Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostels and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2: 19-22 NKJV
I received a email from a friend the other day with the words "Will make your blood boil" in the subject line. Oh joy, I thought, what now? Well, he wasn't lying, for the story that he linked to in his message indeed got my blood boiling. They weren't exactly fightin' words, but pretty darn close. The article he referenced was one that was going through the pros and cons of our churches requiring membership in their ranks. Now, for those who know me, I'm pretty anti establishment, so this kind of ruffled my feathers a bit. Here was our christian church, that bastion of help in troubled times, advocating for exclusive membership among their ranks. Does anyone besides me have an issue with this? No? Ok, let me list just a few. How welcoming is a church that would require membership? Are they truly interested in advancing the gospel of Jesus or just their income stream? How are the truths of love, mercy and kindness exemplified by a congregation that seeks exclusive membership? I can just see a few pastors drafting papers for my ultimate excommunication as they read this.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the begining, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence.
Colossions 1: 16-18 NKJV
It is to those pastors in particular that I beg this question, just who gave you the right to determine who holds a right to belong to Christs church? Yes, who's church do we ultimately belong to? CHRISTS! From scanning this article, I found a myriad of conditions for membership in some churches. From 10% tithe contributions to mandatory volunteer hours and classes, these so called men of God have chosen to burden their "members" with more than a few requirements. All of this as membership in our nations churches is declining. Gee, I wonder why. Just take a good look at what our Lord Jesus said of men such as this.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewahed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead mens bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23: 27-28 NKJV
Think I'm being too harsh? Well, consider the burdens that these pastors lay upon their flocks. Consider how you would feel if you walked into such a environment where you were expecting acceptance, mercy and fellowship. Then, once you enter, you're told that there are conditions for you being in Christs church! What if you decide that you don't want to partake in such a system? Are you a bad christian? Can you see the condemnation here? Kind of sounds like a exclusive country club doesn't it? Well, relax fellow follower of Jesus, for this is not the church that Christ intended. For what church that has Jesus as its head would place conditions on its own? I have a favorite saying on true leadership that I like to use. Never ask those below you to do something you yourself wouldn't do. So, to those pastors who preach any sort of membership mumbo jumbo to their flocks, make damn sure that you yourselves abide by the same conditions you're asking of those in your congregation! For when you lay undo burdens upon those you claim to be guiding in Jesus, then YOU are that whitewashed tomb.
~Scott~
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