Bible Discussion Thread

Is baptisms Bible Doctrinal for church membership

I see two parts to your question: church membership and requirement for water baptism. Becoming a Church member is not a biblical teaching or requirement because all who have repented & are born again by Christ's Spirit are members of His Body ( 1 Corinthians 12:12-14). We are baptized by the Spirit to be indwelt & to become a part of God's family, so wherever we go to fellowship with other 'true' believers, we ought to feel (and believe we are) as one of their assembly.

So the introduction of Church membership, to be an accepted recognized member of the Church, given voting rights, able to partake at the Lord's Table, be water baptized & other rulings as seen fit, are purely at the discretion of the Church leadership to fulfil their own requirements or standards. It seems that it's another level of ensuring some certainty of those deemed worthy to be a recognized part of that particular meeting.

Is this biblical? No. Is this then incorrect? A personal decision from you whether those conditions are acceptable or even to attend a Fellowship where such rules are imposed. From a personal standpoint & as one born again for 43 years, I have never been a Church member; or when asked to become one, have given them a response as here (i.e. it is unbiblical). On the matter of water baptism, you would know your situation, if you haven't been baptized. But to be baptized just to become a Church member, would be wrong.

I don't think so. It's been so long I can't remember. They might ask if you've been born again. It helps them with church projects and stuff.