Today I was listening to a young political pundit who became exasperated at his and other's attempts at changing the political climate of a particular university. It struck me that what he was saying, may be the answer to a question I have had from time to time, about individuals remaining in churches with the goal of changing the hearts in them.
Not only do I see it as an exercise in futility, but I also see it as this man saw the attempts to change politics on a college campuses, as he put it, "a fool’s errand."
Those who desire to seek God for all things, need to leave the organized churches that are refusing to obey God's Word and fellowship with likeminded others who have also left.
If someone accuses you of "sheep stealing", then you know their bent is fame and mammon. Since everyone who is born again of the Holy Spirit and is a member of the body of Christ, it makes no difference whether they leave or stay in any gathering, that they are seeking God is all that matters.
If someone feels led to remove themselves from a particular gathering, to join another gathering, then those they are staying should send them off with a blessing and a prayer. The fact that in most situations, those who have left because leadership would not obey the Word, are gossiped about, shunned and rejected, tells us that something other than Christ was their focus. Not to mention the immense pride involved in being offended that someone did not endorse the activities in that particular gathering. Often when believers leave over bad doctrine or no doctrine at all, those who stay are glad to see them go, but withhold the prayer and blessing.
When leadership will not obey the Word, then it is our responsibility to bring it to their attention. When they will not listen and you have followed all the steps mandated in the word to get them to see their error, and they will not repent, then it is time to leave.
Those who approach the brothers that are leaving, to intimidate, demean and manipulate them into guilt about their decision, are showing who they are in their spiritual walk, which is superficial, prideful and deceptive.
When I see that no one is listening, then it is time to shake the dust from your feet and move toward those who are obeying Christ. No one does this perfectly, and everyone is at a different spiritual level of growth, but everyone should be seeking Christ.
All of this falderal about church "membership", shows us that the purpose is to have something to chain people to, hold over their heads and prevent leaving, more manipulation to keep the money rolling in and bragging rights to entice others to join.
Formal church membership is akin to the rights of passage that Masons, Catholics and other fraternal organizations use to keep their members living in fear of leaving.
Church membership is a device of the world and not Biblically based.
There are many scriptures to support what has been said here, perhaps some of you can post them for me. At the very least, do your own study of these things and you will find that scriptures have been twisted to justify them, for the purpose of keeping people in bondage to human rules and traditions that Christ never mandated.
Some food for thought!
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