Baptism for Church Membership?

Maybe you can show me from Scripture where I am wrong and I will be happy to accept it.

The apostolic example is that the church gathered on the first day of the week. No mention of two services on Sunday, no mention of Wednesday, no mention of Sunday School, no mention of weenie roasts on Oct 31, no mention of New Years Eve Watch Night Service. These things are fine in and of themselves, but it is not mandated by Scripture.

If we are to obey and submit to those over us, it should be according to Scripture, not according to the whim or tradition of men.

To tell a man that he and his family are "not in the will of God" because the huband/father is concerned for the safety of his family being out on a drunken night of the heathen past midnight for a church "Watch Night Service" is wrong and the pastor will be held accountable for his "breaking of fellowship" with this family. </font>[/QUOTE]

 

POsted By Emory:
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As for the post re/the watchnight service - your comments are without regard to Scripture, rather just a disagreement with someone. [/qb][/QUOTE]Maybe you can show me from Scripture where I am wrong and I will be happy to accept it.

The apostolic example is that the church gathered on the first day of the week. No mention of two services on Sunday, no mention of Wednesday, no mention of Sunday School, no mention of weenie roasts on Oct 31, no mention of New Years Eve Watch Night Service. These things are fine in and of themselves, but it is not mandated by Scripture.

If we are to obey and submit to those over us, it should be according to Scripture, not according to the whim or tradition of men.
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Now Emory .... you protest too much .....

There are a lot of things that we do in churches that are not "Thus saith the Lord." They are not unscriptural but are not clearly defined in Scripture. Many are preferences.

To use your logic and reasoning .....
Please show me indoor toilets in Scripture?
Electric lights?
Sunday School ....? It is about 500 years old.
Musical instruments in the N.T.?
Chairs and/or pews?
Trustees?
Church Clerk?
Sunday School Supt.?
Microphones and sound equipment?
Quartets?
Hymnals?

You get my drift???

You are entitled to your opinions and preferences... However, just think a bit about common sense

 

After I joined my current church in '95, one of the first actions taken in a business meeting was to change church bylaws to bestow 'full membership' on any person desirable who was baptized by immersion as a believer, regardless of name or denomination of that church. I have always agreed with this. Evidently many of you would oppose it, if not simply for tradition, then by saying these other churches were 'unscriptural churches.' Some non-Baptist churches are more scriptural than most Baptist churches. But it depends on the particular church. Regardless, wether a new member candidate should be rebaptized should depend on the individual, not on the church in which he/she was immersed. To be a believer and to be immersed is all scripture requires, and I am glad the church I attend does not think it can require more than that.

 

Alcott,

Would you mind telling me more about the events surrounding your church's change of it's baptism policy. Did the church change because the pastor asked them to? Who led the change to happen? Was the vote to change 100%? If there were any opposed to changing, did they leave the church because of this? Why had the church not changed sooner? Would any of the former pastors be strongly opposed to this change. I am just curious about these things. Thanks,

 

As I said, I was very new there at that time, so most of your questions I cannot answer. I think it came as a recommendation by the New Member Committee, but am not certain even of that; and I have no idea if there was a particular incident or a particular person who promulgated it. But as for the vote, I do well remember it was not unanimous; I'm just estimating 8 years back, but it seems there were about 15 opposed out of an assembly of about 100-120. I cannot recall if anyone spoke against it and what their reasons were. The pastor, at the time, appeared to give tacit approval by carefully explaining the motion in a favorable way.

 

As I said, I was very new there at that time, so most of your questions I cannot answer. I think it came as a recommendation by the New Member Committee, but am not certain even of that; and I have no idea if there was a particular incident or a particular person who promulgated it. But as for the vote, I do well remember it was not unanimous; I'm just estimating 8 years back, but it seems there were about 15 opposed out of an assembly of about 100-120. I cannot recall if anyone spoke against it and what their reasons were, so I have assumed it just went against w hat they had long been taught in Baptist churches. The pastor, at the time, appeared to give tacit approval by carefully explaining the motion in a favorable way.

 

Some non-Baptist churches are more scriptural than most Baptist churches.

The one needs to recognize it is a Baptist church and the other needs to recognize it is not.

Bro. Dallas