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Pilgrim said:
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Joe k said:
Pilgrim I applaud some sort of litmus test with a hearty Amen. What I dont applaud is when one takes self examination to mean a morbid introspection, and examination of others to look at their lifes by the fruit only. They should be added on confession of belief, recognition of sin, and repentance. There MUST not be a long lag between that and full membership in the body.
Joe,

We can agree about the "morbid introspection" and most of the Puritans would also heartily agree. There a few denominations which still practice/encourage what we would call "morbid introspection", e.g., the NRC. And it seems we can agree that an examination by the Elders of prospective members is necessary. That examination should address the areas of doctrine, experimental and life. However, I am unsure about what you mean by a "long lag between that and full membership"? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" /> A person may be genuinely converted yet not seek membership in a local assembly for various reasons, e.g., the difficulty in finding one that is a true church, location of the individual and a good church, reluctance on the part of an individual to join any church due to lack of understanding, etc. And, if you mean by that some long examination process on the part of the church, e.g., weeks of grueling interrogation, then that would be unacceptable.

If one is examined rightly by the Elders and found to have a valid profession of faith in the above three areas I mentioned, then there is no reason to delay full communion. Further training/education should be recommended to all new members, however. And a true convert shouldn't have any objections to that recommendation at all. In fact, one who has come to Christ should/will most naturally want to seek such things, IMHO. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,

I agree with this Pilgrim. Perhaps we were talking past each other and I apologise for misreading you. I know that when the Lord adds people to the Church it is infallible and as sinful men we always have the risk of admitting a tare to grow amongst the wheat.

I read something that Roland Hill once said: AS I was walking down the street, a man stumbled out of a saloon to greet me. Raising his hand he said,"Hello minister Hill, I am one of your converts, and I replied, yes you are one of mine, for if you were one of the Lords you would not be drunk>>

There never was a sinner half as big as Christ is as a Savior.