Joining a church

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I have to ask now.....has anyone ever been in a church where you have to take many classes to become a member? I attended one where it was 3 months of classes, and an application. I am not kidding an application. I wil not reveal what demonination it was because I am very fond of them. Just not their membership process.

If I could find a church that was scripturally sound, and did not quench the activity of the Spirit I would possibly consider joining....after many years of attendance that is. I have seen many join one week and never show up again.

[Guest Biblicist]

Ministries are a different story.

Children's church, nursery workers, not only have to be members in good standing, but also pass a class about child care and laws about abuse, etc. Our nursery has been growing exponentionally, but the parents are not yet members and it puts a crunch on the workers. That's difficult. But it is a good problem to have!

My wife is in charge of the nursery and I am in charge of outreach, neither of us are members.

I guess that's your churches choice.

We have our reasonings for why we do things, and I'm sure your church does too. In trying to do Church God's Way this is what we decided.

I have to ask this, and I mean no disrespect, really, I'm just a bit confused.

You are in charge of an outreach program of a chruch that you do not agree with enough to be a member of...So if the person asks you if you are a member, what answer do you give?

I understand that the goal of outreach is evangelism, and reaching the lost, but when they ask you what church they should go to, join, what do you tell them?

Here is a good verse, that speaks to devoting yourself to the pastor and membership of a church...

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

[OneLight]

What are you all talking about, "signing a piece of paper"?

I've never heard of a church that had a contract. I got a piece of paper when I was baptized, it said that I was baptized, and it was signed by my pastor, as the one who baptized me. I have never had to sign a piece of paper to be a member of a church. You just express an interest, give your testimony and then you are welcomed into the fellowship, usually on a day when they baptize new believers. And yes...we do eat!

We eat a lot together, Sunday mornings, every function, it's a good way to fellowship. People really loosen up when food is involved.

Churches should be a hospital for sinners. If you can't feel comfortable there, to go and be healed from walking through a dry and filthy world all week, then there is something seriously wrong going on in the pulpit.

In one church that I have gone to, you had to take a three part class to learn the doctrines they hold to and sign a paper in agreement to them in order to become a member. In another, there was no class. but you had to sign a paper agreeing to their doctrines. Not sure how it is done where you live, but here, yes, you have to agree and stand behind their doctrine.

Yet, I still attend, do as God leads, but will not sign their membership agreement to be voted in.

[Guest Biblicist]

Oh, my, that is rather odd. Signing a paper stating that you agree with the doctrines of the church. Wouldn't your regular attendance be proof enough? I mean, why would you attend a church if you did not agree with all of their doctrines? Aah, never mind, I have attended and been a member of churches before where I disagreed with a lot of their practices...Forget I asked.

Ok, ezekiel, I get ya. Blessings to you in your outreach.

[Smalcald]

I don't think anyone is saying that we should not be part of a fellowship at all. The barrier I find is having to sign a piece of paper that indicates I believe something I do not. Let me add another thought here to consider. Did those who first started the Christian church have to sign their name on paper, or were they accepted in love by their testimony? You see, I do accept accountability and cherish every person in His Body, yet man set a rule in place that should never of been set.

I have nothing against those who do agree with this practice, but I still can not say I agree to something that I do not. That would be lying. I will join a church that does not take away from scripture or adds doctrine to scripture in a heart beat. Until then, doing so would be under false pretense, only to be allowed special privileges. I can do Gods work and share His love without this.

In your case I would agree with you. We should not be members if we have a true disagreement with doctrine.

Do you think you could find a congregation which does believe as you do?

For me there is no congregation in my town which I do agree with on doctrine as I spoke of in the earlier post. Happily I do belong to a congregation which I totally agree with in doctrine and this is where we belong right now.

[psalmone]

I believe that christians should go to church because only christians share a certain biblical worldview and are able to minister to other christians effectively.

[OneLight]

I don't think anyone is saying that we should not be part of a fellowship at all. The barrier I find is having to sign a piece of paper that indicates I believe something I do not. Let me add another thought here to consider. Did those who first started the Christian church have to sign their name on paper, or were they accepted in love by their testimony? You see, I do accept accountability and cherish every person in His Body, yet man set a rule in place that should never of been set.

I have nothing against those who do agree with this practice, but I still can not say I agree to something that I do not. That would be lying. I will join a church that does not take away from scripture or adds doctrine to scripture in a heart beat. Until then, doing so would be under false pretense, only to be allowed special privileges. I can do Gods work and share His love without this.

In your case I would agree with you. We should not be members if we have a true disagreement with doctrine.

Do you think you could find a congregation which does believe as you do?

For me there is no congregation in my town which I do agree with on doctrine as I spoke of in the earlier post. Happily I do belong to a congregation which I totally agree with in doctrine and this is where we belong right now.

Not here. I am sure if I headed South, I would find one. You see, all the Non-Denominational churches here have created their own type of denomination through their doctrine. Other churches do not believe in the gifts as I do, but are solid in the rest of the word. Others believe in the gifts, but in their doctrine, they state that you are not saved unless you speak in tongues. Then there are those who hardly use scripture, but are more about how to live in today's world, using mans books as reference. Then there are those who say that we have to pay a penitence for our sins, like as if His death needed to be added to. we also have a couple that thinks the gay lifestyle should be accepted and that they will be in heaven despite their actions.

So, I go to a couple of them as God leads and there is always something for me to do for another. I do take their teachings and hold them up to scripture, like we should. I do not feel unwelcome at any church, yet. I just have no "rights" to vote on any matter.

[Smalcald]

Yeah I feel your pain man.

Sometimes we just end up living in an area of the country that we are not going to have choices that work.

In our case I called the denominational people and said look here is the situation and here are my local options which ones would fit? Their response was that I should either move or plant a church right here. I am thinking of the second option, it is a heavy decision I am not sure I am called to do that or not, but maybe I am? I don

[OneLight]

I have also given thought to another church and have asked God for his leading. He pointed me to this scripture. I, for one, do not feel led to start a church in my walk at this time.

2 Peter 1:5-11

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I am still waiting for scripture saying that you need to join a church. And by joining I mean a member. Somehow the words country club keep coming to mind. I join with other Christians for worship and bible study. Plus what about the people who do at home bible study and worship with friends. They are not members (in any official sense) of a church.