What would your church do?

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Mar 4, 2013
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#21
A couple comes to your service. they seem like very nice people who are very interested in finding out what the church has to offer. You welcome them with open arms.

In getting to know them you find out.

1. They do not Know God
2. They are not saved

also, you find a very troubling thing (according to the law) they are not married, but have been living together for 6 months.

so,, what would your church do??
There is no set program or precise pattern to follow. Each individual is handled differently according to the Holy Spirit's lead. The pastor would talk to these people if they wanted to join. That would probably be the case if it involved the church as you present.

If they cared not to join, they would be welcomed to continue to come to church. The pastor being aware of this would probably have a series of sermons on marriage and explain it using the examples of the church, and Israel as a metaphor for the woman, and God, and Jesus as a metaphor for the man. This is also very good instructions for feeding the flock. It could even lead to a revival which should be spontaneous.

These people, committing fornication, would know in time, what they were doing was against the divine will of God. Then they would have to make a choice whether or not they wanted to continue in the same pattern. If they didn't want God's will in their life, consciously, then members of the church, who were deemed as qualified, would present to them the "Roman Road" along with 1 John 1:9, Matthew 4:17, and Luke 9:23-26, relating forgiveness to sacrifice, burning of sins, explaining the physical attributes with the spiritual attributes, plus more Bible if they were willing to listen. They would be taught that God has never changed, and sacrifice, and the bloodshed is the only way for God to accept the individual through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus /high priest.

If they grabbed onto the gift of salvation and received a new birth through the Spirit, they would continue to be ministered to as to help them grow in the Lord, taking the reality of life into account. I present this, with the question presented, that the church knows about their fornication. If only certain individuals knew, it would be approached differently.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
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#22
One thing is for sure getting them a certificate of marriage according to civil law will not clean their inward parts :)
 
Jun 7, 2013
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#23
Well with the church modernising itself now with gay weddings and stuff, that man and woman living together that you speak of will probably be mocked for being old fashioned lol
 
Sep 4, 2012
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#25
This is a reason churches are in the condition they are in. They allow unbelievers in their midst and do not rebuke open sin.

Have a special session for unbelievers...
 
Mar 4, 2013
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#26
care to expound on what you mean by this?

I explained that The Holy Spirit leads. I have not been given a different scenario. I would have to present John 5:39 (KJV)
[SUP]39 [/SUP]Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And then go from there. As I said, each individual is different, and God knows how to handle things. All we can do is speculate. I would pray according to what I knew, so as to pray effectively.

I would say this to your question. One on one talks, centered on Biblical principles seems to work a whole lot better when talking in private. That's the way it works best for me. If the other individual is sincere. If not, then all we can do is ask for there attention.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#27
I explained that The Holy Spirit leads. I have not been given a different scenario. I would have to present John 5:39 (KJV)
[SUP]39 [/SUP]Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And then go from there. As I said, each individual is different, and God knows how to handle things. All we can do is speculate. I would pray according to what I knew, so as to pray effectively.

Look at the scenerio. This verse does not fit. these people are not saved.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#28
This is a reason churches are in the condition they are in. They allow unbelievers in their midst and do not rebuke open sin.

Have a special session for unbelievers...
So your church would rebuke them as soon as they found out? And would not allow them in your midst?
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#29
A random thought,

Can one who is in open defiance to God's will be a member of Christ's body? (this reminds me of the guy in Scripture who slept with his step-mother)

For one to be a member of another's house, does he not have to be reborn as a son of that lord?

Is not the Church for the fellowship of the brothers and sisters in Christ?

Is not one suppose to come to Christ before he becomes Christ's brother or sister?

Is not even a brother or sister to be thrown out of the Church if they stray and refuse to abandoned that wayward path?
 
L

leonardronaldo

Guest
#30
A couple comes to your service. they seem like very nice people who are very interested in finding out what the church has to offer. You welcome them with open arms.

In getting to know them you find out.

1. They do not Know God
2. They are not saved

also, you find a very troubling thing (according to the law) they are not married, but have been living together for 6 months.

so,, what would your church do??
since they don't know God and they are not saved, no wonder they aren't married. it proves the bible is true actually lol.
i'd still tell them the Gospel on its entirety, since you said they are very interested to find out.
 
L

Laodicea

Guest
#31
A couple comes to your service. they seem like very nice people who are very interested in finding out what the church has to offer. You welcome them with open arms.

In getting to know them you find out.

1. They do not Know God
2. They are not saved

also, you find a very troubling thing (according to the law) they are not married, but have been living together for 6 months.

so,, what would your church do??
They would be counseled to be married and would not be baptized until they were married. They would be welcomed by the church though.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#32
A random thought,

Can one who is in open defiance to God's will be a member of Christ's body? (this reminds me of the guy in Scripture who slept with his step-mother)

For one to be a member of another's house, does he not have to be reborn as a son of that lord?

Is not the Church for the fellowship of the brothers and sisters in Christ?

Is not one suppose to come to Christ before he becomes Christ's brother or sister?

Is not even a brother or sister to be thrown out of the Church if they stray and refuse to abandoned that wayward path?
Again, Have not got there yet. These people are not even Christian. Church membership is not up for debate yet.
 
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
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#33
So your church would rebuke them as soon as they found out? And would not allow them in your midst?
I talking about the way I think a church should handle the situation. Not rebuke them, but tell them that the main meetings are only for believers. Yet offer some other avenue that they can be exposed to the truth.
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#34
Again, Have not got there yet. These people are not even Christian. Church membership is not up for debate yet.
Sorry, I was thinking on your OP and those were my thoughts. I just wanted to get them written down.

I will be quite now
corner.jpg
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#35
I talking about the way I think a church should handle the situation. Not rebuke them, but tell them that the main meetings are only for believers. Yet offer some other avenue that they can be exposed to the truth.
ok thanks,, Will get to this after everyone chimes in..
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#37
Ok I guess we can move on before the night gets to old.

I like most of the responses. Most people would welcome them with open arms. Which is a GOOD thing. these people do not know Christ, for all we know God sent them to us.

As for the one who said he would ask them to leave I been to churches who did this. If you do this, chances are you have lost them,. You judged them, and they will probably never want a thing to do with God.

Look at jesus as the example, Sinner were at his church meetings. He wanted them to come!

Thats the problem with the churches today. "we do not need sinners in our midst" WE ARE ALL SINNERS. so if this is trut, there would be no church.

Now, about preaching on sexual sin just because they are there, I disagree with this too. Judgmental, they are not stupid. they would be offended and leave.

Don't we need to try to help them get saved first? then worry about their sin?? They are not going to affect our church for a little while. if they do, I would not feel so good about my church, must have alot of weak Christians there. That does not bode well for the church now does it?


EVERY ONE OF US came to Christ with sin, We did not need to be judged, We needed to be shown love, Love is hopefully what brought us to Christ (this is the way Jesus said. I did nto come to judge, I came to save, he sent the church out with this mission in mind!
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#38
They would be counseled to be married and would not be baptized until they were married. They would be welcomed by the church though.
How about winning them to Christ first? then counceling later? baptizing is not even on the menu yet, they are not saved.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#39
I talking about the way I think a church should handle the situation. Not rebuke them, but tell them that the main meetings are only for believers. Yet offer some other avenue that they can be exposed to the truth.

Then you would lose them..

Jesus welcomed sinners. And just spoke the word.. The HS convicts.. It is not our job to tell them they are not welcome. for all we know. God sent them in the first place.
 
M

Mammachickadee

Guest
#40
A couple comes to your service. they seem like very nice people who are very interested in finding out what the church has to offer. You welcome them with open arms.

In getting to know them you find out.

1. They do not Know God
2. They are not saved

also, you find a very troubling thing (according to the law) they are not married, but have been living together for 6 months.

so,, what would your church do??
It would be business as usual. They pray for the couple that obviously God had brought their way. The couple would hear the gospel, and, if God calls them, would desire to understand more.