Church Membership Updates?

Not at all. If a person is sick and unable to attend that is different. Also, if they have been deeply hurt by other believers they may be afraid of the fire. Only after a diligent effort to restore them and after clear evidence that they are no longer walking with the Lord should they be removed from the rolls.

The purpose of church discipline is always restoration. Removal is a last resort only for the impenitent. No, I do not believe in shooting our wounded, did not mean to leave that impression.

 

I love to see how some of ya'll would classify me! Since I am firm in my belief that I'm doing the best I can, I'll open myself up for comment.

I've been to church 5 times since the beginning of the year. One of those times was to a church other than my own. Once was for SS only. Twice was for both SS and preaching. Once was Sunday evening for a special event. No Wednesday church.

Based on this knowledge and this alone, how ya gonna classify me? Am I a carnal Christian? Am I too safe in my salvation? Oh my, maybe I've even stopped trusting..........(okay, sorry but I'm stopping you before you get there).

So, am I getting myself kicked off the church roles?

 

Not at our church you are not. I have some like you and everytime I see them I ask for their help by coming to church but they still don't come as I would like. I have 2 sons who work on the railroad and they can't come over 3 or 4 times a year. One day if time lasts they will have enough years in to be able to be a help to the church more. I would hate to think someone would take their names off for they are two of the finest boys you would ever want to meet.

 

Well that's two votes for me cause I'm obviously not being knocked off our church roles either. Our church doesn't take you off even the SS roles until you're dead and they see the death certificate.

Have you asked 'em why they don't come more often, Brother Bob?

 

MK, there are valid reasons for reasons for not being in church. I don't presume to know what yours are. But if someone skips a service just so they can sleep in late or to watch something on TV then there is a problem.

The Scripture exhorts us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves. That is not something to be taken lightly.

A family I know used to be in the ministry. The wife can not always make services because they have several small children. Now, she does teach SS every now again because she is spiritually able and willing. In their church they draw a differance between her missing services and someone missing services because they are down right lazy.

Let me ask this. If someone habitually skips church for the wrong reasons do you really want them part of the decision making process in the church? Do you really want them part of the leadership and set up as an example?

 

Everytime I see them they feel guilty and come up to me and say they will try to do better and come a time or two and right back to not coming. If you mean my sons their job won't let them off and nowadays they don't care about no church. Used to be they would try to help the employees but not any more.

 

Hmph! I know all about jobs that have no respect for worship services and consider that a valid excuse most of the time. However in our community you can find a worship service on several different nights of the week. Our churches are slowly coming around to the idea that worship doesn't have to just be on Sunday and Wednesday. Sometimes you do have to dig around a bit to find those off night services.

It doesn't help me to feel guilty. I'm stuck where I'm at. And even though someone appears to feel guilty doesn't actually mean they have something to feel guilty about. I was raised to attend church every time the doors were opened, so even though I know I can't do such, it doesn't stop me from feeling guilty. Unless you KNOW they are just not coming, don't assume their guilt is evidence of lazyness. It may just be wishful thinking.

mnw, here's the thing, unless the church is willing to send someone out to actually check on folks to see why they aren't coming to church, then the church should not assume that folks are just lazy and laying out.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've been spontaneously visited or called by members of my church that I'm not close friends with. In a large church such as ours people tend to get lost and then when the attendance count goes down, everyone wonders why. Well the why is that folks get lost if they don't quickly make close friends because everyone thinks that someone else in the church is keeping up.

 

Not at all. If a person is sick and unable to attend that is different. Also, if they have been deeply hurt by other believers they may be afraid of the fire. Only after a diligent effort to restore them and after clear evidence that they are no longer walking with the Lord should they be removed from the rolls.

The purpose of church discipline is always restoration. Removal is a last resort only for the impenitent. No, I do not believe in shooting our wounded, did not mean to leave that impression. </font>[/QUOTE]I agree wholeheartedly.

Interesting enough, I was reading last week a discussion about this very topic on the Founders Blog in which Tom Ascol is submitting a resolution to the Convention calling for truth in reporting numbers. I will see if I can find it and post it.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Blackbirds, unfriendly "A" letters all had paw prints on the back.

 

Dr. Fuss,

This resolution being submitted to the Convention by a Calvinist on the Founders Blog would seem to contradict your theory:

Resolution on Church Discipline and integrity in reporting Church Membership Numbers

Joseph Botwinick

 

Yes me too, just that RJ's OP didn't come off that way. Now i understand where he is coming from

 

What in the world are you talking about, at least as to this thread?

Ed

 

I think maybe Gib posted to the wrong thread.

For enlightenment as to the meaning of his post, go read for a while in the Pit Stop down in the All Other Discussions forum.

 

Also, not to get off the subject, but for those who support closed communion (I do not), it seems that a weak or nonexistant standard for church membership weakens the Lords Supper for those who pracitce closed, because your membership role is the definition of closed communion.

 

saturneptune;
Are you kidding? Communion is for the children of God not the world. Would you let the Catholic take it with you? We sure have a closed communion for all those of the same faith and practice and in good standing at their home church.

 

This is not a thread for a debate on communion. If your church practices closed communion, that is your business. A weak membership standard weakens your standard for closed communion. As far as who takes it at our church, its as the Bible says, examine yourself. We do not define and analyze other faiths. How can someone be in good standing who hasnt been there in several years? What is your definition of same faith? I doubt someone from our church could take communion in your church, but your members would be welcome in ours.

 

You got that right. You are the one who led the discussion off thread, not me.

 

I feel that a Christian who is in the will of God and is walking in the spirit will want to attend church everytime the doors are open. I enjoy and look forward to attending church.