What is the purpose for church membership?
Roji Joseph
Dear All,
While I go thru our church membership form, lot of questions came to my mind, may be I cannot discuss all these things through this group, but I need to know, how do you feel? Please feel free to read this article.. "it is taken from a blog http://bible .org/question/what-purpose-church-membership)"
While all believers are members of the body of Christ, there is the issue of each believer’s responsibilities to a local church and its authority in their life through that local body as a whole and its selected leadership as Hebrews 13:7 and 17 teach us, as well as the whole shepherding concept of Acts 28 and the pastoral epistles. In this regard, I believe there are several reasons for membership.
Membership may help to affirm a person’s involvement. It seems to give people a greater sense of belongingness as well as a greater sense of responsibility. Of course, that should come from their walk with the Savior without any such external demonstration as joining a church. Still, it does seem to validate this in people’s minds.
Membership protects the church in the matter of voting on key issues. I have heard of and even been in a situation where people who had not been in the church in years (but were still on the membership role) were brought in to stack the deck in favor of a certain position or issue. Most importantly though, it protects the church against people with unsound doctrinal views or views contrary to a church’s beliefs and Constitution.
Membership can provide a certain amount of protection in legal matters. Today with lawsuits over so many issues like church discipline, it can provide a safeguard. Normally, by signing a membership application or document people are saying they have understood the issues and have submitted themselves to that church, to its doctrine, Constitution, and By-laws, etc. Personally, I think membership requirements should revolve around things like commitment to the church, to its doctrinal beliefs, basic moral issues as clearly outlined in the Word, etc., but should avoid legalistic issues or any coercive elements like promising to give a certain portion of income, or avoiding certain taboos (which always seem to vary with locality). This would entail having a new membership class that all candidates for membership were required to attend before joining. The class should cover the Constitution, but more importantly, the basic beliefs, goals and objectives of the church, and its basic philosophy of ministry (For an illustration see, A Biblical Philosophy of Ministry, on our web site in the “Bible Studies / Pastoral Helps” section).
Membership can be used to acquaint people with the new members by having them come up front to introduce them and maybe by a reception to give people a better opportunity to meet them and get acquainted.
For more information on church membership, you might want to check out, The Nature of the Church, by Earl Radmacher, Western Baptist Press, and The Church in God’s Program, by Robert L. Saucy, Moody Press.
Roji Joseph
Dear all
It’s nice to be one-in Christ Jesus. We are part-takers of His kingdom and building up together to complete the mission that He has bestowed on us.
We have to be more careful and more intelligent than the others. Means He reveals Himself only to us and we are His own brothers and sisters. Do you agree with me?
I was surprised and also feel sad, while I saw the application for church membership and water baptism. I have lot of pain in my heart why this is going like this. This is not joke dear… this not started now, this started from the very beginning of the church. I thought it may be baalya chapalyam, but still it is growing. If somebody said some correction, i.e. acceptable to the Word of God, if I am not willing to accept that, I am under the control of evil spirit. Can you say amen?
How do you know I am not willing to accept, normally I would avoid your future involvement/ I will not ask any advise, even though you are professional in a particular subject/ I have lot of excuses and may not accept any faults. Is it correct?
You may ask, Roji, what happened? Why are you saying all these things?
I don’t have words to explain/ I don’t have words to say (if I say something also the bad/side effects to me only) but think these points: (may be useful when you start a church)
By definition, the church is the gathered people of God. Those who are not a part of that people are welcome as visitors. But membership in a local church only belongs rightly to those who already belong to God by faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Without taking baptism nobody is considered as members (don’t argue about children) so no meaning to say church membership and water baptism. Or if you plan to give water baptism service without church membership it is ok.
What is the main belief of the church? The wording of the form says: “all Christians should follow the Lord Jesus Christ in Water Baptism (fully-immersed) and in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit”
Do you agree with that? I am not. (so I don’t have the eligibility to join this church) You may ask why?
Any fool can believe anything that is not an issue? That is not the case for a collective body.
Do you think all Christians should take baptism as per your requirements? Why not all human beings? Why so many Christian denominations, they have different theological understandings, right? Everybody have their own right and opinions, right? If somebody is willing to accept your church membership, s/he has to take follow the requirements of the church. Am I right? What the main focus of the church? Is it to follow the water baptism of Jesus Christ? How many times? Only one time or everyday (the form is silent) why I have to join the church? Is it the follow Jesus’ water baptism? Ect..
Few more questions (I don’t time to explain)
Do we need to follow Jesus teachings and other Biblical doctrines?
Does she follow Pentecostal teachings?
What is the vision of the church?
What is the criteria/meaning for this church membership?
What is the purpose of this membership?
The “salvation” and “baptism” are they different from biblical doctrines? (notes 2A)
What are the major activities of the church? How the members can involve in it?
Like so many clarifications, came to my mind.
Form layout: very poor (at least we should give some professional to set the form)
I was so upset. That’s why I shared all these things; At least we need some common sense, before do something.
I am really sorry, if its hurts anybody, don’t feel bad, dear brethren, if you are following Christ do things indisputable and live according the biblical doctrine.
God bless
Roji
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Roji joseph
Singapore
Ph.006592368393
Roji Joseph
Hi
I think everybody has some comments, but purposely avoiding the disputes, that is good for our health. Any way some ask me if it is a form for baptism, what is wrong with the first sentence? “All Christians should follow the Lord Jesus Christ in Water Baptism (fully-immersed) and in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit” I also think first the same way only, but when I think what baptism is.
Cultural Dictionary says: “baptism definition is: The ceremony of initiation into Christianity; in most Christian churches, it is considered a sacrament. Persons baptized either have water poured on them or are immersed in water; some groups of Christians insist on immersion. The effect of baptism, in Christian belief, is to cleanse persons of their sins, so that they are born into a new life with Jesus.”
Then tell me, what is your understanding about Baptism? Who needs this? Is it for Christians? Or who is a Christian? One who accepting Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and saviour need to take baptism, without taking baptism anybody will not be a Christian. As per Pentecostal understanding, if somebody is not following His teachings, not a Christian, they called them as “nominal Christian”. Does the “form” mean this nominal Christian?