Major1
Well-Known Member
- Sep 17, 2016
- 10,551
- 2,837
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
I'm curious as to the scriptural support for "memberships"...
In Acts 20:28...…….
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
Paul tells the Ephesian elders to “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.” Their flock was not anyone who showed up or everyone in the city, there was a recognized constituency to this flock for whom the elders would give account.
In Hebrews 13:17...……..
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
The writer says that the church is to respect their elders because “they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” For whom do they watch out and give an account, certainly not all people in the community indiscriminately, for how would they accomplish such a task.
We see repeatedly through the Scriptures that we are to obey those who have the authority over us. One cannot obey the “one another” commands of Scripture apart from a church context.
Some examples:
1. Galatians 6:2...…….
" Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
2. Ephesians 4:2...…….
"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."
3. James 4:11 ...........
"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."
4. James 5:9 ......….
"Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door'!
Upvote
0