Results 1 - 9 of 9
|
|
|||||
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 | forever_prophet | 123114 | ||
Where does the modern day notion of church membership come from? Where is the scriptural derivation of such a practice? We, who have accepted God's salvation through Christ Jesus are already a members of the body and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. So why is membership to a local "cell" stressed so? | ||||||
2 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | Edd | 123145 | ||
I would like to share this with you. Lately I have not attended Church services on a regular basic, fed up with hoopla without the power of God, all talk and no action, congregations condemnation without biblical support, Church house full of converts whom have establish their own righteousness’ omitting the righteousness of God, and Preachers who will not preach to then or us the word of God, spending hours talking about worldly circumstance, situation and events; instead of preaching the word of God, which deliver my soul every time I hear it, read it or see it’s manifestations. However, it has saddened me to witness these LACK OF occurrences in some of our local churches houses. Nevertheless, God is not finished with the restoration of our soul. When Jesus said it is finished he was referring to his works on the cross, as it pertains to our salvation and this is not to say that my works in the body of Christ finished are I would already be with the dead in Christ. Therefore, God has helps me to enter the church. In this case the church building which is somewhat different than the actual church as in the body of Christ. So, I drag my self through the front doors of church building, praising God with hope for change soon to come, before I waste away in some powerless assembly calling it’s self a local church,Oh lord My God Please help us and have mercy . Here is a testimony, last weekend we went camping, route to campsite I noticed a church building, on Sunday I went and attended the service. The word of God was powerful the Preach readied scriptures straight-out the bible, it really touch my heart made me all watery eyed. At the end of Service communion was severed. One of the brothering invited me to participate in the Lord’s Supper. So, with the smell camping on my body, and wooly hair, I must have looked as thought I lived in the forest, because I didn’t look like any one else in the congregation, but I was having holy communion with my brothers and sister in a far away place. It seem as thought the congregation did not even notice my outward appearance. All the time while attending the church services, I had not spoken one word. After the service were completed, and we were exiting the building, one of the brothering greeted me and said "do I Know you from some where" he implied, Seen you at a health club or somewhere; as he was trying to place me, I answered him, No! "This is my first time visiting this area, but I do have a health club membership but don’t use it" at that very moment, as I spoke these words to the gentleman, the spirit of God spoke to me and said "you have a membership in the body of Christ and you don’t use it." I believe that God wants us to use our Church membership; it’s benefits and privileges. It is something special that people of God have and the world do not have. For the saint of God to have such asset, connection to the throng of God and not to use it, is the same as to not have such saving grace at all. We are then viewed and having allowed ourselves to become just as the people of the world, with no difference in _______________. |
||||||
3 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 123150 | ||
I would respond to you with a reminder about the Lord's parable about sowing seed from Matt 13. In this case, Jesus provides his own interpreation as follows. 18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." So you see, some congregations take on a personality much like a person does and thus can become like one of the four types of soil in this parable. Some congregations are very good, full of spirit and truth and some are only existing in their last few days, but then there are all those in between those two extremes. It's up to us as God's children to do our part and inspect the fruit of the congregations and confirm they truly are reflecting God's Word in their midst. We must continue searching for that ideal group so we can "grow where we're planted" by our Lord and then be productive ourselves. Each of us must take up our own cross from the Lord and bear its burden, remaining faithful till death, Rev 2:10. Hope this helps and God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
4 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | Edd | 123179 | ||
Rowdy, This is a very good analogy, and scripture references, thank-you. Edd |
||||||
5 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 123194 | ||
I must say you and Forever Prophet are getting a lot of good responses with several good scriptures in support. I'm sure you already know my position on the matter but I'd just like to give some advice from someone who's tried that road of self-sufficency and isolation. For one thing, it's not pleaseant. When you get in a bind, socially, emotionally or spiritually, you don't have anyone in whom you can really trust with your deepest thoughts, your inner most feelings. Second thing is the big danger. As I mentioned it sounds if you all come from the perspective as being strong enough to be a christian on your own and not needing a regular membership in a local congregation. The biggest danger I see in that scenario is the fact you're not going to recognize when you need to be humbled. Make no mistake, when you're out by self and not getting checked on by a fellow strong brother who knows you like a brother should, being as strong as you are, you're probably going to grow just a little TOO independent and NOT realize your need for dependence on God. Then you're going to run into a BIG humbling by the main Man, Himself and I didn't like it when it happened to me. Like I said I've been down that road and the Lord has humbled me. I "saw the light" and repented after getting my share of bumps and bruises. So keep this advice in mind as you journey along in your spiritual walk with God. He knows us best because He created us and He knows we need the fellowship and leadership from our local congregation. Remember "Am I my brother's keeper?" was NOT a rhetorical question. God's answer to that question is a definite Yes. You need to be in the congregation doing your share of keeping someone straight WITH love and then when it's your turn, someone who truly loves you will straighten you out. Remember, all of us strong, bull-headed and confident bucks need some guidance now and again. I know...I'm as stubborn as they come, just ask my wife. I sincerely hope this helps, dear friend and God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
6 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | jalanlambert | 123232 | ||
You speak as if I don't believe that we need church membership that we are somehow going it alone and have no checks and balances. I attend a local assembly that has memberships, however I choose not to belong to this Club with its rules. Isn't Gods order for the Church enough? Must I play the game of being accepted by the Church body because I tell them that I want to belong? I don't think so. Why must we call ourselves members of something that we already have membership in. Is the local church membership a better one than the Lord as given? It is entirely mans effort to control. JAL | ||||||
7 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 123244 | ||
I've noticed there's quite a few posts lodged on this thread, so maybe you've missed some or all of mine. Their numbers are 123115, 123150 and 123194. You can find any post by inserting this no in the Quick Search in the upper right corner of your screen or in this case, just look for my name on the thread. In my posts, I've cited several scriptures, the sum total of which, clearly indicate God wants us to be a vital, genuine and hard working member under the leadship of the elders appointed to lead that particular congregation. If we find a congregation that IS following God's Word, then it's up to us as submissive and obedient children of God to humble ourselves and submit to their leadership. If you don't agree with some of the things they're doing AND they're available for discussion as items the NT allows for options, then maybe you can influence a "wave" of change. But this is usually done only after you've invested some time and effort into the congregation showing your willingness to be an active part of that group of christians. If you're not an actual, devoted member of the hard-working bunch of christians in a particular congregation but prefer to stay on the periphery or the outer edge of that group, then you get what's coming to you, which is a reflection of what you put into it. If on Judgment Day, you are still in this condition, the Lord might question your true loyalty to Him and He might hesitate to confess your name to His Father as being one of His, but of course that's between you and God. You see, we're suppose to draw nearer and nearer to God and He will draw nearer to us. We're also supposed to grow and take on more responsibilities and develop our talents as cited in Jesus' parables. Hope this helps and God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
8 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | jalanlambert | 123267 | ||
Rowdy, I appreciate your comments and your understanding of the Word of God. I believe that your goal in answering on this subject is to help. Thank you for that. The place that I differ with you is regarding the need for registered members of the local church. You said that it is important for us to be an active part of the local assembly, and devoted to a hard bunch of christians. I couldn't agree with you more. However, why would I need to do anything more? What is it that requires my name on some church roster. If I am already doing Gods will for my life and active in the church ministries, why would God ask me to sigh on to something that I have already committed to? The problem I see with mans membership is that it can't add one thing to bring glory to God or the furtherence of the Gospil that the born again christian can't do withoout church membership. Jal | ||||||
9 | Where does membership come from? | NT general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 123269 | ||
I can only suggest your re-reading all of my posts on this thread. You seem to have missed my most important bottom line conclusion. The way I see God's Word, He doesn't give us an option. Either we become a part of the actual devoted, hard working christian we know we should be or we might not make it to Heaven. It's my conclusion that if we're not fruitful in the "Lord's vineyard," He'll cut us off as being unproductive and cast us in the everlasting fires of Hell. I do hope you'll continue studying and praying on this subject. This is NOT just merely important...it's crucial to our salvation. God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||