I wonder if they revoked Eutychus' "membership" for falling asleep during Paul's sermon....
Seriously... we have no voting for membership in our church. The elders request that people attend a short class that covers "what we are about" topics, so that people don't just jump in, then a couple of weeks later discover something they disagree with, and "take their marbles and go home"....
There is no "statement of faith" required. It is assumed that if a person wants to identify himself/herself with our body of believers, that they are a believer as well.
It is not our job, as Christians, to take someone else's inventory. We should not require someone to know the secret handshake, and the password, and all the correct, up-to-date buzzwords that "Christians" are to use. Whether a person is a "true" believer, or is not, is between them and God.
Next, it will be, well, you don't dress nice enough for church to be a "true" believer... or, you let your kids dress up for Halloween, so you couldn't be a "true believer".... or, "true believing" women don't wear pants....
I mean, good grief.... the church is supposed to be a hospital for sinners, not an exclusive "members only" club...
Seriously... we have no voting for membership in our church. The elders request that people attend a short class that covers "what we are about" topics, so that people don't just jump in, then a couple of weeks later discover something they disagree with, and "take their marbles and go home"....
There is no "statement of faith" required. It is assumed that if a person wants to identify himself/herself with our body of believers, that they are a believer as well.
It is not our job, as Christians, to take someone else's inventory. We should not require someone to know the secret handshake, and the password, and all the correct, up-to-date buzzwords that "Christians" are to use. Whether a person is a "true" believer, or is not, is between them and God.
Next, it will be, well, you don't dress nice enough for church to be a "true" believer... or, you let your kids dress up for Halloween, so you couldn't be a "true believer".... or, "true believing" women don't wear pants....
I mean, good grief.... the church is supposed to be a hospital for sinners, not an exclusive "members only" club...