The congregation has to vote to accept you??? On what biblical basis could they possible claim to have that as a requirement??
The Southern Baptist church my membership is currently held, also required a congregational vote.
I had been attending for quite a few months, and I had spent some time with the pastor. the monthly business meeting is when the vote took place. I had no conditional acceptance before this congregational vote, only the hand of fellowship from the pastor.
They typically would receive someone based on a transfer of SBC membership, or a letter of approval from a different congregation.
Considering I had no prior affiliation with the SBC, I was simply received on my statement of faith.
Please ask yourself why in the world you would want to be a member of this church. Pray about it. Then don't go back.
Ummm, HUH ?!?
It may simply be a matter of God wanting him to be there. Maybe to grow in a somewhat unconventional manner.
I remember when I moved from K.C.'s Northland area, where I had been with a Bible Church for several years, to Eastern Jackson County (40 minutes east). After a while of not finding a solid church to attend, God directed me to an Assembly of God.
I disagreed with an awful lot of their teachings, not to mention the Charismatic excesses.
I prayed about it - a lot. And every time I prayed, it was the same answer. Finally, I spoke pretty boldly to God about it, saying "What possible good could come from something like that? I can't believe you would send me to some place I totally disagree with. You think I want to go argue every week?"
His answer was "I want you to be involved in a change in that church."
Ummm, ok. And just how much change is there going to be in ANY denominational church?
But, considering that was the only thing I was hearing from Him, I determined that I would go until I heard otherwise. I was shocked after the first month and a half.
Five out of the first six messages were part of a series titled - Changing the Church
What ?!? WOW, that had me excited. I was going to straighten them up doctrinally, in practice, the whole shootin' match. And it was God ordained - or so I thought.
I saw an elder from the Bible Church one day, and told him where God had led me, and he had the same reaction as you - God wouldn't send you to a church like that. Well, little did he know what God had for me
I talked with the AoG pastor about eternal security, which was my big issue. Sort of like how Evangelist seems to have election on the tip of his tongue all the time
But that wasn't what God had in mind for that church, or me
There was hypocrisy running rampant, immature believers set on the flesh, and just a big mess. I got caught up in unfounded accusations after praying with a female after a service, and was met with some blunt legalism that really hurt.
I had talked with the pastor and the music pastor about these issues, and some was brought to the forefront and challenged because of me.
I was involved in a change in that church, alright. But not the kind of change I had in mind. After the buzz saw I encountered there, I desired so much to be part of a normal body of believers, that I didn't care one bit if I agreed with all their doctrine.
That's when God directed me to FBC. I already knew I didn't agree with everything they teach, but I didn't care. I needed functional fellowship, and that's what I found there.
Now here's the part where I was changed - I learned how to respectfully interact with people I disagree with. God was working on ME at that AoG church, and then at the SB church.
He made me see something I could not see before, that I am not the sole truth-bearer on this planet, and that there are genuine believers on the other side of every debatable issue within orthodoxy. That fellowship in the body is just as important as truth
Now, I am at a very small church, and it is full of very fragile Christians. I have talked with the pastor at great length, and he's at a place where he's questioning the church's long held AoG-type beliefs.
He's been praying, for a couple of years, that God would send men who can teach the scriptures. He's sick of seeing excesses based on private revelation, and sick of believing based on gut feelings and tradition.
He wants his congregation to learn the scriptures, and has been praying for God to send teachers. Would you believe that 4 years ago God told me that I would be heavily involved with this little church?
I had no idea why, but waited on Him to direct me, and He has. I've been there 4 months, and already have been established as bible teacher.
And here's the kicker. I have learned how to treat them with gentleness, because they need it. They are fragile, and have almost zero biblical understanding. Everything has been experiential up to this point. But they want to know scripture, and don't need someone hammering them, like I would have done a few years ago
See, I don't believe God has to get your permission to send Evangelist to this church.
I know, I know, He's run so many of His past decisions by you before deciding where to send someone. It's hard to fathom that God works on people any way other than your way
I told part of this to Evangelist a little while back, when he was asking for advice on this church.
And I would hope he would take only part of your advice - pray about it.
Then, I would caution you to let God give the answer, and not you. You tell someone to pray about something, then get in God's way to give the answer yourself?
