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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | jalanlambert | 123224 | ||
I personally agree with your understanding of Gods word. However I don't believe that the body can be identified by man. God looks upon the heart and knows who the true body of Christ is, even in the local Church. We do a poor job of identifying what part of the body we really are. Often times members of the body don't function as they should, then other body parts take on their responsibility. The idea that some group of believers needs to label each other as Church Members is a human need and serves no benefit to God. The true believer will serve the Lord no mater where God has placed him. | ||||||
2 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | JCrichton | 123284 | ||
Hi, jalanlambert! I respect you opinion... still it is my obligation to counsel you to rethink your position. True, we are in the world. But we are not meant to be of the world. The Church was established by Christ and it is our duty as Christians to nourish and maintain the Body of Christ--not the Spiritual Body, in which we have no authority nor means to influence as we are only made in God's image--and not God. But the physical Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and the Foundation. Instead of looking at man and his limitations, we should seek the Lord and labor to correct the errors found in the Church: we should'nt strive to dismantle the Church since God has ordained her!: since, as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; and as the Chruch is subject to Christ, so should wives be to their husbands, in everythig. husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy by washing her in cleansing water with a form of words, so that when he took the Church to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbans must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because we are parts of his Body. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and the two become one flesh. This mystery has great significance, but I am applying it to Christ and the Church. (Ephesians 5:23-32) God Bless! Angel |
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3 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | jalanlambert | 123336 | ||
Angel, I totally agree with you kalos and Rowdy concerning the establishment of the local church. I agree that it is an absolute necessity for the furtherence of the gospel and the building up of the saints. I believe in working in the local church as a member of that body and the submission to it's leadership. We as believers are to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1) I have listened to your posts for a couple of months and enjoy and appreciate the committment you have shown to teach and share the gospel of Christ. Thank you. What I am having trouble understanding is the value of placing our name on a church roster. It seems fleshly to me. God already knows the true members of the body. It can't be for His benefit or glory. So why do we do it? I know of members of our local church that are members by name only. They don't participate in the body function, but now because they have membership in our church they represent us all while in the community. Sometimes this is quite embarassing and reflects poorly. I worry that unsaved might mistake membership with the church with being saved. My local church lets the congregation vote on new members by lifting hands while the person watches. It appears to be more of a popularity vote, and of course everyone wants to see new members. Shouldn't it be enough to love the Lord, fellowship with the body while using the God given talents He has given us to carry out His Great Commission, while in submission to the leaders in that body. I personally don't see how my name being added to our church roster in any way benefits me or God. Thank you for your patience and willingness to let me speak. The forum is a great tool for learning. Jal |
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4 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | JCrichton | 123700 | ||
Hi, Jal! I understand exactly what you are saying… part of the problem is that the Church has become a place of congregation, as common as the mall or any other public environment: a place where people show up, drop their tithes, do some sing-a-long, throw in some Amens, meet their acquaintances, get some “feel-good” emotions and… viola, they have fulfilled their daily/weekly/monthly Christian obligations! What we do individually matters to God--not what others do or do not do. Christ command to Peter was a general command to all disciples: “build my Church!”--paraphrased. Our task, as Christians, is not to sample every thing there is and accept certain things while rejecting others… Our task is to be faithful to Christ! Part of that fidelity can be demonstrated by enlightening the Church, correcting the errors that it may have, and uniting the Church--all of these task require love, humility and patience. Wondering from place to place will not accomplish this! Falling for whatever new doctrine that emerges will only accomplish more schism of the Body! It is your task, as that of every single Christian, not to find and point out the faults in the Church, but to work to eradicate them once found! And, to just dismantle the Church is definitely not the answer! Do not worry about you giving a thousand percent when others seem to just be parasites and leeches… our calling is to give a thousand percent, or 10 percent if that is all we are able to give (time, labor, financial support…), to the Lord without regards to anyone else’s offerings (check out the parable of the laborers and the vineyard--Matthew 20:1-16). Labor to build the Church and do not allow Satan to use the weaknesses of others to rob you of the beauty of serving our Lord, Jesus Christ. Maran atha! Angel |
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