tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post1734790659751850654..comments2024-03-24T03:21:03.154-04:00Comments on CAMPONTHIS: "Working Together Toward Integrity in Membership"...needed, a regenerate church on the rollsSJ Camphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151854168141407022007-06-26T11:13:00.000-04:002007-06-26T11:13:00.000-04:00There are surely several reasons why there are so ...There are surely several reasons why there are so many unregenerate members in the SBC churches (and other churches for that matter). <BR/><BR/>But the *main* reason is <STRONG>preaching a gospel of works</STRONG>. <BR/><BR/>Not so much a message of "earn your way to heaven", but things like:<BR/><BR/>1. Go forward up the aisle.<BR/><BR/><EM>Sidenote: I have heard *many* sermons over the years that scarcely mentioned Jesus Christ, and certainly not the Gospel, but at the end of the sermon the question is asked, "Every head bowed, every eye closed. Who would like to receive Jesus this morning? You come forward while we sing Hymn 23." <BR/><BR/>I often wanted to ask sardonically, "Jesus? Who is He? You never even mentioned Him in your sermon on 'How To Be A Good Citizen', and now you want people to come forward to receive...whom?"<BR/><BR/>One of the most profound (yet simple) sermons I have heard preached, was at a regional Founders Conference in Clearwater, Florida a couple of years ago. Tom Ascol preached on 'What Is A Christian Sermon?', or something like that. The simple answer is, 'One that contains Jesus Christ. And if it doesn't contain Jesus Christ, it may be Biblical, it may be accurate, it may be true, it may be inspiring, but it isn't Christian.'</EM><BR/><BR/>2. Be baptized.<BR/>3. Come to church every time the doors are open.<BR/>4. Tithe.<BR/><BR/>The strong implication is that if you've done those things, you are a "good" Christian, and then a religion of "do this" and "don't do that" is preached ad nauseum. A Performance-based legalistic religion, instead of the "All of Grace" Baptist truth that Spurgeon, for example, preached.<BR/><BR/>The Catch-22 is that if one of those churches with a large percentage of unregenerate members gets a new Pastor who begins preaching Christ and Him crucified, salvation by Grace, the New Birth, etc., the unregenerate membership often run him out, tarred and feathered.<BR/><BR/>You can preach to convict people of their sin all you want, but if you don't offer the Grace of the Crucified One to fill the swept out hearts, the multiplied doctrines of demons of legalism will re-fill the swept out hearts, making the state of the person worse than before.Terry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-45068049845681053392007-06-25T13:16:00.000-04:002007-06-25T13:16:00.000-04:00This is an interesting discussion - thanks. This i...This is an interesting discussion - thanks. This issue may become as important in our time as the "Halfway Covenant" in Jonathan Edwards time. Should there be such an emphasis on "membership" in churches that do not check the fruit of members?<BR/><BR/>As someone who has attended a "large" (1000+) SBC for a year now, I have asked the same question: why should I become a member of this church? <BR/><BR/>We served in another church in town for more than 4 years, before getting burned by the leadership, so joining another group is not high on our list of "to-dos".Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563847654343483754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-19846563250161309052007-06-23T09:20:00.000-04:002007-06-23T09:20:00.000-04:00Thanks for the post, Steve. After reading the Ell...Thanks for the post, Steve. After reading the Elliff article, I am amazed at how much of a shift has occurred over the years. I especially think that the call to intentionally teach/preach about the unregenerate church needs to be answered. <BR/><BR/>My local congregation has more attendees than members & requires more than a "walk down the aisle" for membership. Yet, there's so much to ponder when it comes to making sure we're not falling into the traps of deception & complacency. I pray that we can find that balance of becoming a regenerate church while avoiding the trap of becoming pharisees!<BR/><BR/>Soli Deo Gloria,<BR/>RonaldJRonaldJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032249777751361245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-56613743686095856772007-06-22T20:48:00.000-04:002007-06-22T20:48:00.000-04:00I am astounded that there is a debate over a matte...I am astounded that there is a debate over a matter of basic honesty and integrity. As a single woman who relies on the mercies of God and the shepherding of her pastor, I want to know that should I become weak enough to miss church, no matter the reason, my pastor is going to miss me. I want to know if I stray from the truth, he is going to bring me back with the practical application of the Word. I have seen first hand the damage done to lives when church discipline is avoided. What possible justification can there be for a pastor keeping phantom members on the books? Doesn't having them there draw attention to his lack of ability to shepherd his flock in a manner that glorifies God and upholds the gospel? <BR/><BR/>rosemarierosemariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12650494026412824392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-80019002948560794072007-06-22T16:49:00.000-04:002007-06-22T16:49:00.000-04:00I for one would not want to be a pastor/elder who ...I for one would not want to be a pastor/elder who has to stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ and tell our Lord why I didn't take church membership seriously. If we make the front door of the local fellowship a little more discerning than maybe we won't see the masses exiting the back. This indeed is a paramount issue and the SBC needs to address this post haste. As the beginning of the Mike Corley says..."Wake the Neighbors." <BR/><BR/>John in STLJohn Dalyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02151200938295109869noreply@blogger.com