Featured 11 week orientation

It seems strange to me also since it is not Biblical. Notice Acts 2:41-47:

41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

They added 3000 that day. Verses 42 and after go on to say they learned and were taught after joining.

I would not walk away from that church, I would run.

Denominations like Catholic, some Presbyterian, and others have indoctrination, communicants class, memorizing bylaws and covenants and the like. Anyone who is considering joining a local church should already have fully investigated it. I do not mean just doctrine, but the personality of the church, its cliques, power structures, etc.

It seems to me local churches requiring this before joining are not acting as New Testament churches.

 

For eleven weeks I would hope they award you college credits. Our church has a 3 hour seminar in one afternoon and then you decide at that point if you want to commit. If you do your commitment is good for one year. Everyone renews commitments each year in January. That way we aren't carrying 1200 members with an average attendance each week of 400.

 

You could use some of that, Eph. 4:23 -- :laugh: :tongue3: :thumbsup:

 

I would say the main subject in class would be, Will you commit your time and your money and not necessarily in that order.

 

I doubt you'd apostatize like that by reading error.

 

They should never assume either way about a persons salvation, and perhaps they don't.

 

Perhaps the point is that the class is for new members, not potential members. We have a new members class. Before an individual joins the elders meet with the person(s) to make sure they understand what we are about. If they are in substantial agreement, and there is no biblical reason why they cannot join, then we are happy to welcome them into our family. After they join we have a periodic new members class that goes further into beliefs and practice. We view it as form of discipleship.

 

Uncalled for comment, totally. But I won't be a "tattle tale".

 

Well, apostatize in the sense of leaving solid truth for error, not in a salvational sense. Some claim to have been Cals and have gone into fallacious error and if you look closely their understanding of Reformed theology is nothing short of a caricature/straw man of what it truly is. I recall making a thread on irresistible grace, one who claimed to be an ex-Calvinist fought against it, thinking he was fighting what IG means, but all he did was erect a straw man and attack it. Thus, no, an 'ex-Cal' who doesn't represent the truth of the teaching, misrepresents it, is not showing a true past adherence to Calvinism by any means.

Here is the link. The last page shows that the objective of my thread was in fact accomplished, and especially the last reply.

As far as how long the classes take, I have no problem with it because you're going to be in church anyhow, so I would go and try to gain a better understanding of theology. I don't know about the having to join first part though. And who knows, perhaps you'll gain an hearing there.