Subject: Where does membership come from? |
Bible Note: Of course, it could be asked that if Christian believers did not support the local church and pay their "dues," as you put it, how long would there be such an organism as the local church? And what impact would a total lack of local churches have on Christianity? It is one thing to theorize about the efficacy of belonging to a local church, but it is quite another to cast aside theories and get down to the practical brass tacks and go to work in earnest in Christ's vineyard. There is, after all, a down-to-earth, practical, everyday-toil-and-sweat, dues-paying aspect of Christ's church. They paid their dues in Apostolic times and we must pay ours now. There is no substitute for support of the local church. --Hank |