Church membership

[porkchop]

All of the christian churches i have attended (evangelical, baptist and a lively church of england type) have had church membership.
After attending these churches for several months they ask you about membership and all that goes with it and this is something i dont agree with/believe in.
Why membership? Are we not already members of the body of Christ? Why the ceremony? And why special privaliges for members?

If you are a member of your church, what made you want to do it, was it from a Biblical viewpoint, or because you just felt it was right to do, or were baptised into it?

 

[Katzpur]

All of the christian churches i have attended (evangelical, baptist and a lively church of england type) have had church membership.
After attending these churches for several months they ask you about membership and all that goes with it and this is something i dont agree with/believe in.

This is something I'm not familiar with, Beth. Would you care to elaborate and maybe explain what you mean by "all that goes with it."

Why membership? Are we not already members of the body of Christ?

I don't know. Are we? You don't think I am, do you?

Why the ceremony?

Again, I'm interested in knowing what this is. Could you explain?

And why special privaliges for members?

And what special privileges for members?

If you are a member of your church, what made you want to do it, was it from a Biblical viewpoint, or because you just felt it was right to do, or were baptised into it?

In my Church, a baby is given a name and a blessing when he or she is perhaps a month old. (My son was not blessed at church until he was four months old, since he didn't stop crying long enough for us to take him to church until then. ) This blessing is given by priesthood authority and gives the child a name "by which he will be known upon the records of the Church" (or similar wording). He does not become an official member of the Church until he is eight years of age, is baptized and confirmed. I think that one worthwhile reason for membership in a Church is simply that it makes it possible for a Church to have a reasonably accurate accounting of how many members it has. But it is the baptism and the confirmation that are really the significant part of Church membership. I see this as having a biblical precedent, though you may disagree.

 

[rocka21]

there is no " offical" membership roll at my church. One sunday a month we as if any would like to " join the church" and they come up front. we have about 50 to 100 a month.

I think membership means a " commitment " to the local house.

I joined abundant life ( my local chruch) but i believe i was joining the world wide body of christ also.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

In the Anglican Church, you can attend take Communion and what ever else with out being a " full member"
Confirmation is the step that denotes a full member ... after that you can be entered on the parish roll of members and take part in votes and become a member of the parish Council, sides person server, reader or any other official position in the parish.

Baptism makes you a member of the Church family at large... but Confirmation takes your commitment that one stage further.

 

[michel]

In the Anglican Church, you can attend take Communion and what ever else with out being a " full member"
Confirmation is the step that denotes a full member ... after that you can be entered on the parish roll of members and take part in votes and become a member of the parish Council, sides person server, reader or any other official position in the parish.

Baptism makes you a member of the Church family at large... but Confirmation takes your commitment that one stage further.

I have never been asked to become a "member" of any church, even though I was a regular attender for a couple of years for my dear Mother's sake; she so wanted company when going to church.

 

[porkchop]

This is something I'm not familiar with, Beth. Would you care to elaborate and maybe explain what you mean by "all that goes with it."

You have to tithe, go to church meetings, and take on some role in the church, like cleaning, helping with something, and it means you can take communion( this is at a fundamentalist baptist church)

I don't know. Are we? You don't think I am, do you?

I thimk you know me well enough by now to know that my idea of same faith is different to yours.

Again, I'm interested in knowing what this is. Could you explain?

If youre being baptised there, you have the baptism and tell your testimony, if not being baptised because youve already been somewhere else (but i did witness one person being baptised a second time cause the pastor said it didnt count at the church he'd previously attended) you just say your testimony and then all the members come up to give you the " right hand of fellowship", shaking hands with the new member, then a round of applause and your done!

And what special privileges for members?

Church meetings, having a say in the goings on at church, being able to teach in the sunday school, play piano at church. I would say being listened too also

In my Church, a baby is given a name and a blessing when he or she is perhaps a month old. (My son was not blessed at church until he was four months old, since he didn't stop crying long enough for us to take him to church until then. ) This blessing is given by priesthood authority and gives the child a name "by which he will be known upon the records of the Church" (or similar wording). He does not become an official member of the Church until he is eight years of age, is baptized and confirmed. I think that one worthwhile reason for membership in a Church is simply that it makes it possible for a Church to have a reasonably accurate accounting of how many members it has. But it is the baptism and the confirmation that are really the significant part of Church membership. I see this as having a biblical precedent, though you may disagree.

Thanks for the info. i thought things would be done differently. But do you agree with membership?

 

[porkchop]

there is no " offical" membership roll at my church. One sunday a month we as if any would like to " join the church" and they come up front. we have about 50 to 100 a month.

I think membership means a " commitment " to the local house.

I joined abundant life ( my local chruch) but i believe i was joining the world wide body of christ also.

If youre asked if you wanna join, doesnt that mean there is some kind of membership? Do you have to tithe?

 

[porkchop]

In the Anglican Church, you can attend take Communion and what ever else with out being a " full member"
Confirmation is the step that denotes a full member ... after that you can be entered on the parish roll of members and take part in votes and become a member of the parish Council, sides person server, reader or any other official position in the parish.

Baptism makes you a member of the Church family at large... but Confirmation takes your commitment that one stage further.

Thats pretty much what id expect from C of E/anglican church.
Are you a member?

 

[Katzpur]

Why membership? Are we not already members of the body of Christ?

I don't know. Are we? You don't think I am, do you?

I think you know me well enough by now to know that my idea of same faith is different to yours.

But do you agree with membership?

I think you've just answered your own question, Beth. You don't consider me to be part of the body of Christ. I believe that I am very much a part of that body. Suppose I were to show up unannounced at your place of worship and were to begin to attend Sunday services there on a regular basis. If asked if I were a Christian, I would say I am. To me, it would be less than honest for me to answer otherwise. After a period of time, I may be asked to teach Sunday School. Not knowing that I was LDS, you'd trust me to teach your children, and I would do so to the best of my ability. If, however, you learned that I was a baptized and believing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you would justifiably be pretty upset that I had been chosen to hold that position. You'd be more than just a little bit concerned that I was teaching them false doctrine. I may very well be teaching things you don't believe and things you would not want your children to be taught. Do you see now why I believe that membership in a Church has a purpose? Or are we talking about something entirely different?

 

[Booko]

In the Reformed church I was raised in*, membership requirements were that you had to be 18, have been baptized, and make a confession of faith to the Consistory (Elders and Deacons, along with the pastor.)

That "entitled" you to take communion. Even if you went traveling to a church in the same denomination, if it was Communion Sunday (4 times a year), you might be asked to show your membership papers.

The communion has been opened up in recent years to include younger family members of communicant members, but it is still not an open communion, and Porkchop, if you were to go to my mother's church on Communion Sunday you would be welcomed as a fellow Christian, but not as a full communicant member of the church. And that's the "liberal" Reformed Synod in this country.

Tithing is never mentioned and NEVER demanded of any individual. No one inquires into anyone's income or tithing. Everyone learned what tithing was during catechism, and rarely has the pastor given a sermon on the subject, and that is usually in the context of early Christian history as recorded in Acts and the Epistles. It would be considered nosy for anyone in any capacity in church polity to even ask an individual about such a thing. It's between the believer and God.



*My Mother is still a member of this church (she serves as a Deacon) and my family attends with her when we are visiting.

 

[porkchop]

I think you've just answered your own question, Beth. You don't consider me to be part of the body of Christ. I believe that I am very much a part of that body. Suppose I were to show up unannounced at your place of worship and were to begin to attend Sunday services there on a regular basis. If asked if I were a Christian, I would say I am. To me, it would be less than honest for me to answer otherwise. After a period of time, I may be asked to teach Sunday School. Not knowing that I was LDS, you'd trust me to teach your children, and I would do so to the best of my ability. If, however, you learned that I was a baptized and believing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you would justifiably be pretty upset that I had been chosen to hold that position. You'd be more than just a little bit concerned that I was teaching them false doctrine. I may very well be teaching things you don't believe and things you would not want your children to be taught. Do you see now why I believe that membership in a Church has a purpose? Or are we talking about something entirely different?

No, i don't consider you to be part of the body of Christ, but that a debate wev'e had several times and i really don't wanna get into with you again. Maybe i should have put this in the protestant section to avoid upset, but too late now. I am interested to know what goes on at other churches in regards to membership.
You say ive answered my own question but i still dont think church membership a neccessity, i can understand that you need discipline, but if churches MUST have it, they shouldnt make non members feel left out.
Of course, if you came to my church, we'd sniff out a mormon straight away, bundle you up and throw you in the cupboard with all the other ones that tried to pose as christians, so there wouldnt be a problem there!! *joke*

Now youve stated you see membership in church has a purpose i now know your view on it,and i dont think we are talking about anything different, apart from the beliefs we have.

 

[wizanda]

Mat 20:25-27
(25) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
(26) But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
(27) And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

 

[porkchop]

Mat 20:25-27
(25) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
(26) But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
(27) And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

Does this mean you agree with church membership or not, Wizanda?

 

[wizanda]

It means when i look through the photos of the members and realize before entering it is a den of harlots, that is a good thing....saves me loosing my peace with them....

Yet on being an authority over people and having to respect some more then others...even Moses said, the congregation is all meant to be on the same height, then you don't see their nakedness.

 

[Hope]

I believe church "membership" in the sense it's meant is un-Biblical. The church I grew up in said as long as you were a Christian, you were automatically a member. No classes to take, nothing to sign, no requirements. Just faith in Jesus Christ. I believe this is the way it should be. Of course, this church I went to had its own set of problems, but I believe they got the membership part right at least. :yes:

 

[wizanda]

Considering too really follow the wording of Christ, “the peace-makers are called children of God”...i think we are all this, unless choosing to separate our self's into some sort of cultish behaviour.

Mat 23:21-22
(21) And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. = Membership :no:
(22) And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. = Oneness :yes:

Think I would rather be a member to the church of God and not swear oaths of allegiance too man.