Say a young adult comes into your church and joins in activities, listens to pastor speeches carefully, generally a nice educated person who up holds strong moral and dignity. Does what God asks other Christians to do. He is open to suggestions, believes and changes. However he does not want to get baptized and officially become a Christian or offer prayers. What would you think and would you still welcome him as part of your Christian community and make him feel involved?
2007-11-27 00:28:58 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward choice. Catholics are more big on it. But said person would be welcome in pretty much any church. Most churches allow all to attend. Personally I don't care. I feel its up to each individual the choices they make, and the reasons behind them.
2007-11-27 00:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by evil_kandykid 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It may take some time for him to realize the need to follow the Lord in baptism. I would certainly continue for awhile to include him and involve him in Bible study and worship to help him understand the need for following the Lord in the church ordinance of baptism in order to be a full member of the church. This is a job for the pastor or a church minister to explain the steps to full membership in the church to him.
Many people attend church but may not become members--you present the gospel and try to meet them where they are and pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them to get right with the Lord. Eventually he will probably either come to the point where he realizes his need for baptism and church membership, or he will become too uncomfortable and stop attending on his own--there is no need to make him feel unwelcome or turn him away while he is going through this soul-searching process.
2007-11-27 00:35:01 · answer #2 · answered by arklatexrat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would continue to welcome him! I would thank him for his honesty and willingness to share his doubts and skepticisms. There are many "seekers" all around us and the Bible teaches us to be light and salt in this world. That doesn't mean I must water down the truth or change the message of the gospel to make it more acceptable or palatable but it does mean that I am not to push seekers away.
This young adult that you've described should be welcomed and genuinely be made to feel welcomed. We should encourage him on his quest for Truth. We should be modeling Christ-likeness and be there to answer his questions and doubts.
I Peter 3:15 tells us as believers to be ready at all times to give an answer for the hope that we have.
Just as this seeker is open and forthright with his position so should the believers that are around him. The believers should make it known that their prayer and hope is that he would come to know Christ eventually, but if you accept or not you are welcome to hang out with us
2007-11-27 00:47:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would feel puzzled as to why he wants to come and be open, but not participate in the most important parts of being in the Christian community.
I would welcome him forever, but he can't exactly be a part of the Christian community if he doesn't want to become a Christian. After a while, one simply has to decide, yes/no. After that time what purpose is served by coming without becoming!
2007-11-27 00:38:33 · answer #4 · answered by LeslieAnn 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would still welcome him, he may just not be ready to make a commitment to one religion.
Speaking from experience I was ushered early into my family's protestant religion whereas my husband was never pushed, his parents, one Catholic and one Greek Orthodox, let him choose which religion he wanted to follow and it worked out for the best and he's happy with the one he chose.
Show him everything you can about the religion as well and let him embrace it. (Although it seems that he's already willing to and do this part) Eventually he may chose to become a member of the religion and of the church.
2007-11-27 00:38:08 · answer #5 · answered by Amanda 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course he'd be welcome. I've met many such people; some have become Christians other have not but they have all been welcomed.
The Christian Church is the one organisation that exists for the benefit of its non-members.
2007-11-27 00:40:04 · answer #6 · answered by Don 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most definatley. These kind of things take time, and baptism isn't just water. It's a very serious blood covenant with Jesus, and not to be taken lightly. I wouldn't baptize him until he was ready anyway. By that time, he would be asking for baptism.
2007-11-27 00:32:54 · answer #7 · answered by tcjstn 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's most likely a duck, regardless of whether it wants to get wet.
2007-11-27 00:34:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because we are to welcome and who knows, maybe this person would learn more, hopefully see faith in action and decide to accept Jesus and be baptized.
2007-11-27 13:52:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a spy
2007-11-27 00:31:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋