Membership

question#1 sitting at table
question#2 they wouldn't let me in here otherwise.
oh! you mean church don't you? / have not been to a church where they don't ask for membership,as for wal-mart,toys-r-us,burgerqueen,macdonalds,etc.
those are life sustaining questions usually mine!

 

Sorry Scott_Bushey, but the question is not clear. Are you inquiring membership priviledges to the Frequent Flyer Club or what?

 

I think Scott meant the Calvin Counter-Culture Committee of Commited Calvinists Council.

(Sorry, Scott,,I couldn't resist it....)

Cheers,

Jim

 

This is a good question. We are currently attending a church in which we have been faithful but are not official members. There are a few issues that we don't necessarily agree with and because of this we haven't joined. It has been brought up, even from the pulpit, but to do so would compromise our beliefs. I know that the body of Christ is made up of members but what constitutes being a member? Going before the church or faithful attendance? To me is seems if you are faithful you have made the commitment in your heart.

 

As the advertising slogan has it; "Membership has its privileges."

Wife is a member, I am not. She is Anglican, and I am a Baptist. Oh, we attend an Anglican Church because there is no Baptist Church within reasonable distance.

On membership: I would join the local Baptist Church even if I could not agree on all points. Membership is required to teach Sunday School, lead in other activities, have a vote at business meetings and general involvement in the church.

As a minister, membership didn't mean a whole lot to me. I was happy to see people attending. I kept information cards on all people, even first-time visitors. If someone, like yourself, was attending regularly, and I knew your were a Baptist, I would prolly enquire about possible membership, for thought of getting you involved in the church's activities.

Again, as a pastor who moved about, I never thought about my own membership. My membership in a church remains with my original "home" church in Canada. I was never officially asked to join any of my churches, yet I was a member ex-officio of all committees in that church.

Interesting question, come to think about it.

Cheers,

Jim

 

There must be some formal recognition that an individual is a member of Christ, and that he is committed to a particular local body.

 

A thought occurred to me reading this.

Here in the free-to-worship West, we tend to use membership to identify those who are serious about their faith. It may or may not be accurate, but it's a try.

However, where the Christian church is persecuted, no one has to ask about membership. If you attend, braving persecution, you are a member, period! Those not serious about their faith are not going to risk persecution, either.