Joining a church

[ColleenLovesMischief]

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.

And if you could not find said group within reasonable distance?

[Smalcald]

This debate is interesting for me.

My inclination is that we should always join and be members of a congregation of believers, however MY particular situation is much closer to those here who are refusing to be members yet attending a congregation.

I think the key is that we really should only join a congregation that is in large part aligned with what we truly believe to be correct. As Luther told his own Church and was excomunicated for refusing to recant:

"I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."

[ayin jade]

I am enjoying this thread immensely. You have all given me a lot of feedback, and a lot to think about. I appreciate the civility in this thread too. Please continue sharing your thoughts on this topic.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

I see assembleing.....I see nothing that tells me I have to join these people officially. This is saying to attend regularly. Whatevey you attend. Like in my case is hoime bible study on the occassion that I get to, and my friends are around.

[damo1]

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.

high

the reason i asked for people to respond we are seeing that many cant come into the city or attend to the two sister churches we have

what we are looking at is planting in our neighbour hoods we live in were we reach out to the single mothers the single fathers and the elderly and those around us we are also looking at brother yuns model he wrote the heavenly man but the chines goverment is persecuting the house church pastors who joined brother yun and these guys are beeing run out of their communitys and their books and bibles are taken off them

we have been going over acts 4 and acts 5 as in the suburb i live in we have a lot of single and rich people and elderly people their is a bus that runs threw the week but on the weekend it runs at odd hours

the goal is to reach to the non belivers that live in our streets who would not tend a church and be off support to those in our street we live in

we have now over 30 familys intrested in doing this were a house church is planted in the streets they live in and become like a support to those in there streets ther are two ways this can be done by hiring out the local school hall or setting up in your home or ussing your back yard

i am one that has no transport and i have to catch the bus on sunday i get the 9.30 am bus that gets me into town at 9.45 i get to hear half of the 8.30 morning service as we have a 10.30 family service this is the one i go to

i dont mind catching the bus but when they strike as they do from time to time their is no way in to civic were our main church is

we are not following anyones doctrines but the example given in acts 4 and acts 5

the ones that have put their hands up are talking to the people in there street they live in and said this is what we are looking at doing as everyone that put there hand up did like a survey and came back and said what i had said their are familys that cant make it who would like to be appart of a church but are ashamed to ask for a lift and i have seen were members have refused to give a single mother with 3 or 5 kids a lift to church then take them back home

i have also seen this need were i live we have elderly people lonley people and single mothers and fathers living in my street we have also a housing commison unit were there are young people living in thes units who have no formal contac with a christian

we are not doing this to trap or use people but we want to be off service to those around us who want to come to a church service but cant make it

God bless from damo

[Floatingaxe]

My pastor said that whoever is looking for the perfect church to join, as soon as he finds one and joins, it isn't perfect anymore! There isn't any perfect church, but if you find yourself a good one--there should be nothing to stop you from fully stepping into membership. It's a consummation...and it's good for you and good for the church.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

My pastor said that whoever is looking for the perfect church to join, as soon as he finds one and joins, it isn't perfect anymore! There isn't any perfect church, but if you find yourself a good one--there should be nothing to stop you from fully stepping into membership. It's a consummation...and it's good for you and good for the church.

Who said they were looking for the perfect church?

Also....what about those who have trouble when around a lot of people?

[Smalcald]

My pastor said that whoever is looking for the perfect church to join, as soon as he finds one and joins, it isn't perfect anymore! There isn't any perfect church, but if you find yourself a good one--there should be nothing to stop you from fully stepping into membership. It's a consummation...and it's good for you and good for the church.

Who said they were looking for the perfect church?

Also....what about those who have trouble when around a lot of people?

Right I don't think we are looking for the perfect Church, I know I am not, I just would like something close on belief and doctrine. I realize that there are always going to be people problems and well jerks thats okay, I just want some doctrine I believe is truth.

I do think membership is important which is why I do belong to a specific congregation, even if they are to far away for us to take part on a weekly basis, I still feel connected, I still tithe etc, it is also a church I already joined and went through the process of instruction etc, I don't want to do that again and see no need since I agree with them. The problem is children and as our children grow up what we have going on right now is not going to work, in fact it already isn't. So we are looking at starting a home Church under the leadership of our denomination (possibly have a visiting pastor once a month until it grows enough to afford a full time et c) and yes we have thought of moving, but moving means leaving the region, it is a big deal and will take some time to change two careers etc, particularly with things as they are right now in the economy.

It is a very hard thing.

[Guest Biblicist]

I may be, if so I do not realize it or I would change my stance. However I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that the pretrib doctrine is false and although it will not cause me to leave my church, it will cause me not to join it, and it is not just my church, I doubt I would ever ''join'' as in become a member of any church.

If you think it is something you should do I say you should follow your conscience, but my conscience tells me it is something I should not do and you should respect that.

To the point I think most denominations are in an apostate state, and those that are not are bordering on it, and my conscience tells me not to align myself with any denomination. If you have a more liberal view, then as I said do as your conscience allows you to do.

What you are doing, Buddy, is making a third order doctrine, into a first order doctrine. The rapture is not imparative to salvation.

The trinity doctrine is a whole other matter.

[Guest Biblicist]

Ok, ezekiel33, I found it and it helps me understand your stand a little better. No worries, Mate!