Why do you assume "submission to the teachings and discipline of the church through its pastors and elders"requires formal membership? All Christians are called to do those things, and I've been at more than one church that had no formal membership and had no problem with those issues.
With the exception of the unbiblical teaching to join the church, and the associated coercion that until we do, we cannot exercise our spiritual gifts among the fellowship of the saints there, we submit to the teachings of our current church. We participate in discipline on others and would accept it on ourselves, as we're instructed in the Bible.
Ron Rietsma - 14 years ago
Being a formal member of a church means you also submit yourself to the teachings of the church, and in the denominations I know of, submit to the discipline of the church through it's pastor & elders. Without their help our faith & lives would be faulty. Without formal membership I don't see how the church could provide proper guidance & leadership that we all need.
Comments above would apply to more mainsteam denominations, not to something like Jim Jones' church in South America many years ago.
Kyle van den Heuvel - 14 years ago
Ohhh so you have to be a member to be religious? Sound cultish to me.
Dan Dykstra - 14 years ago
I guess I'm not opposed to being a member of a particular church, but I am uncomfortable with being a member of certain denomination. We are (the Church) all Christians and a part of the same family and that should be enough. Denominations tend to divide in my opinion.
Ron,
Why do you assume "submission to the teachings and discipline of the church through its pastors and elders"requires formal membership? All Christians are called to do those things, and I've been at more than one church that had no formal membership and had no problem with those issues.
With the exception of the unbiblical teaching to join the church, and the associated coercion that until we do, we cannot exercise our spiritual gifts among the fellowship of the saints there, we submit to the teachings of our current church. We participate in discipline on others and would accept it on ourselves, as we're instructed in the Bible.
Being a formal member of a church means you also submit yourself to the teachings of the church, and in the denominations I know of, submit to the discipline of the church through it's pastor & elders. Without their help our faith & lives would be faulty. Without formal membership I don't see how the church could provide proper guidance & leadership that we all need.
Comments above would apply to more mainsteam denominations, not to something like Jim Jones' church in South America many years ago.
Ohhh so you have to be a member to be religious? Sound cultish to me.
I guess I'm not opposed to being a member of a particular church, but I am uncomfortable with being a member of certain denomination. We are (the Church) all Christians and a part of the same family and that should be enough. Denominations tend to divide in my opinion.