They have accepted the Lord...

A person that is unrepentant of any sin would not be allowed membership.

 

Pride, envy, wrath, lust, avarice, greed and sloth included?

 

Of course, why wouldn't they be included?

Do you allow open, unrepentant sinners to join your church?

 

Let's remember that all of us have blind spots that, until the Spirit brings to our attention, we remain blissfully unaware of.

That being said, if they were aware of their sin and its severity, yet showed no remorse or regret, they would probably not be allowed with the understanding that they were welcome to continue visiting with the hope that they would come to find

And churches who wouldn't ever let a homosexual or a couple living together in would let in gossips and slanderers and gluttons and...you name it. As long as it's not sexual sin or theft or something obvious, most churches just don't have a problem with it.

 

Jesus gave the parable of the farmer who went out to sow his wheat and then an enemy came in the nite and sowed tares . . . and the tares grew among the wheat until harvest time-----some of the servants were cleaver observers and wanted to seperate the wheat from the tares---but the farmer was the only one who could honestly seperate the one from the other----its harvest time and the farmer(God) is coming to get His wheat!!!!

 

So does this mean that you would allow someone in open, unrepentant sin to join your church?

 

If Thjey Are SAVED,

They would no longer be practicing ANY of the sins you mention!

For instance, the homosexual would no be a believer who has turned around and headed in a new direction. A direction that is now based upon Christian principles and a heart and flesh that desire a hetrosexual relationship.

They would be welcome into the church once they demonstrate that change of heart, new direction, and hunger for the kind of life their Heavenly Father created for them!

Pastor Paul

 

We don't have to get cleaned up to come to Christ. We come to him first, then he does the cleaning up.

Recently a man we've been praying for over the years accepted Christ and is attending our church. He is a heavy smoker and is dying because of it. If he wants to formally join our church, we will accept him with open arms. The last night he came, we all gathered around him and prayed that God will help him to stop smoking, to take away that desire.

 

Recently lead a couple to the Lord and Baptized them. They have had children together but are not married. They attend church but cannot join until the get married.

 

I know of several churches that have awaiting period for someone to become a member. They send them through a membership class and trainig giving them rules as to what is expected of them as members. I have seen others that allow them full membership upon salvation, then some that have them get certain things straightened out in their life before they become members. If they are truly saved then the life should bear it out and they turn fro whatever would exclude them, most understand and comply.

 

Why should we allow anyone to join? After all we are all sinners, none of us have reached a state of sinless perfection, and in truth none of us deserves to be a church member.

Church membership is over-rated in some aspects and under-rated in others. We tend to major on the minors- shoot at the big sins and let the "smaller" ones slide by.

That is not to excuse the big ones but I don't see anywhere in the NT where Jesus turned anyone away unless they were too proud.

 

We sometimes forget there is a HUGE difference between being saved and being a church member.

No, I don't think we accept into membership those that refuse to abide by the standards the local body has set.

That doesn't equate to "they won't be in heaven."

Just not a member of XYZ Baptist church.

Edited to add: Why on earth would someone ask to join a church that teaches a way of life with which they disagree?

 

The examples of Jesus in the NT that you bring up don't have anything to do with church membership. There are plenty of examples in the NT of the church being told to disassociate with those in open unrepentant sin.

Based on your thoughts on this thread, can I also assume that your church doesn't practice church discipline?

 

Paul, I can't believe I'm hearing this. It is true that we become new creation when we come to faith, but that doesn't mean we no longer struggle with sin. And for all of us, once we are converted, the old habits don't die immediately.

This is just basic soteriology.

 

OH.. you go to the perfect church!... That's right I forgot.. you are IFB.. OF course you don't have any sinners...

I get a chuckle out of my mom...
Every Sunday she calls me to tell me how many are in worship that morning..
And a common statement she makes... is this:

"Timmy, we had 64 in church this morning, and 3 sinners!"...

I chuckle because I can imagine the ushers passing out nametags and asking the people at the door... "Sinner or not?"

Blackbird has it right...

 

So, a person comes to your church and admits they have a gambling problem, but doesn't think there is anything wrong with that and you allow him church membership?

A person comes and admits they are a child molester and doesn't think there is a problem with that and you allow him church membership?

A person comes and admits they are a gossip and doesn't think there is a problem with that and you allow him church membership?

Oh, and since you've resorted to childish tactics with your IFB slamming, I'll throw one in there just for you Tim.

A person comes and admits they are an illegal alien and doesn't think there is a problem with that and you allow him church membership?

You are the pastor of the Laodicean Church, Tim.

 

Let's see...
1. NOPE
2. Nope
3. Nope
4.. depends.. our heavenly citizenship does not depend on our Earthly citizenship... Neither should church membership....
5. Nope... I'm not.. the Laodicean church no longer exists... :laugh:

How perfect does a person have to be before you baptize them?

It boils down to the intent and attitude of the person.. If they recognize there is a problem and need to change.. yep...

If they recognize there is a problem, a sin, but refuses to address it.. NOPE...

The blurry line is when what think is a sin, is different from what they think is a sin.. and the Bible is silent on it... for instance Smoking....

some say it is.. some say it isn't..

And who decides when a person is perfect enough to be baptized? The great and almighty pastor?

What if the person uses an NIV....?
Or believes women can preach.... ?

OR LORD forbid they were saved under a woman evangelist... ?

Or what if the woman refuses to wear dresses... ?

Or what about mixed swimming... ?
What if a woman thinks a bikini is OK but the pastor refuses to baptize her unless she promises to wear a tshirt when she is swimming...?

What if the man thinks he has complete control over his wife?

What if the person is a calvinist and the pastor is a free willer?

What if the person believes in Open communion but the church is closed communion...


HOW many obstacles does a person have to cross to get to Jesus?
How many obstacles does a person have to cross to get to your church membership?

Why do we make it harder to join a church than to become a Christian?

Is it possible we expect more out of people than Jesus does?
Is it possible we have forgotten we are still sinners?

YEP... except for people who go to perfect churches... that are whitewashed on the outside, but on the inside are filled with deadmen's bones..

 

So, let's see you readily admit that you won't allow someone to join your church if they are in open, unrepentant sin (except for illegal aliens, which you make an exception for). Why exactly are you arguing with me then? Simply because you have a problem with IFB churches and you thought this might be a good time to go on another tirade? It's getting old Tim. You condemn IFB churches for the very thing you continually do to IFB churches. You've got such a plank in your own eye that you must be a touch typer, because you certainly aren't looking at the keys.

 

I actually liked that last line, Matt! That was funny.. I'm going to have to remember that...

Maybe I am being blinded by my past experiences with IFBs..
IN my experience.. .they were sooo quick to do church discipline... and that meant "Get rid of the blemish" ... we have to keep the church spotless....

WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR DEFINITION OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE... Which is to help them pick them up and dust them off...

IN that case.. yes we might tolerate someone who is in unrepentant sin in our membership.. because we will be praying for the Holy Spirit to convict them.. and for them to turn around.. and sometimes that takes time..

If we throw them out.. How will they hear the word?
IF we allow them to come... at least they are coming and hearing the word....

Maybe you think the same way as I do.. if so.. I am sorry...