Joining a church

[Mudcat]

I voted no.

Being a member of a local Christian faith group is obviously invaluable.

We need to fellowship with other Christians.

But I don't believe that not being a member of a local church prohibits entry into the Church.

I suppose I can identify with much of what One Light has said.

I serve, tithe, etc.. in a local church (Southern Baptist), but when it comes right down to the brass tacks, I am not a Baptist. I am just a Christian seeking fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I do believe that a Christian should seek out such fellowship, being mindful of the fact that the best Christian can fail.

It is good to have earthly role models of a Christian walk. It is good to know we are not alone.

However, we should set our eyes upon the mark given us by Christ instead of trying to match our pace with those who seem to be running a better race.

I remember several years back one of those stunt jet squadrons was practicing. They were all doing a steep dive, in a single file line. The lead pilots controls failed and he crashed into the ground. The others were trained to follow those in front of them. One after another, impact after impact, they were all led to their deaths by the one before them. All because the leaders plane failed.

It was a sad loss, but a good reminder to me of who's example I should follow.

[nebula]

In the first century, they didn't have "membership."

Of course back then, their cities were the physical sizes of our small towns, just with more people. In each city there was one church. It was much easier for all the believers of one city to meet together in this context.

Now days, you can belong to a church that is an hour's drive away. The problem with this, though, is that you are not interacting with the members of your church throughout the week.

The ideal would be to have fellowship with the believers in your hometown and even in your neighborhood. It is much easier to meet each other's needs this way.

But we are so divided by doctrine, this type of unity is a goal that no one wants to make the effort to reach.

[Larry 2]

[Not at all. I just quoted scripture. 1 Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? I tried to give my thinking on what Paul was saying. I have seen what denominational systems have turned into in some instances from their original intent. The Ecumenical movement is great example of that if you're familiar with it. There is only one Church and all born to God are a part of it. If you notice the greeting Paul gave here: the church at Cenchrea, or the church of some city or group of people. Then John addresses the church in different cities.

Regardless of what a local church calls itself, if in Christ they are the Church but what Paul was saying is that those calling themselves some special brand brings schisms within the body.

Without a doubt there are very serious issues with the denominational system. Too many people put it before being a Christian and that is wrong. But I am not willing to throw out the baby with the bath water. The way I see it you can be a part of the system and try and fix it, or you can say that is has problems, but do nothing to fix the problems.

They didn't have one body of believers that were supposed to believe in being justified by the law alone, and another by grace alone, one speaking in tongues, and another not allowing it; when it happened there was correction. Today we have the word righty divided to keep us in line with the truth and we do not have to have some denomination telling us that God lives only in a golpher hole, and another saying this or that part of the Bible no longer applies.

This is where I think you misunderstand what denominations are about, or at least some of them.

I will use the Southern Baptist Convention as an example as it is the only one that I have had intimate dealings with how it works. I have been to churches of many other denominations, but have not been a part of the inner workings like I have been with the SBC.

The members of the SBC don

[ColleenLovesMischief]

No a Christian should not have to join a church. Attending and joining are 2 different things. I joined only once, and it would take a lot to ever get me to join again anywhere. Some prefer to stay out of the church politics. As a member I was expected to do things. They expected me to teach whenever they asked me to. If I refused (for reasons I preferred not to disclose to them) I was cold shouldered. Everything was ok as long as I did everything I was told. I don't see God wanting his kinds in a situation like that. So no.....and I am shocked so many people have said that you have to! Hi Jade!!!!!!!!!!! I'm around just not much up for chattin.

I have to say that I think that reason "I once had a bad experience" so now I wont do it again is a bad reason.

are there many other areas of your life that you had one bad experience in that you dont do any more?

The only reason I had joined in the first place (after attending 4 yrs I looked it up last night), was because my late husband had insisted on it. I had no plans to join to begin with. I attended one church for 16 yrs without ever taking membership. I was a part of the group. I do not feel the need nor the conviction (nor can I find it scripturally) that I have to commit myself officially to a cretain group. I have watched many join one week to quit the next year. Seems quite flaky to me. They would find one thing they didn't like (lol normally something small) and have to officially quit. So no it isn't a once I had a bad experience thing. It is more of a "I didn't want to do it in the first place, did it, and it turned out the way I figured it would. I have watched so many church splits, and drama. Colleen prefers her own little corner where she can sit and observe.

[Guest HIS girl]

If the "bad experience" keeps repeating itself at the Church and you KNOW it is wrong and NOT according to the Word..move on. I had to and it was the RIGHT decision. Things are still the same there I hear.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I would also like to add....the whole "membership" thing seems quite highschool to me. Are people believeing they have to officially join to belong? In some sense I would almost call it an insecurity. Yes I do fellowship with other Christians. I just have no urge to join anything.....anything at all. Secular, Christian, whatever. If someone can give me scriptural proof that I have to then I will be swayed.

[Guest Biblicist]

Well, colleen....but....you...joined...Worthy....

[Smalcald]

I voted "other", because I don't think we can make a declarative statement such as "must" about things like church membership. For example I live in a small community in Northern New England. The predominant faith here is Roman Catholic, outside of the Catholics I have only three choices in the town I live in, the United Methodists the Episcopalians, and an independent Baptist Church which we do attend irregularly. However I would rather convert to the RCC than join one of those. We do belong to a congregation which is around 75 miles away, and we do make the journey at least a couple of times a month, but it is hard particularly with these gas prices. If I don't do those options am I not a Christian? I would say certainly not.

However I do very much desire to worship with fellow Christians, and I very much desire to be part of a congregation, so we do make that drive and do belong. As far as the first Christians go, they were much much more tied into their congregations than we are, not LESS tied in. In the first congregations they owned property in common, they sold a good portion of what they owned and gave it to the congregation, they ate together, they worshipped daily together, what would they think about someone who just wanted to come but not really be a part of them? I don't have an answer to that obviously, but no doubt they were extremely close knit groups, and yes they fought and argued and did all of the things that sinful humans always do in a group. Part of the practice of our faith is loving people we don't like, is getting along and swollowing our pride sometimes to put up with people, much like a marriage or a family (within limits of course!). But really if we can't love people who we can see and touch who are Christians, how can I love a God I have never seen?

[ColleenLovesMischief]

Well, colleen....but....you...joined...Worthy....

LOL my husband and I were just talking about that. Had I had full access to the boards I wanted without joining....hehehehehhehee.

[Guest Biblicist]

Sometimes it's difficult for me to realize that not everyone is blessed with having several churches, denominations, and congregations in their town to choose from.

Goodness, in our small little township there are at least 5 churches within 5 miles of our house. When my inlaws lived in TN they said there was a church on every corner, and you could never run out of congregations to worship with.

I would imagine that finding a church in an area such as you live in, smalcald, would be difficult. But at least you have chosen one and are members.