How easy should it be for a Baptist church to accept a new member.

[Ben1445]

Then how does a church perform the discipline it is commanded to perform

You are describing two different things.

You cannot check another person’s salvation against the records of heaven.

You can see their behavior that is worthy of discipline.

It is not so confusing if you don’t mix up your topics.
Imagine walking into church Sunday morning and being kicked out of church because people have decided that they don’t think you are born again.

Instead of being removed for not being saved, biblically, we see them going out from us and not us kicking them out of assembly.

 

[unprofitable]

Then what

You are describing two different things.

You cannot check anno person’s salvation against the records of heaven.

You can see their behavior that is worthy of discipline.

It is not so confusing if you don’t mix up your topics.
Imagine walking into church Sunday morning and being kicked out of church because people have decided that they don’t think you are born again.

Instead of being removed for not being saved, biblically, we see them going out from us and not us kicking them out of assembly.

Then explain Mt 18:15-18.

 

[Ben1445]

But surely the field in which the wheat and the tares are growing in the parable represents the word, not the local church:

Mat 13:38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. "


Jesus isn't encouraging churches to accept all and sundry into membership.

This is an interesting perspective.

I have read compel them to come in. I don’t know where you read anything like make sure you be careful who you let in.

Maybe you can explain to me why Jesus needs us to keep the unbelievers from entering heaven.

I don’t mean that the unbelieving are welcome to be members but I don’t assume that they are lying about their salvation until I can prove otherwise.

 

[Ben1445]

Then what

Then explain Mt 18:15-18.

Explain to me where you see salvation as a topic of discussion in Mt. 18 and I will be able to straighten you out.

Church discipline is still church discipline. I don’t know what is so confusing about what I said.

 

[unprofitable]

You are describing two different things.

You cannot check anno person’s salvation against the records of heaven.

You can see their behavior that is worthy of discipline.

It is not so confusing if you don’t mix up your topics.
Imagine walking into church Sunday morning and being kicked out of church because people have decided that they don’t think you are born again.

Instead of being removed for not being saved, biblically, we see them going out from us and not us kicking them out of assembly.

You are talking about an ambush rather than a a progressive attempt to correct and restore a church member.

 

[unprofitable]

Then what does it let him be unto the as a heathen man and a publican mean

 

[Ben1445]

You are talking about an ambush rather than a a progressive attempt to correct and restore a church member.

I don’t know what you are talking about.
As far as I have ever seen, ambush is not a church function and I don’t understand your use of the word.

 

[unprofitable]

Then what does it

I don’t know what you are talking about.
As far as I have ever seen, ambush is not a church function and I don’t understand your use of the word.

I don’t know what you are talking about.
As far as I have ever seen, ambush is not a church function and I don’t understand your use of the word.

I don’t know what you are talking about.
As far as I have ever seen, ambush is not a church function and I don’t understand your use of the word.

let him be unto the as a heathen man and a publican

You said for someone to come into church and find they are not wanted as if they had no idean what was going on without regard to Mt 18

 

[Ben1445]

Then what does it let him be unto the as a heathen man and a publican mean

Please explain to me how you determine who is saved and who is not. What is the secret handshake that you are looking for?
What beside profession do you require for membership.

You sound like you lack love and trust for the brethren.

For my own part, I would rather let them be accountable to God and provide no offense.

 

[unprofitable]

Church discipline does not determine the life someone may or may not have. I Cor 5:5 tells us concerning the brother caught in fornication, To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The fact that we would reject the baptism of certain organizations does not preclude that person being rebaptized, actually the orgin of the Baptist name being call rebaptizers, by us if they choose to follow our doctrinal stance would certainly be acceptable to us

 

[Ben1445]

You said for someone to come into church and find they are not wanted as if they had no idean what was going on without regard to Mt 18

Church discipline is not a requirement for membership.
You’re coming at the subject from the wrong angle.
Discipline is about sending people out of fellowship and membership about bringing them in. You shouldn’t be considering how effectively you can kick someone out for misconduct when you are welcoming them in.

Church discipline has nothing to do with admitting membership. I definitely agree that you should not be admitting to membership people who you should be disciplining as soon as they are members. But “I don’t think you are saved,” is not a legitimate cause for church discipline. This is an accusation based upon opinion and something that cannot be supported.

 

[unprofitable]

Please explain to me how you determine who is saved and who is not. What is the secret handshake that you are looking for?
What beside profession do you require for membership.

You sound like you lack love and trust for the brethren.

For my own part, I would rather let them be accountable to God and provide no offense.

Then fact that we would reject the baptism of certain organizations is not an indictation we are determining their salvation. It would rather seem to indicate their possible life in that they would subject themselves to scriptural immersion. Who then are the false brethren Paul spoke of? Where cometh divisions and strife? How do we pursue being of one mine and accord?

 

[unprofitable]

I have no idean what you are talking about. Church discipline can only be performed on a current member, not a potential one. I think someone has already mentioned not admitting someone who shows no repentance and John demanded

 

[unprofitable]

I have no idean what you are talking about. Church discipline can only be performed on a current member, not a potential one. I think someone has already mentioned not admitting someone who shows no repentance and John demanded

And if John could reject the Pharisees who came to be baptized, why can a church not reject a potential member who does not meet the churches requirements for membership?

 

[Ben1445]

I have no idean what you are talking about. Church discipline can only be performed on a current member, not a potential one. I think someone has already mentioned not admitting someone who shows no repentance and John demanded

I agree with you.
You brought up church discipline in post 56. I haven’t been able to figure out how it applies to the thread.

 

[Ben1445]

And if John could reject the Pharisees who came to be baptized, why can a church not reject a potential member who does not meet the churches requirements for membership?

Can and should.
But if there are not any accusations against a prospective member, I see no reason why they should be held in limbo for months over membership classes when the Biblical model is that they are added daily, that is, not taking longer than a day to be added.
This is where be not many masters applies very well. If someone professes salvation, absent legitimate claims of sin, there should be nothing preventing membership including the leadership of the church.

 

[Ben1445]

Then fact that we would reject the baptism of certain organizations is not an indictation we are determining their salvation. It would rather seem to indicate their possible life in that they would subject themselves to scriptural immersion.

I have no problem with scriptural baptism being a requirement.
We are on the same page here.

Who then are the false brethren Paul spoke of? Where cometh divisions and strife? How do we pursue being of one mine and accord?

These are things that happen after membership not before. It’s off topic.

 

[unprofitable]

I have no problem with scriptural baptism being a requirement.
We are on the same page here.

These are things that happen after membership not before. It’s off topic.

Still valid questions that are relevant. Would your church accept somone for memberership if they did not believe in virgin birth of Christ or denied the trinity?

 

[unprofitable]

membership

 

[unprofitable]

Can and should.
But if there are not any accusations against a prospective member, I see no reason why they should be held in limbo for months over membership classes when the Biblical model is that they are added daily, that is, not taking longer than a day to be added.
This is where be not many masters applies very well. If someone professes salvation, absent legitimate claims of sin, there should be nothing preventing membership including the leadership of the church.

I believe someone professing salvation and after questioning by the elders that they be baptized as soon as possible. The church at Jerusalem where 3000 were added in one day already had much instruction and had seen many miracles of Christ.

As far as leadership in the church, the same is true of the new convert as is one desiring the office of the bishop. 1 Tim 3:6. When i was working, I would never have hired someone and immediately put them in a leadership role without them having any experience or knowledge of the business.