Joining a church

[Smalcald]

I would venture to say that if there is no good bible believeing church in the city where one lives--then one needs to move to a place where one can be found. It is that important, membership or not. Eternally inportant.

No money to move either. And I prefer to keep my kids where they are. Practically no crime, and most of the kids here turn out pretty good. And what are you calling a city. This town has a population of 75 (probably includes pets) if that many. Since I am still tied into a 12 year loan on my house there is no possible way I could even move. Since the housing market is so bad even if I could sell it I wouldn't get what I paid out of it (only $20,000). Moving just to find a church and making life unstable to your kids seems kinda nuts to me.

Well I am in this situation also. We do drive to a congregation that we belong to, but it is too far to really be involved as we should, the congregations where we live I cannot join in good conscience, two are "welcoming" congregations and one is bible believing but holds doctrine I just don't agree in, and of course the rest are Catholic (if I converted to the RCC I could go to church every day!) But regardless I am not. In addition I don

[Guest Biblicist]

LOL come on. Non Demoninational is a demonination all its own.

Damo---------Home churches are not common around here. I have only known of 2 in my 31 years of life.

I have heard that before, but I am not quite certain what it means.

Wikipedia......

In Christianity, the term non-denominational refers to those churches that have not formally aligned themselves with an established denomination, or remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations. Non-denominational congregations may establish a functional denomination by means of mutual recognition of or accountability to other congregations and leaders with commonly held doctrine, policy and worship without formalizing external direction or oversight in such matters. Some non-denominational churches explicitly reject the idea of a formalized denominational structure as a matter of principle, holding that each congregation must be autonomous.

Non-denominational is generally used to refer to one of two forms of independence: political or theological. That is, the independence may come about because of a religious disagreement or political disagreement. This causes some confusion in understanding. Some churches say they are non-denominational because they have no central headquarters (though they may have affiliations with other congregations.) Other churches say they are non-denominational because their belief structures are unique.

Members of non-denominational churches often consider themselves simply "Christians". However, the acceptance of any particular stance on a doctrine or practice (for example, on baptism), about which there is not general unanimity among churches or professing Christians, may be said to establish a de facto credal identity. In essence, this would mean that each non-denominational church forms its own unofficial "denomination" with a specific set of tenets as defined by the beliefs and practices of its own congregation

Does that help?

By this defination...

Sounds to me as if the early churches were non-denominational. They all ascribed to the same basic belief patterns.

They did not call themselves a specific name, Baptist, Pentacostal, Lutheran, etc. They all believed pretty much the same thing. They were mostly started by the same person. They all were ministered to by the same person Paul or group of people, the apostles. HMMM......

If that makes them denominational, then being part of a denomination is a GOOD thing. AND.....quite Biblical.

[OneLight]

They did not have denominational names back then like we do today, so they used the name of the person they sat under. Here is what the bible has to say about that idea.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13

Sectarianism Is Sin

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe

[Guest Biblicist]

This is a post from another thread but I thought my response would fit better in this thread and prove my point. I am not an official member at my church but as I said before my wife does the nursery scheduling and I am in charge of the outreach, we are welcome in the leaders meetings and are considered leaders by most in the church. Like I said I am not a member but I do some times help with the offering and in distributing Communion.

two observations...

you are a member in all but name only. The phrase "having your cake and eating it too" comes to mind!

While you are the exception to this rule, I would not want non-members in leadership positions. For the most part they are unreliable and don't have the same level of commitment to the local body that those willing to be members do.

Well, I am glad that you believe me to be committed therefore the exception to the rule But there are things i cannot do such as vote on any proposals the church might have such as getting a new sign building a new kitchen ect... the good thing is I do not really fell my vote on such matters is needed.

What about voting for the really big things, budgets, new pastor, paint colors... (JK)

Really though, what if you don't agree with the budget or the new pastor. Will you just leave then? Since you were given a say with your vote and you chose to remain silent, you really have no say at all. It's like being a part of the USA, speak with your vote or don't speak at all.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I would venture to say that if there is no good bible believeing church in the city where one lives--then one needs to move to a place where one can be found. It is that important, membership or not. Eternally inportant.

No money to move either. And I prefer to keep my kids where they are. Practically no crime, and most of the kids here turn out pretty good. And what are you calling a city. This town has a population of 75 (probably includes pets) if that many. Since I am still tied into a 12 year loan on my house there is no possible way I could even move. Since the housing market is so bad even if I could sell it I wouldn't get what I paid out of it (only $20,000). Moving just to find a church and making life unstable to your kids seems kinda nuts to me.

It isn't nuts at all. God would bless it the same way He would bless a family whose husband received an offer to an incredible job, but it led them away from their town and their church, but he turned it down. That is faith devotion in action.

A starving person goes where there is food.

If it were something God had told me to do then yes I know He would bless it. But He hasn't.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I would venture to say that if there is no good bible believeing church in the city where one lives--then one needs to move to a place where one can be found. It is that important, membership or not. Eternally inportant.

No money to move either. And I prefer to keep my kids where they are. Practically no crime, and most of the kids here turn out pretty good. And what are you calling a city. This town has a population of 75 (probably includes pets) if that many. Since I am still tied into a 12 year loan on my house there is no possible way I could even move. Since the housing market is so bad even if I could sell it I wouldn't get what I paid out of it (only $20,000). Moving just to find a church and making life unstable to your kids seems kinda nuts to me.

It isn't nuts at all. God would bless it the same way He would bless a family whose husband received an offer to an incredible job, but it led them away from their town and their church, but he turned it down. That is faith devotion in action.

A starving person goes where there is food.

If it were something God had told me to do then yes I know He would bless it. But He hasn't.

Let me add a bit to my answer here. I was nursing the baby and didn't answer fully.

#1 I am not exactly a starving Christian. God feeds me daily.

#2 Thanks to my Bi Polar I have to be extremely careful in crowds, and most times cannot join large crowds for frae I am hurt someone unintentionally.

#3 In no way has God ever told me to move. I will not move without His command first. For if He does not go before me I will fail. I know that. So I would never just up and move without the command.

#4 I was put here for a reason. The price of this house, and the fact that I with bad credit was able to obtain a loan for this place. God put me here. Just not sure why.

#5 Do you want someone who can be a danger in the wrong situation joining your church?

[EricH]

God has asked us to be committed to other believers. It is a command (Hebrews 10:24-25). If membership is a covenant of that commitment, then why would a person not want to do it?

[EricH]

God has asked us to be committed to other believers. It is a command (Hebrews 10:24-25). If membership is a covenant of that commitment, then why would a person not want to do it?

And if you can commit to other believers without membership, then why become a member of a denomination that teaches things that you believe are contrary to the word of God?

I would not be attending a church that taught things that were contrary to the word of God. I would find a community of like minded believers that taught the word of God.

[Guest Biblicist]

LOL come on. Non Demoninational is a demonination all its own.

Damo---------Home churches are not common around here. I have only known of 2 in my 31 years of life.

I have heard that before, but I am not quite certain what it means.

Wikipedia......

In Christianity, the term non-denominational refers to those churches that have not formally aligned themselves with an established denomination, or remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations. Non-denominational congregations may establish a functional denomination by means of mutual recognition of or accountability to other congregations and leaders with commonly held doctrine, policy and worship without formalizing external direction or oversight in such matters. Some non-denominational churches explicitly reject the idea of a formalized denominational structure as a matter of principle, holding that each congregation must be autonomous.

Non-denominational is generally used to refer to one of two forms of independence: political or theological. That is, the independence may come about because of a religious disagreement or political disagreement. This causes some confusion in understanding. Some churches say they are non-denominational because they have no central headquarters (though they may have affiliations with other congregations.) Other churches say they are non-denominational because their belief structures are unique.

Members of non-denominational churches often consider themselves simply "Christians". However, the acceptance of any particular stance on a doctrine or practice (for example, on baptism), about which there is not general unanimity among churches or professing Christians, may be said to establish a de facto credal identity. In essence, this would mean that each non-denominational church forms its own unofficial "denomination" with a specific set of tenets as defined by the beliefs and practices of its own congregation

Does that help?

By this defination...

Sounds to me as if the early churches were non-denominational. They all ascribed to the same basic belief patterns.

They did not call themselves a specific name, Baptist, Pentacostal, Lutheran, etc. They all believed pretty much the same thing. They were mostly started by the same person. They all were ministered to by the same person Paul or group of people, the apostles. HMMM......

If that makes them denominational, then being part of a denomination is a GOOD thing. AND.....quite Biblical.

- I agree with most of what you said, and it was said well

- I just disagree that the early churches were denominations, I don't believe they were in so far as modern denominations have disagreements with eachother on doctrinal grounds, these early churches were seperate by many miles, and spoke every language but held to the same beliefs, so I believe if anything they were 'the' denomination, or 'a' denomination as a whole. But I like your point.

God bless

Thanks HEAPS!

I don't believe they were a denomination either, unless you use the defination shown above.

Although, they did have disagreements with each other and internal problems, hence the letters from Paul.

Modern denoms are separated by many miles.

And in some cases speak many languages.

They hold the same core beliefs, which if we were honest, most churches [barring denoms] do.

[EricH]

God has asked us to be committed to other believers. It is a command (Hebrews 10:24-25). If membership is a covenant of that commitment, then why would a person not want to do it?

And if you can commit to other believers without membership, then why become a member of a denomination that teaches things that you believe are contrary to the word of God?

I would not be attending a church that taught things that were contrary to the word of God. I would find a community of like minded believers that taught the word of God.

Every church believes things contrary to the word of God, no church is 100% correct in their doctrine.

So help me understand. You believe every church is in theological error, so you don't want to join one. Do you believe that you are without theological error of any kind?