Formal Church Membership - Biblical ?

[Kurieuo]

Just playing devil's advocate here. But, keep in mind that those people you turn your children over to, they never signed any agreement as to what they believe either.

I've wrestled with this, since I work in teaching children. In 10 years of ministry I have never, NEVER had a parent come to me and ask me my faith position.

Given my daughter is almost 3 and youngest only 1, this hasn't really been an issue. In fact, until recently, me or my wife have sat in with them while the other attended the service. So this is not something that has been especially relevant to my situation.

Also, I still know what the majority of people believe. You don't need a signed statement (which people are often coerced into signing anyway as Sudsy's pointed out), to have faith in the people looking after your kids. I agree parents should remain actively involved and not keep their blinders shut. Asking questions of those looking after their kids is great, as well as talking to their kids who divulge a lot of information particularly when young.

If this is an issue you are wrestling with, approach some of the parents if they aren't approaching you. Communication is two-way, is without it, people often think the worse of each other.

[Kurieuo]

Kurieuo, that is an issue for me also regarding an agreement with the local church statements of faith. There are two and one of these phrased 'spend eternity in Hell'. One fellow said to me, well it doesn't spell out what eternity means so you could still sign but I know what the intent is on this. The other statement is regarding water baptism - ' The believer is now incorporated into the body of Christ as expressed in the local church.' Don't see this in scripture. Some say they don't agree either 100% as stated but they will or have signed on anyway.

Well if you want my opinion, if you feel you cannot sign it without your conscience being compromised, then don't sign it. Christ is about truth, not lies. If you don't fit in, then don't compromise your conscience because of a desire to fit in. If the pastor/your church still wants you as a member, then he/they will just have to respect you as an individual with different beliefs albeit still Christian.

Yet regarding a teaching role, I would not instruct otherwise and have no demand on me to teach these specific views. If I was required I would share them as the beliefs of this fellowship, no problem. I think it is a good idea that anyone in an instructional role to agree that they will not teach in conflict with the local church statement of faith. Our new pastor, jokingly, said to me last Sunday that he was going to drop in next week on our class to see that I'm not teaching heresy. Joking aside, I think thats good. But I think I might slip something in and check his response.

I agree, I think it is important for leaders in a church to be like-minded. However, you should still be able to discuss your points of view with others a part of the body of Christ as long as you fall under orthodoxy (and by that I mean the main doctrines re: Christ and the Gospel are what counts). If the church doesn't like you talking your "non-essential" point of views in their church, then as it is their church they have every right I think expel you from their group. But it sounds to me as though things are quite civil, and your paster while he might disagree with your views on hell (as do I ), might still tolerate you discussing them with others since it is a non-essential doctrine for salvation (at least, in my opinion it is non-essential).