Church Directory

My question is why are people who are fornicating members of a church?

 

You must read carefully,,members and active attendees.

 

I'd go separately . . .

 

Right on, Gayla.

BTW, our church has a pictoral and some families will include grandparents with little grandkids and others were a couple of college girls (friends) who are from out of state families. The photos list just names with no explanation.

Diane

 

My question is similar to HCL....instead of worrying about the way the pictures are listed,I would be concerned about a church that has unrepentant sin...allowed sin and no standard of Holy living.

John MacArthur once said...*A Church without church discipline is a church without Christ.*

Molly

 

sinners, open or otherwise are always welcome in churches where I preach the gospel..I didn't know we excluded anyone from attending.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Only if their sin has been dealt with and they refuse to repent. If you follow the Matthew 18 church discipline model,you will see how to properly and biblically deal with sin in the church. This is for members of the church who claim to be believers. Of course,I desire for sinners to hear the gospel,too...this is not about that.

Molly

 

The original question had to do with members and active attendees..attendees are not members.

Cheers,

Jim

 

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

 

You didn't state whether or not this couple claim to be believrs or not. You don't discipline non-believers. Obviously they are coming to chruch for a reason though.

I find that until I know people very well I say nothing about the outward appearance. If the Bible is being taught there will be a time when the couple will make a decision.

 

It is different if they are just attenders,but their sin should be confronted upon their request for church membership.

I've never known a church directory to have pictures of attenders....this would always be changing....???

Molly

 

Molly, anyone who showed up wanting their picture in the directory wasn't turned away. They ARE dividied into sections tho. We have members. We have members who are away and sent in photos in another section (nursing homes, military, etc.) We have a section for 'friends and family'. We also divided the phone numbers and addresses into two sections. Members are alphabetical and first and then others who wanted to be in the directory but are not members (such as some of the hundred or so college kids who attend during the school year) are in the last section. Since they are listed alphabetically, someone living together would be listed separately.

Diane

 

Yes, and fornication is a sin for members and non-members. If they are born again they need to be taught that fornicating is a sin.

 

The point of this thread was HOW to list the people, and not a moralizing sermon on how to address sin. I think we are all aware of what sin is and what the Bible has to say about it.

Only a few troubled to answer the question asked, and I must confess, that I didn't do that either.

We can moralize on another thread so designated.

Cheers,

Jim

For every finger pointed at someone, three come directly back and one goes up to God. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone..." All the religious people began to crawl away. My interpretation.

 

I agree with Jim. Maybe we shouldn't allow ANYONE who sins to be in the church directory. My name would be absent.

Diane

 

The easiest (and proper) solution to me is that a church directory lists only members. Why would you list people who are not members? When we did a church directory here, we listed only members. When people asked, we said "It is members only." If you want someone else's address or phone number, ask them for it.

 

I apologize for not posting Scripture.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2, "It is reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed MIGHT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU."

1 Corinthians 5:5-6, "TO DELIVER SUCH AN ONE UNTO SATAN for the destruction of the flesh, that THE SPIRIT MIGHT BE SAVED in the day of our Lord Jesus. Your gloriying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? PURGE OUT THEREFORE THE OLD LEAVEN, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened."

1 Corinthians 5:9-13, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicator of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, WITH SUCH AN ONE NO NOT TO EAT. For what have I to do to JUDGE THEM THAT ALSO ARE WITHOUT? DO NOT YE JUDGE THEM THAT ARE WITHIN? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore

PUT AWAY FROM AMONG YOURSELVES THAT WICKED PERSON."

No one said they were without sin. But, the Bible teaches that those who fornicate or practice any of the above are to be disciplined and if they don't repent put out of the church.

 

I just think that focusing on a church directory on how to list people who are living together is absolutely crazy...So,I was addressing the REAL problem.

Jim,
I'm not saying we do not sin,of course we do,but anyone living in sin should be taught and instructed from the church(who else) about that sin and why they need to repent...for reconciliation to God(not to embarrass them). I'm much more concerned with these issues and the purity of the church. I'm kinda awestruck that a church is concerned with how to put these in the directory,instead of how to bring them to God and repent of their sin.

Church discipline is an act of love,if we truly love someone we will follow the Matt 18 charge to allow and encourage repentance,so that the church can be as pure as possible,people are held accountable for their sins,and the church sets an example for a godly life....not sinless...but as we grow in Christ,we should be becoming more sinless. If someone is never taught and instructed on these things(even boldy at times) then how will they know how to love right?

Our church does this very graciously and in love at all times...but,unfortunately it has to be done at times. If they do not repent after the correct steps have been taken,yes,they are gone from our church memebership...it is their choice,though,and we pray they will turn back to God!

Jesus also said to the woman caught in adultery...*Go and sin no more* but most people forget about that part. Sigh....

Molly

 

Excellent post Molly! Yes, we need to love the person committing fornication enough to show them that repentance is possible.


Also, the unsaved are watching and will tell you if you ask, (I have) if there is much difference in the Christians they have met and the unsaved.