My question concerning baptism may not have been clear.?

Question

My Church has a motion before it that says: Anyone who makes a profession of faith will be baptised. However, we will wait until the new convert has demonstrated that they are living according to our church covenent before they will be voted to become a member. What is behind this, is that we have people apply for membership that are living together and are not married. The pastor also thinks we may have Homosexuals request membership. He wants them to get their life straight before we accept them as church members.
I would be interested in how others feel about this.

Answer 1

I used to have a T-shirt that on the front it said,
Simon Peter's Bait shop
And on the back it said,
You bring them in and we will clean them up.

There is some truth in that. If we bring them in, then the word of God will clean them up; and the things they once did contrary to God, they will no longer want to do. But they have to be assimilated into the body in order to change their worldview that says that their sin is OK.

Most Baptist churches ask the congregation to accept the person for membership. Some Baptist churches will offer classes, after they are members, to teach the fundamentals of the faith.

Church membership should be up to the congregation.
If anyone knows of any reason that they should not be accepted for membership let them speak their piece.

The person could be a pedophile and someone in the congregation knows it. But it should be the decision of the congregation.

grace2u

Answer 2

there are 2 sides to this I believe. Jesus does want us to be living lives that please Him- church members should be living this type of life- however- to say that we must get our lives in order before we can be baptized etc- is not what Jesus would say. I have heard many people say, "I have to get my life together before I come to Christ". NO NO NO - He died so that we can come to him and allow Him to mold us. It depends on many things- How do your people in your church treat those who may not be living by God's standards, apart from the membership issue? Is it a safe place for them, either to come to Christ in the first place or become what He desires them to be and grow in their faith. I attended a church that would not even want a "sinner" in their church regardless in the wanted to be members or not. This is a cult if that is the case. Membership and Baptism by the way does not save people- Christ does. Be careful that your church is following the word completely not just what your church covenant may believe in.

Answer 3

Dont take this the wrong way - nothing against you... Your church is more concerned with RELIGION than the winning of souls. They are concerned with an outward appearance rather than the inward heart. there is something that your church is forgetting.. After we get saved, there is a PROCESS called santification that we go through. this is not a religious term, but just the spiritual process that we all go though. Are we ever completely santified - probably not - it is a continual process. The problem with churches like this is that the people doing to voting forget who they are, and where they came from. i'll bet my next paycheck that they have some serious skeletons in their closets.

its churches like this that give Christianity a bad name and cause children to turn away from it when they get older. it is nothing more than a set of worldly rules to make people appeare holy on the outside. inside they are often rotting coprses.

Religion never saved a single soul - its an actual relationship with Jesus Christ that saves.

I've been sharing the gospel for years now, and i guarantee your church would have nothing to do with me. I have long hair, tattoos, ride a harley and wear skull t-shirts to church. But this is how i wittness - it shows people that i am real, there is no fancy suit to cover up who i am. people can see the true joy of Christ within me, not just a bunch of rules i follow.

Answer 4

Well, opening the membership floodgates to people that do not believe that particular church's teachings is only inviting trouble. Attendance is one thing, and hypocrisy is another. Perhaps the board wants to see if the "milk" of the Word is going to be digested before affirming full membership through baptism. Whether they struggle against the sin in their lives is going to be an important factor.

Answer 5

First of all baptism is a Christian doctrinal belief. In Romans the sixth chapter we are told that when we are baptised we are baptised into his death and when we come out of the water into the newness of life. Those who would be baptised should show forth the life of Christ. To be a Christian means to be Christ-like. I feel that if Christ was truly preached according to the Gospel and the epistles of the Apostles, those who are not truly saved would not come forth to be baptised until they have met the prerequisits of faith. Going to a place of worship shows ones interest in the knowledge of our LORD and once that knowledge is gained a true profession of faith can be made. But many places of worship are not putting forth the truth. Just as other religions, whose names I shall not call, say that the fanatics professing to be of them are not of them so it is with the Christian faith. There will always be counterfeits to our faith out there. Every Church has its own organizational guidelines, it has nothing to do with true faith in the LORD. Perhaps your Church should rethink their stance on baptism. I think all should be admitted to the building made with hands but not all should be baptised. Titus 1:16 says "They profess that they know God: but in works they deny Him... So a profession of faith does not make one of Christ. But it does make one be headed in the right direction if they stick to that profession. In Luke 22:32 Our Lord told Peter when he is coverted to strengthen thy brethren. Peter walked with the Lord yet he had not been converted. Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...If I understand conversion it means taking something and changing it to something else. If and when someone is converted to Christianity than they are no longer what they were before. Plain and simple. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

membership in any organization involves adhering to a set of beliefs and/ or rules of behavior. why should joining a church be different? I certainly agree with the leadership of a church that does not grant church membership automatically. There must a commitment to abide by the standards as agreed upon by the governing body.

furthermore, baptism is for believers, not unbelievers. If the church wishes to allow only members to be baptized in their church, that is their choice. probably a wise one.

god bless

Answer 7

Everyone in the new test that accepted that Jesus was Christ did 3 things RIGHT away.
1-believed the gospel
2- repented
3- was baptized

"Acts 2:41 - "That day" 3000 were baptized.

Acts 8:36 - "What hinders me from being baptized?"

Acts 9:18 - "Immediately … he arose and was baptized"

Acts 16:33 - "…the same hour of the night … immediately he and all his family were baptized"

Acts 22:16 - "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins…."

When modern denominations postpone baptism of penitent believers to some future date, they are not following the Bible pattern regarding the urgency of baptism. The reason they postpone baptism is that do not believe the proper purpose of baptism. They believe the person is already saved, so what's the hurry?

Men say: He who believes is saved and may then be baptized.

The gospel says: He who believes and is baptized will be saved.

Both faith and baptism are essential in order to receive salvation. Remember, following human doctrines that differ from the gospel leads to condemnation (Gal. 1:8; Matt. 15:9; etc.).Acts 2:38 - Repent and Be Baptized for Remission of Sins
Does one have to be "good" to be saved? Who is good? Sinners are saved. ONe needs to follow the bible's teachings to be saved and God can convict them of sins after salvation!
†

Answer 8

It's pretty hard to find a church that doesn't have some kind of ritual.They seem more important than what Jesus said for us to do.....show judgment,mercy,and faith.
We are to see the truth and shine the light and be set on a table not under it so all in the room might see..

Answer 9

If people are living openly in any sin, they should not be admitted to church membership. Membership is for those who have confessed their faith in God.

There is a precident for this in the words of John the Baptist: Luke 3:8
"Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham."

Answer 10

I never saw your original question. Your church sounds like a cult. They only want members to be how they are, or they do not want to accept them. Everyone sins, even after they accept Jesus as their savior, and are babtised. Get out of that church, and find another one! They are not supposed to "judge" people. Who do they think they are?