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My spiritual gifting tends to be weak in the area of hospitality and such nicities; perhaps that helps me explore this subject with a bit more impartiality. (I haven't figured out yet who gets what name tags in the welcoming committees). With such manners thrown to the wind; challenging a newcomer to repent of sins; or challenging professed believers of dangers ahead; as well as the temptations to fall away; persecution; etc. is open to discussion. Having discernment as a gifting; of coure needs to be balanced.
It would be nice for me to take the time to ask someone what their name is before getting into a twenty minute doctrinal discourse.
I have even gone to the lengths of asking those who I perceive as strong in the Lord to pray for things (such as for more prayer in my local church). Again; discretion is needed-outsiders don't need to be aware of all the problems or "dirty laundry" in a church; or alternatively; have to listen to all of our problems or gripes either. Nonetheless; it would be nice when those around us are struggling not to have to always put on a happy face to meet the expectations of a "seeker friendly" comfortable environment which guests are expected to enter.
One thing is for sure; if hypocrisy exists no one needs to tell a true believer who is visiting on a given Sunday; God Himself will reveal what He will. Imagine; for instance a visitor from the outside upbraiding someone for such an issue. Such audacity! Such presumption! Again; it may be better procedure to know someone first and the particulars involved before such a declaration is made; but being too familiar or comfortable I fear is a much greater issue on the politeness side of the equation.
Maturity also; of course being willing to share about other fellowships; for example that may better fit the needs of an individual due to resources available for someone to attend; rather than holding onto someone for monitary gain.
In my congregation we have two services on a Sunday . We have a Bible based lecture in the morning which anyone can attend and in the afternoon we have a members only service when we take the bread and wine . Outsiders may attend the breaking of bread but only with pre arranged permission of the brethren .
Why is this? In my congregation everybody is free to attend (members and visitors), come in and get out any time they like. We welcome visitors but if they wish to be anonymous and not be bothered by anybody (for as long as they like) that is OK with us, we respect that, no problem. The church is not a private club with standard registered members. We don't sign any paper. There is nothing compulsory. If the visitors wish to participate in the breaking of the bread they are not prevented, it is their responsibility to be clean so that they will not get condemned. When there are visitors on a Sunday the pastor makes sure that they understand what we are up to do and what requirements are needed for taking part in the communion but this is as far as he goes. Everybody is free to choose whether they want to participate or not, the responsibility for doing so is upon them not on the church. And I think this kind of freedom is what a visitor would like to (and should) feel.
Hello Giannis and thanks for your reply . I don't make the rules of my congregation :) the brethren do that . I joined it almost 30 years ago . As far as I can tell , it's because partaking of the bread and wine is a very special and spiritual thing to us , not to be taken lightly . We like to know that whoever does partake , knows exactly what they are partaking of and that they understand the things that are believed by us in fellowship . As I said , we have a lovely open meeting on a morning , usually anyone interested in joining us starts with that meeting , I did . Then as time goes on , an interested visitor may come to the breaking of bread , no one is allowed to break bread with us unless they have been baptized by full immersion as an adult . These are our rules , I didn't make them :) .
My spiritual gifting tends to be weak in the area of hospitality and such nicities; perhaps that helps me explore this subject with a bit more impartiality. (I haven't figured out yet who gets what name tags in the welcoming committees). With such manners thrown to the wind; challenging a newcomer to repent of sins; or challenging professed believers of dangers ahead; as well as the temptations to fall away; persecution; etc. is open to discussion. Having discernment as a gifting; of coure needs to be balanced.
It would be nice for me to take the time to ask someone what their name is before getting into a twenty minute doctrinal discourse.
I have even gone to the lengths of asking those who I perceive as strong in the Lord to pray for things (such as for more prayer in my local church). Again; discretion is needed-outsiders don't need to be aware of all the problems or "dirty laundry" in a church; or alternatively; have to listen to all of our problems or gripes either. Nonetheless; it would be nice when those around us are struggling not to have to always put on a happy face to meet the expectations of a "seeker friendly" comfortable environment which guests are expected to enter.
One thing is for sure; if hypocrisy exists no one needs to tell a true believer who is visiting on a given Sunday; God Himself will reveal what He will. Imagine; for instance a visitor from the outside upbraiding someone for such an issue. Such audacity! Such presumption! Again; it may be better procedure to know someone first and the particulars involved before such a declaration is made; but being too familiar or comfortable I fear is a much greater issue on the politeness side of the equation.
Maturity also; of course being willing to share about other fellowships; for example that may better fit the needs of an individual due to resources available for someone to attend; rather than holding onto someone for monitary gain.
Why is this? In my congregation everybody is free to attend (members and visitors), come in and get out any time they like. We welcome visitors but if they wish to be anonymous and not be bothered by anybody (for as long as they like) that is OK with us, we respect that, no problem. The church is not a private club with standard registered members. We don't sign any paper. There is nothing compulsory. If the visitors wish to participate in the breaking of the bread they are not prevented, it is their responsibility to be clean so that they will not get condemned. When there are visitors on a Sunday the pastor makes sure that they understand what we are up to do and what requirements are needed for taking part in the communion but this is as far as he goes. Everybody is free to choose whether they want to participate or not, the responsibility for doing so is upon them not on the church. And I think this kind of freedom is what a visitor would like to (and should) feel.
GBU
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