Comments on: Church Membership http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/ Dealing with issues in reformed theology. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:21:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: David Hildebrandt http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/#comment-54779 David Hildebrandt Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:35:37 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/#comment-54779 I believe the author of the blog is mixing a couple of things up. First, I am a member of a local church. I believe this is what the Bible teaches when Paul speaks of being members one of another. However, the "keys of the kingdom" have nothing to do with church membership. Nor is the church the "keeper of the keys". Whatever Christ meant when He talked to Peter about the "keys", church membership is not it. I believe that church membership is important because of the interconnectedness that Christians have. This interconnectedness is shown in local church membership. Yes, we all become members of the church universal at salvation. However, membership in the local church is the outcome of this membership in the church universal. We need to be connected at the local level so that we can be useful: to Christ, as our head, to the local church which has been given the task of the promulgation of the gospel, and by extension to the church universal, which is benefitted by our activity in the local church. I believe the author of the blog is mixing a couple of things up.

First, I am a member of a local church. I believe this is what the Bible teaches when Paul speaks of being members one of another.

However, the “keys of the kingdom” have nothing to do with church membership. Nor is the church the “keeper of the keys”. Whatever Christ meant when He talked to Peter about the “keys”, church membership is not it.

I believe that church membership is important because of the interconnectedness that Christians have. This interconnectedness is shown in local church membership. Yes, we all become members of the church universal at salvation. However, membership in the local church is the outcome of this membership in the church universal. We need to be connected at the local level so that we can be useful: to Christ, as our head, to the local church which has been given the task of the promulgation of the gospel, and by extension to the church universal, which is benefitted by our activity in the local church.

]]> By: CJ http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/#comment-38952 CJ Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:58:37 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/#comment-38952 church membership...don'take me laugh. I am a memmber of the "church" (body/bride of Christ) whether you like it or not. Of course I hope you will accept me. church membership…don’take me laugh.

I am a memmber of the “church” (body/bride of Christ) whether you like it or not.

Of course I hope you will accept me.

]]> By: CJ http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/#comment-38951 CJ Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:56:47 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2007/08/13/church-membership/#comment-38951 Church membership is never "key".The "Church" IS the body of Christ, quickened by the Spirit that does a work within us. Christ church is His body...each Belivers is His bride...say nay or yeah to a "church"/ so-called membership is little more than saying "oh look at me, I'm a christian". Come on believers...it only takes five seconds to look at Paul and see his love of the church (body of true believers)and his disdain of ANY other way of reaching God. He IS God. Omnipotent,Omniscient,omnipresent... if we (as humans,in a human -limited- mindset) take that in, we might,just might, be able to see that His way are above out ways. Can we question God? No Can we question God as believers? No Can we question God as pagans? No Since Adam, it is inherent in us to question God. Why? because we think we either know better than God or there is NO GOD. For those whom there is a God, may God have mercy on us. For those whom there is NO GOD... come on who are you trying to convince? Church membership is never “key”.The “Church” IS the body of Christ, quickened by the Spirit that does a work within us. Christ church is His body…each Belivers is His bride…say nay or yeah to a “church”/ so-called membership is little more than saying “oh look at me, I’m a christian”. Come on believers…it only takes five seconds to look at Paul and see his love of the church (body of true believers)and his disdain of ANY other way of reaching God.

He IS God.

Omnipotent,Omniscient,omnipresent…

if we (as humans,in a human -limited- mindset) take that in, we might,just might, be able to see that His way are above out ways.

Can we question God? No

Can we question God as believers? No

Can we question God as pagans? No

Since Adam, it is inherent in us to question God. Why? because we think we either know better than God or there is NO GOD.

For those whom there is a God, may God have mercy on us.

For those whom there is NO GOD… come on who are you trying to convince?

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