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Scott Bushey · #16 (**permalink**) 09-30-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by biblelighthouse

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott Bushey
So then, you have a membership? To be excommunicated from something, one must be communicated.

You are "communicated" with MBC the first day you walk in the door. If you profess Christ, then you are considered "one of us" until we have good reason to believe otherwise. You can visit next Sunday and take the Lord's Supper, if you want.

However, if we learn that you are involved in something that should bring you under church discipline, then we will deal with it swiftly and biblically, regardless of whether you have been attending our church 2 weeks or 20 years.

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff_Bartel

If you don't have church membership, it is impossible (in an orderly fashion to say the least) to distinguish between visitors and members.

You hit the nail on the head. We do not want to make some big distinction between visitors and members. You don't magically become a "member" because you attend our church for one month, or 6 months, or attend a particular class, or sign a particular piece of paper, or whatever. If you confess Christ, then you are "one of us", and are subject to both the benefits of the Lord's Table at MBC, as well as church discipline, if need be.

Again, you are considered "one of us" whether you've attended 2 weeks or 20 years. You are welcome at the table as long as your walk with Christ looks good. And you will come under discipline if you do something that has biblical warrant for church discipline.

Joe,
Without sounding disrespectful, you have blurred the edges in regards to the universal body and the local. You do not seem to make the needed distinction that scripture does..........