What is your take on church membership? Is it necessary? What is the basis for it?
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
Church Membership
- Thread starter sicjoy
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MAS0N
Newbie
"Necessary" is all relative.
Necessary to the Lord? No.
At my church, if you want to be a leader, you have to go through church membership. If God is calling you to be a leader at such a church, than yes, it's necessary.
Is it a good idea? Definitely. Typically, you can learn more about the church and ask questions and get more info. It's also a way to let a church know that you see that church as YOUR church. Hope this helps...
Necessary to the Lord? No.
At my church, if you want to be a leader, you have to go through church membership. If God is calling you to be a leader at such a church, than yes, it's necessary.
Is it a good idea? Definitely. Typically, you can learn more about the church and ask questions and get more info. It's also a way to let a church know that you see that church as YOUR church. Hope this helps...
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Completely agree.
I am not asking this defiantly or in a negative tone, but why is it necessary to be a "member" of a church in order to be a leader?
Understandable. Aren't we all the "church," though?
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MAS0N
Newbie
At our church we have different levels of involvement. For instance, we have volunteers (usher, greeter, etc) and leaders (teacher, small group leader, etc).
Membership is good because we want our leaders to understand our church structure, how the board interfaces with the pastor, our discipleship philosophy and a host of other items: beliefs, leadership structure, ministry opportunities, tithing, etc. Membership class ensures our leaders are all on the same page.
Yes, we are all the church (theologically speaking as believers in Christ), but not everyone is a committed member of the church (local assembly). Membership helps with the latter.
Membership is good because we want our leaders to understand our church structure, how the board interfaces with the pastor, our discipleship philosophy and a host of other items: beliefs, leadership structure, ministry opportunities, tithing, etc. Membership class ensures our leaders are all on the same page.
Yes, we are all the church (theologically speaking as believers in Christ), but not everyone is a committed member of the church (local assembly). Membership helps with the latter.
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sk8Joyful
Well-Known Member
It does.
as Gandhi said: "I LIKE your Christ.
I do NOT like your christians. Your christians are so
unlike your Christ"or
more to the point, the Bible (as God/Jesus'
LOVE-notes to us), describes most christians as this: "[FONT="]Matt 7:15-23 [/FONT][FONT="]Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.[/FONT]"
at CF, (all but a few) members... have Convinced me, from church to STAY AWAY
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MAS0N
Newbie
What are you talking about? Membership? Are you saying you're offended because a church offers a membership class? You are easily offended then. My version of Christian faith makes me a LOT less sensitive than that.
The Bible clearly offers standards for church leadership: 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.
The love and grace of God are unconditional. Church leadership positions are not. Of course, you would have to actually be a part of a church body to understand that.
When I said it's not mandatory to the Lord, it was in the context of salvation and fellowship with Jesus. However, if it's a functional mechanism of a community of believers, then it may be beneficial for those in that community. Nobody at our church is frowned upon for not going thru a membership class. I'm not passionate about membership classes either, I was simply addressing someone's question.
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Thank you for the clarification and your input. Much appreciated.
It does.
as Gandhi said: "I LIKE your Christ.
I do NOT like your christians. Your christians are so
or
more to the point, the Bible (as God/Jesus'
as this: "[FONT="]Matt 7:15-23 [/FONT][FONT="]Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.[/FONT]"
at CF, (all but a few) members... have Convinced me, from church to STAY AWAY
Great points and that's where my question originates from.
We as believers are supposed to take the church leadership as the authorities of this or that church...the most reliable, the most truthful...yet they are human flesh. When I become a "member" that makes me that more reliable or committed? Wouldn't that make church membership something we as humans developed to satisfy our own desires or to control a situation versus what God truly wants for us?
Did we make church membership so we know that "Johnny" and "Jill" will be sure to show up for the fellowship, bible study, meeting, or tithe that they vowed to; what would make "Johnny" and "Jill" any different than me other than they became a church "member?"
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MAS0N
Newbie
No, you're over-simplifying my answer. We have layers of development for leaders. Membership is one of them. Leaders are accountable to the dept they serve in (youth, children, worship, small groups, guest services). The dept leaders have trainings, discipleship, leadership development, etc. Leaders also need to be water baptized, faithful attenders, etc.
Going to a single membership class is just one of the things we ask of leaders. I find that new believers that are becoming church leaders for the first time find the class most helpful. It's also a chance to connect with our lead pastor. In a church of 800 people, its a special opportunity to hear his heart and make a connection with him.
You have to have processes that allow for leadership development and proper appointing. Some people see this stuff as "man's agenda," but they're not, they're Biblical. The chief biblical texts that develop the requirements of leaders are: 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 2 Timothy 2:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 6:1-6, and Exodus 18:21-22.
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MAS0N
Newbie
I almost forgot another essential reason: Church membership is the class people take if they want to be able to vote at business meetings. The most common voting item at a business meeting for our church is voting on a new board member. This is important, because the board is supposed to represent the people to the lead pastor. But, if people don't understand how things work, how will they be able to vote effectively? Thus, Membership Class.
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Stop Dating the Church is an excellent book that addresses this question. I believe it is about commitment (As well as agreement with what Mason has already stated). It is similar to a marriage. I made a commitment to my husband and I made the vows, have papers and such to show my commitment. I want the church that I attend to know that I have made a commitment to them. I have committed to helping further the kingdom with them. I have committed to attend regularly and to be held accountable as well as hold my brothers and sisters accountable. I think I would be concerned if someone was in leadership and they weren't a member of the church - just b/c I would want to know if they believe the same core doctrine that the church I belong to does or will they teach something contrary - and contrary to God's word. Being a member helps to prevent such thing from happening - false teaching - that doesn't mean it won't happen, but it helps to prevent it from happening. From my experience, church membership has been a very positive thing - I am confident that my brothers and sisters 'have my back' - I can count on my church family for support, etc - not that that can't happen without membership, but it is helpful. I love my church family, therefore I am confident in making a commitment to them. We are all sinners, we all fall short of the glory of God, but we practice GRACE.
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I jokingly said "I guess there isn't a book called "Don't Marry Your Church".
The more I think about it, the more I think there should be. After all, the Church is already married - To Jesus Christ, I don't want to steal his girl!
I will "be" the church in the sense that I am part of it, but I'm not going to marry the church in the sense of signing a formal membership contract. We will remain "just friends".
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In one sense, you need to be a member of the Church to be saved. If you're not a member of the Body of Christ, how can you have His life in you? Think about it, if you cut off one of your own members, it'll shrivel up and die. So you need to be baptized into the one Body in the one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13), partake of the one bread as one Body (1 Cor. 10:17), profess the One Lord, one faith, one Baptism (Eph 4:4-5). Like Noah's ark, you gotta be on board (as the Bible says, like Noah's ark in the flood, Baptism now saves (1 Peter 3:20-21), and as I mentioned earlier, we are baptized into one Body, apart from which, one cannot be saved--so the ark and the Body have the same significance in this regard).
In regards to filling out a form or registering at a local church, it can be helpful on a practical level, but I don't think it's some immutable commandment from God. In the Catholic Church there's no universal rule about registering, but it seems common in North America to encourage it for various practical reasons (such as budgeting, helping to determine the distribution of priests and deacons--a local church known to have more people will be more likely to get more help than one with less-- etc.).
In regards to filling out a form or registering at a local church, it can be helpful on a practical level, but I don't think it's some immutable commandment from God. In the Catholic Church there's no universal rule about registering, but it seems common in North America to encourage it for various practical reasons (such as budgeting, helping to determine the distribution of priests and deacons--a local church known to have more people will be more likely to get more help than one with less-- etc.).
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Luther073082
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Offically joining a church, I wouldn't say it's absolutly necessary but the scriptures are clear that God wants you to be in a relationship with other Christians and come together to worship him.
So at the very least you should regularly attend a church.
And if you are regularly attending a church for a while and you intend to in the future. . . why not join it offically?
So at the very least you should regularly attend a church.
And if you are regularly attending a church for a while and you intend to in the future. . . why not join it offically?
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CounselorForChrist
Senior Veteran
In America membership seems very common. I realize its due to the fact there are thousands of diffrent views out there when it comes to being a christian. But I think its overboard really. One pastor told me they have a membership and ask questions so they don't get members who have diffrent views arguing with others and forcing their view on others.
The church I go to I love alot. But I will never "join" it. I don't believe in memberships. And whats funny is the church is still full of people with diffrent views anyways. Most all of the members are pretrib people, but the pastor is midtrib.
The church I go to I love alot. But I will never "join" it. I don't believe in memberships. And whats funny is the church is still full of people with diffrent views anyways. Most all of the members are pretrib people, but the pastor is midtrib.
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