Parakaleo
Puritan Board Sophomore
I've been getting to know a Baptist brother that surprised me (in a good way) yesterday. Loves the Lord, well-versed in the Scriptures, discerning, head of his home, seven children, always sharing Christ with neighbors and in the workplace, etc.
When I spoke to him about his church membership, I was somewhat surprised to learn he belongs to a church that can be described with a quaint word used in these parts, "Bapticostal". A blend of Baptist tradition with modern, Pentecostal-style worship and some charismatic elements thrown in there. As I questioned him more about it, he said he is not a member at the church "by preference", but because he feels called to minister to people in the church as a layman. He also appreciates that the church is ethnically diverse, so he can invite people whom he works with to the church without fear of them feeling out of place.
This was surprising and commendable in a number of ways to me, mostly because we never hear people talking about church membership in this manner. The usual mode of thinking about church membership involves trying to find a church that checks off as many of our theological boxes and preferences as possible. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing... though it can be a source of pride.
I got to thinking about the implications of a man joining himself to a church he disagrees with in order to reform it from within. There is, of course, the matter of authority. Great care would need to be taken not to undermine authority or to become an Absalom. You may have the best of intentions, but God has given authority in that body to the officers. Another implication would be the effect upon your family, especially your little ones. Is it right to subject them to improper worship and unsound teaching on the Lord's Day, even if they are getting better instruction at home? Worship is deeply formative in our lives.
Any thoughts on "missional" church membership? How might you counsel this guy?
When I spoke to him about his church membership, I was somewhat surprised to learn he belongs to a church that can be described with a quaint word used in these parts, "Bapticostal". A blend of Baptist tradition with modern, Pentecostal-style worship and some charismatic elements thrown in there. As I questioned him more about it, he said he is not a member at the church "by preference", but because he feels called to minister to people in the church as a layman. He also appreciates that the church is ethnically diverse, so he can invite people whom he works with to the church without fear of them feeling out of place.
This was surprising and commendable in a number of ways to me, mostly because we never hear people talking about church membership in this manner. The usual mode of thinking about church membership involves trying to find a church that checks off as many of our theological boxes and preferences as possible. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing... though it can be a source of pride.
I got to thinking about the implications of a man joining himself to a church he disagrees with in order to reform it from within. There is, of course, the matter of authority. Great care would need to be taken not to undermine authority or to become an Absalom. You may have the best of intentions, but God has given authority in that body to the officers. Another implication would be the effect upon your family, especially your little ones. Is it right to subject them to improper worship and unsound teaching on the Lord's Day, even if they are getting better instruction at home? Worship is deeply formative in our lives.
Any thoughts on "missional" church membership? How might you counsel this guy?
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