Church Membership

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benjohnson said:
We require dispensation as well… sadly, our theology about marriage isn’t quite as robust at Catholic theology (to our detriment in my opinion.)

If you ask me, marriage and contraceptive theology are to areas where broader Christianity should look to our Catholic friends for guidance.
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Amen! I love when my Christian brothers and sisters show up to pro-life campaigns and fight for the sanctity of traditional marriage, etc <3
 
SyroMalankara said:
You know better than your new denomination…
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I do not believe that I ever said that I know better than my church, however, as I said I have not read anywhere in the Bible that says one must sign a membership agreement to attend church.
SyroMalankara said:
just get an online minister license and operate a Bible study, worship on Sunday in your basement or garage. Invite whoever agrees with everything you do to attend and even lead.
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I may just do that. Make it a small house church. I did start classes at the Christian Leader’s Institute a few weeks ago. The classes are free and thorough.
SyroMalankara said:
If they disagree with one iota of your interpretation, ask him to find another church or start his or her own.
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I would never do that.
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
I am sorry that you had that experience, however I do not believe that happens to every non-Catholic church.
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There was just a couple in the reformation. Now there are thousands. All came from a split or new creation do to no acceptable choice by the founder.

It may not happen in your lifetime in your church, but it will happen. It’s inevitable.

That’s not to say there aren’t good things there, there are, but the problems are the same as Catholicism, just repackaged.

In my opinion it’s far greater actually.

That church has an elder board (magesterium) and senior pastor (pope).

They are asking you to submit to them and their authority, it’s just they may have fewer rules. In my experience fewer rules led to tremendously more conflict and confusion.
 
Jon_S said:
There was just a couple in the reformation. Now there are thousands. All came from a split or new creation do to no acceptable choice by the founder.

It may not happen in your lifetime in your church, but it will happen. It’s inevitable.

That’s not to say there aren’t good things there, there are, but the problems are the same as Catholicism, just repackaged.

In my opinion it’s far greater actually.

That church has an elder board (magesterium) and senior pastor (pope).

They are asking you to submit to them and their authority, it’s just they may have fewer rules. In my experience fewer rules led to tremendously more conflict and confusion.
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I thank you for your response, however I am just going to say that I disagree.
 
It seems to me that your issue is with the idea that the Church should have any authority in a Christian’s life. From what you have written, it sounds like you are one of those I-answer-to-no-one-but-God types. In order to be happy, you need to find a religious community that work with that sentiment. If one is not available to you, then you have to decide if joining the non-denominational church is worth compromising on that issue. There are probably some non-denom churches that preach that everyone is his own authority, but must don’t. In fact, some of them have any number of bizarre written and unwritten rules and they have no problem with excommunicating anyone who doesn’t follow them and anyone else who doesn’t like it. The frustrating thing is that these rules can be subject to change with the election of a new church board or the employment of a new pastor. It’s really hard to find a completely authority-free community to worship in.
 
Thank you to all those who responded, even those whom I do not agree with.

I think I have my answer and how to proceed, which I mentioned a couple pages back. I am just going to stay the course at this new church and see what happens without signing the membership form.
 
Allegra said:
It seems to me that your issue is with the idea that the Church should have any authority in a Christian’s life. From what you have written, it sounds like you are one of those I-answer-to-no-one-but-God types. In order to be happy, you need to find a religious community that work with that sentiment. If one is not available to you, then you have to decide if joining the non-denominational church is worth compromising on that issue. There are probably some non-denom churches that preach that everyone is his own authority, but must don’t. In fact, some of them have any number of bizarre written and unwritten rules and they have no problem with excommunicating anyone who doesn’t follow them and anyone else who doesn’t like it. The frustrating thing is that these rules can be subject to change with the election of a new church board or the employment of a new pastor. It’s really hard to find a completely authority-free community to worship in.
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I never said that. This new church does have authority over it’s congregation, however, it’s not overly authoritative. Follow the commands of Jesus is what they expect us to do. They want us to love God and others above ourselves.

They haven’t gone on to make more rules and stipulations than what is in the Bible.

As I said in my reply right above this one. I have come to a conclusion and that is what I am going to do.
 
I was raised as a Southern Baptist. We were never required to sign a contract to belong to the church. After I became saved, I had to meet with the pastor so that he could determine my understanding and sincerity. Then I made a public profession of faith. And then I was baptized by full immersion.

I found this contract. I don’t know whether it is similar.

In any case, I would hate to go to any church where I felt shackled. John 8:36: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”

I wish you well in your spiritual journey. And I pray God leads you to the truth.
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
I never said that. This new church does have authority over it’s congregation, however, it’s not overly authoritative. Follow the commands of Jesus is what they expect us to do. They want us to love God and others above ourselves.

They haven’t gone on to make more rules and stipulations than what is in the Bible.

As I said in my reply right above this one. I have come to a conclusion and that is what I am going to do.
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Except for the tithing and the signing of the agreement.
 
Allegra said:
Except for the tithing and the signing of the agreement.
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So far we haven’t been required to sign the membership form and we may never be required. I do know that so far there has been no difference in how we are treated.

The pastor’s wife even picked my wife up from the hospital when I was unable to do so.
 
Compared to the Catholic church, no, not overly authoritative.

As I said, we have not been required to sign it as of yet, and we may never be required to.
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
So far we haven’t been required to sign the membership form and we may never be required. I do know that so far there has been no difference in how we are treated.

The pastor’s wife even picked my wife up from the hospital when I was unable to do so.
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The question you should probably ask is what will happen if you don’t sign it? Will you not be allowed to officially join? What will be the consequences of that? Most likely, you will still be allowed to attend and I’m sure they will still be nice to you and help you if you need it, but there might be some consequences. You might not be allowed to vote for board members or join the choir or enroll your kids in their school. etc. This might or might not be important to you, but you probably want to find out. I’m not sure why a church would have an agreement if they don’t expect people to agree to it.
 
Allegra said:
The question you should probably ask is what will happen if you don’t sign it? Will you not be allowed to officially join? What will be the consequences of that? Most likely, you will still be allowed to attend and I’m sure they will still be nice to you and help you if you need it, but there might be some consequences. You might not be allowed to vote for board members or join the choir or enroll your kids in their school. etc. This might or might not be important to you, but you probably want to find out. I’m not sure why a church would have an agreement if they don’t expect people to agree to it.
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Thank you. I will ask him on Sunday.

It’s also not important to us. I am not one for voting for board members, don’t think there even are board members. Neither of us can sing and they do not have a school, just a youth program which our daughter is already part of each Sunday.
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
Yes, and as such, those who are part of a non-Catholic religion should be protected from Catholics.

Other Christian forums that I am part of do things that way.
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This is said without malice, but why aren’t you on those other Christian forums asking them this question?

p.s. It would protect you from the Catholics on this forum who might proselytize you. 😉
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
I never said that. This new church does have authority over it’s congregation, however, it’s not overly authoritative. Follow the commands of Jesus is what they expect us to do. They want us to love God and others above ourselves.

They haven’t gone on to make more rules and stipulations than what is in the Bible.

As I said in my reply right above this one. I have come to a conclusion and that is what I am going to do.
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Except the membership contract they want you to sign.
 
josie_L said:
This is said without malice, but why aren’t you on those other Christian forums asking them this question?

p.s. It would protect you from the Catholics on this forum who might proselytize you. 😉
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I have, however I am going by Proverbs 15:22.

NKJV
“Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
 
josie_L said:
Except the membership contract they want you to sign.
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I have already replied to others who have mentioned that.

In comparison to the Catholic church, they are not overly authoritative.
 
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