your arguments are simplistic and based on your man made view that if something was not specifically identifiable as practiced in the portions of the Bible that discuss history (such as most of Acts) then its not a legitimate biblical practice. Of course that's silly.

I note that no one here knows anything about the church you attend since you apparently would rather carp about other churches and denominations than revealing anything about yours. Tell us about your church horizon east. What are their practices? What do they believe? Who is their leadership and what is their history? How does one become a member? Do they just walk in and sit down and then claim membership? Do you need a secret handshake? Let's now find out more about the apparently secret worship practices in your church horizoneast. And THEN lets compare your church to the Missouri Synod with regard to practice and polity.

My church is there for everyone to examine and then offer their opinion. We have a website. We are not secretive in the least. Now let's talk about your church. Either put up or shut up. Of course, you will offer every excuse you can think of not to do that. Right? I stand prepared to thoroughly examine your church right now to determine if in my view it follows the Bible or is "man made" just as you have attempted to do with mine. We will even apply your self created definition of man made but now we will apply it to your church, horizon. I eagerly look forward to your post telling us all about your church and its doctrine and practices. No excuses will do. Let's now examine horizon's church.

SW

[EricH]

This has gotten way of topic. I am closing it