Joining a church

[Floatingaxe]

I believe we need to join, to identify, to support and work in a local body of believers. God wants it. He says He sets the lonley (solitary) in families. It is our safety and security to be members of a church. Investing one's life in a local church family helps with the "planting by streams of water" that God desires to do with us.

I initiated a thread on the subject, and my reasons with scripture are there:

http://www.worthychristianforums.com/local...rch-t92294.html

Dear Floatingaxe, pretty good thread you had, but I didn't see where you were to join a membership in all the scripture you gave. Instead Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:4: "For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" Like I wrote, the only reason Baptist, Catholic, Evangletical, and others aren't mentioned there is because they wern't present at that time. Oh I am a Baptist; are ye not carnal? And I'm not picking on Baptists. Should we assemble together? Yes. Should we support a ministry? Yes. Should we put our name under their name? No.

Thanks...

If we need the local church, as proven there, then we need to truly belong. Worthy things need to cost something. I am pleased to have placed my name alongside men, women and youth of excellence, adding my gifts and strengths to theirs to win the city for Jesus.

[ayin jade]

If we need the local church, as proven there, then we need to truly belong.

Does one need to "belong" in order to belong. Nowhere does it say in scripture we must attend membership classes and belong to a church. In fact scripture merely states:

Hebrews 10

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Now, when you have membership classes and go through the process to belong, what does that entail? Are you learning the doctrines of your denomination? Is that valid? When I was going through confirmation as a kid, one of the things they emphasized was martin luther and his articles he nailed to that door. Is that necessary to be part of His church?

[Trusting Jesus]

I voted no. We need to be in fellowship with other believers, but that doesn't mean putting our names in a church registry. If we look to the early church we don't see denominational names and I can't think of any Scripture that says we are to sign up and write our names on a roll. The only book that matters in the Lamb's Book of Life.

I have heard people ask "What religion are you"? To which the answer was "Baptist". This is wrong. I am a Christian....a follower of Christ. That is really all that matters for salvation. Right now I attend (and have joined) a Baptist church. The truth is I'm not thrilled that I joined. There's nothing wrong with the church (it's very Christ centered) but the only reason I joined was in support of my husband who only joined in order to be able to take part in the services, etc.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[Guest Biblicist]

I said "Yes" and I would add, absolutely.

[Guest Biblicist]

I said "Yes" and I would add, absolutely.

Why???

Because...

[Guest shiloh357]

Being a part of a good local Church is important for several reasons:

1. Face to face accountability. I have never seen anyone who was faithful to their local Church AND willing to be accountable end up backsliding. Show me a member or leader in a church who falls, and you can almost bet that they had no accountability partners, no one to sharpen them.

2. Fellowship/Prayer support. I realize we have people who pray on Worthy and thats great, but there is no substitute for that one on one contact actually having a person pray with you in your home or at church or on park bench.

3. Wider impact - When you are an active part of a Church, you participate in the outreach it performs. Your arms are wider, your reach is further. You can touch lives and make an impact for Christ in ways that you could have never done by yourself. There are ministry opportunities in Church that you never get to be a part of if you are not there to participate.

4. Training. I have never met an effective Christian leader whose leadership skills were not honed and developed apart from being in a good church. Billy Graham, David Jeremiah, Adrian Rogers, John McArthur, Charle Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, Alister Beg, etc., are all people whose leadership skills were honed in Church. They all have membership in a local Church in common.

[ayin jade]

I said "Yes" and I would add, absolutely.

Why???

Because...

Jadey wanted reasons and discussion.

[ayin jade]

I voted no. We need to be in fellowship with other believers, but that doesn't mean putting our names in a church registry. If we look to the early church we don't see denominational names and I can't think of any Scripture that says we are to sign up and write our names on a roll. The only book that matters in the Lamb's Book of Life.

I have heard people ask "What religion are you"? To which the answer was "Baptist". This is wrong. I am a Christian....a follower of Christ. That is really all that matters for salvation. Right now I attend (and have joined) a Baptist church. The truth is I'm not thrilled that I joined. There's nothing wrong with the church (it's very Christ centered) but the only reason I joined was in support of my husband who only joined in order to be able to take part in the services, etc.

<>< ><>

Nathele

while I agree it is not a command to be on a church roll, I think it was the example set for us by the first Christians.

and I agree to say that your religion is Baptist is wrong, but sadly that person may well ahve been correct, they might have been a Baptist, but not been a Christian.

We have examples in the NT of a letter being sent from one local church to another when someone left to a new city. This indicates membership.

It indicates attendence under a leadership that was ordained by the Lord.

[Guest -RadicalMan-]

Is it a necessity? I persosnally believe for growth and fellowship it is necessary to belong to a group of believers..beyond the direct instruction not to forsake the assembly. However, if someone becomes a Christian and dies will membership or being a part of a local church be considered a failure on their part..my answer is no just as baptism has nothing to do with getting in the gate. Both are a matter of obedience.

[Guest Biblicist]

Being a part of a good local Church is important for several reasons:

1. Face to face accountability. I have never seen anyone who was faithful to their local Church AND willing to be accountable end up backsliding. Show me a member or leader in a church who falls, and you can almost bet that they had no accountability partners, no one to sharpen them.

2. Fellowship/Prayer support. I realize we have people who pray on Worthy and thats great, but there is no substitute for that one on one contact actually having a person pray with you in your home or at church or on park bench.

3. Wider impact - When you are an active part of a Church, you participate in the outreach it performs. Your arms are wider, your reach is further. You can touch lives and make an impact for Christ in ways that you could have never done by yourself. There are ministry opportunities in Church that you never get to be a part of if you are not there to participate.

4. Training. I have never met an effective Christian leader whose leadership skills were not honed and developed apart from being in a good church. Billy Graham, David Jeremiah, Adrian Rogers, John McArthur, Charle Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, Alister Beg, etc., are all people whose leadership skills were honed in Church. They all have membership in a local Church in common.

What shiloh said.