Mar 2008
Church Membership
Thursday/Mar/2008 04:52 PM- Filed in: Bulletin
Articles
WHEN DOES ONE BECOME
A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH?
A person becomes a member of the Lord's church when he is baptized (Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Saul of Tarsus was baptized in Damascus. The Corinthians were baptized in the city of Corinth. Both were added to the Lord's church, but they were not members everywhere. Paul was not a member at Corinth while living in Damascus. When a baptized believer moves or decides to worship at a neighboring church, at what point does he cease being a member at one church and become a member at another church?
Membership in a local church hinges on two things: (1) Desire of the newcomer; (2) and the reaction of the local church. Acts 9:26 serves as an example: "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple." Paul moves to Jerusalem. Immediately he attempts to "join" ("to join oneself, join, cling to, associate with") the church at Jerusalem.
At first, Paul is rejected. A local church has the right to exclude certain people from its fellowship. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not in to your house neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 10-11). The church at Jerusalem was protecting itself by refusing to accept a man they believed to be an enemy of the church. Only after they were convinced that Paul was a faithful Christian did they accept him into their fellowship. "But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” ( Acts 9:27).
Since the Bible is not specific about the exact procedure of becoming a member of a local church, it is left to each local church to determine its own policy. Whatever that policy, it should be clearly understood by all; it should be impartial; it should protect the church from false teachers, immoral people and troublemakers; it should discourage "floating church members," it should discourage members from running from problems; and it should be "decent and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).
--- Tom L. Childers
A person becomes a member of the Lord's church when he is baptized (Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Saul of Tarsus was baptized in Damascus. The Corinthians were baptized in the city of Corinth. Both were added to the Lord's church, but they were not members everywhere. Paul was not a member at Corinth while living in Damascus. When a baptized believer moves or decides to worship at a neighboring church, at what point does he cease being a member at one church and become a member at another church?
Membership in a local church hinges on two things: (1) Desire of the newcomer; (2) and the reaction of the local church. Acts 9:26 serves as an example: "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple." Paul moves to Jerusalem. Immediately he attempts to "join" ("to join oneself, join, cling to, associate with") the church at Jerusalem.
At first, Paul is rejected. A local church has the right to exclude certain people from its fellowship. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not in to your house neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 10-11). The church at Jerusalem was protecting itself by refusing to accept a man they believed to be an enemy of the church. Only after they were convinced that Paul was a faithful Christian did they accept him into their fellowship. "But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” ( Acts 9:27).
Since the Bible is not specific about the exact procedure of becoming a member of a local church, it is left to each local church to determine its own policy. Whatever that policy, it should be clearly understood by all; it should be impartial; it should protect the church from false teachers, immoral people and troublemakers; it should discourage "floating church members," it should discourage members from running from problems; and it should be "decent and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).
--- Tom L. Childers
Excuses
Tuesday/Mar/2008 03:26 AM- Filed in: Bulletin
Articles
"I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE
LORD"?
God's instructions to King Saul were very clear: "Utterly destroy all" (1 Samuel 15:3). King Saul' s disobedience was very clear to everyone except him for he spared King Agag and the best of the animals (1 Samuel 15:9). In spite of this fact, Saul boasted: "I I have performed the commandment of the Lord" (1 Samuel 15:13, 20). Saul claimed to have obeyed but God said he disobeyed (1 Samuel 15:11). In attempted to get Saul to realize his disobedience, Samuel said in effect: "If you have obeyed God, what are these animals doing here" (1 Samuel 15:14)?
Folks are no different today. Some claim they are obeying God while still in disobedience. To such people we ask:
God's instructions to King Saul were very clear: "Utterly destroy all" (1 Samuel 15:3). King Saul' s disobedience was very clear to everyone except him for he spared King Agag and the best of the animals (1 Samuel 15:9). In spite of this fact, Saul boasted: "I I have performed the commandment of the Lord" (1 Samuel 15:13, 20). Saul claimed to have obeyed but God said he disobeyed (1 Samuel 15:11). In attempted to get Saul to realize his disobedience, Samuel said in effect: "If you have obeyed God, what are these animals doing here" (1 Samuel 15:14)?
Folks are no different today. Some claim they are obeying God while still in disobedience. To such people we ask:
- If you have obeyed God, why have you never been baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38)?
- If you have obeyed God, why do you call yourself by a religious name that is not found in the Bible ( Acts 11:26)?
- If you have obeyed God, why do you seldom or never come to church (Hebrews 10:25)?
- If you have obeyed God, why do you worship with an organ (Ephesians 5:19)?
- If you have obeyed God, why do you fail to eat the Lord's Supper upon the first day of every week (Acts 20:7)?
- If you are obeying God, why do you never visit the sick or shut-ins (Matthew 25:35-36)?
- If you are obeying God, why do you have to hide some of your actions from other Christians (Matthew 5:13-16)?
- If you are obeying God, why do you refuse to speak to other members of the church (Romans 16:16)?
- If you are obeying God, why do you fail to give as you have been prospered upon the first day of every week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)?
- If you are obeying God, why do you have to make excuses as Saul did (1 Samuel 15:21)?
Walking on Ice
Monday/Mar/2008 09:40 AM- Filed in: Bulletin
Articles
WALKING WITH YOUR HANDS
IN YOUR POCKETS
When cold weather comes it is always a temptation to walk with you hands in your pockets. It is also very dangerous. One of the hardest falls that I ever saw a person take was when the person was walking on ice with their hands in their pockets. The human body is designed to protect itself. The arms and hands have a marvelous reflex system that will react quickly to protect the rest of the body.
The person who has not obeyed the gospel is walking with his hands in his pockets. Saul of Tarsus was fighting against the truth and Jesus told him he was "kicking against the pricks" (Acts 9:5). As an ox kicked against the sharp prod, the flesh was torn. With each additional kick more damage was done. Paul, in his rebellion, was hurting others, but he also was hurting himself.
The person who does not live the Christian life is walking with his hands in his pockets. Bible study, prayer, fellowship with Christians, giving, eating the Lord's Supper, and singing are means to strengthen, protect, and build faith in each Christian. A failure to use these provisions of the Lord is to refuse God’s help to be a successful Christian.
The person who violates his conscience is walking with his hands in his pockets. God has given each of us a conscience. It rebukes us when we chose wrong; it encourages us when we do right. A person who will not be true to his conscience and the common sense the Lord has given him is walking with his hands in his pockets and is asking for serious injury.
God has given us friends who love us and want to help us. True friends will say to us, "You better take your hands out of your pockets." Friends in word only will say, "It is your business, do what you wish." Such friends look the other way as we walk across the ice. Real friends warn us and cringe with pain as we walk across the ice and plead with us to think about what we are doing.
Please, take care of your body. It is better to have cold hands than to risk serious injury. Please, take care of your soul. Take advantage of every blessing the Lord has provided for your spiritual well being.
--- Tom L. Childers
When cold weather comes it is always a temptation to walk with you hands in your pockets. It is also very dangerous. One of the hardest falls that I ever saw a person take was when the person was walking on ice with their hands in their pockets. The human body is designed to protect itself. The arms and hands have a marvelous reflex system that will react quickly to protect the rest of the body.
The person who has not obeyed the gospel is walking with his hands in his pockets. Saul of Tarsus was fighting against the truth and Jesus told him he was "kicking against the pricks" (Acts 9:5). As an ox kicked against the sharp prod, the flesh was torn. With each additional kick more damage was done. Paul, in his rebellion, was hurting others, but he also was hurting himself.
The person who does not live the Christian life is walking with his hands in his pockets. Bible study, prayer, fellowship with Christians, giving, eating the Lord's Supper, and singing are means to strengthen, protect, and build faith in each Christian. A failure to use these provisions of the Lord is to refuse God’s help to be a successful Christian.
The person who violates his conscience is walking with his hands in his pockets. God has given each of us a conscience. It rebukes us when we chose wrong; it encourages us when we do right. A person who will not be true to his conscience and the common sense the Lord has given him is walking with his hands in his pockets and is asking for serious injury.
God has given us friends who love us and want to help us. True friends will say to us, "You better take your hands out of your pockets." Friends in word only will say, "It is your business, do what you wish." Such friends look the other way as we walk across the ice. Real friends warn us and cringe with pain as we walk across the ice and plead with us to think about what we are doing.
Please, take care of your body. It is better to have cold hands than to risk serious injury. Please, take care of your soul. Take advantage of every blessing the Lord has provided for your spiritual well being.
--- Tom L. Childers