Membership letters??!

[Fiyahstarter]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Maybe they could sign it, but add a cover letter, like some ministers do for the AS!

Now you're just smoking the pot.






(oh, I mean stirring the pot.)

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Fiyahstarter

Now you're just smoking the pot.






(oh, I mean stirring the pot.)

[Fiyahstarter]

I'm sorry if I'm being disagreeable... but I don't like this "do this to be one of us" mentalities. Forced standards and membership agreements belong at the Country Club, not in the house of God.

[MomOfADramaQn]

My pastor talked about "do this to be one of us" churches that have pastor's with this mentality. He said this mentality is the same mentality the Roman Catholic church had when they killed all the Christians - can't remember exactly when that happened. The message may be different but the principle is still the same and it is of SATAN!

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Fiyahstarter

I'm sorry if I'm being disagreeable... but I don't like this "do this to be one of us" mentalities. Forced standards and membership agreements belong at the Country Club, not in the house of God.

Okay... your post reminded me of this song from the 80's...

I Want To Be A Clone - By Steve Taylor (Lyrics below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtusbAxrAdA

Lyrics

I'd gone through so much other stuff
That walking down the aisle was tough
But now I know it's not enough
I want to be a clone

I asked the Lord into my heart
They said that was the way to start
But now you've got to play the part
I want to be a clone

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

They told me that I'd fall away
Unless I followed what they say
Who needs the Bible anyway?
I want to be a clone

Their language it was new to me
But Christianese got through to me
Now I can speak it fluently
I want to be a clone

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

Send in the clones

Ah, I kind of wanted to tell my friends and people about it, you know?

What?
You're still a babe
You have to grow
Give it twenty years or so
'Cause if you want to be one of his
Got to act like one of us

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

So now I see the whole design
My church is an assembly line
The parts are there, I'm feeling fine
I want to be a clone

I've learned enough to stay afloat
But not so much I rock the boat
I'm glad they shoved it down my throat
I want to be a clone

Everybody must get cloned

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Most often the votes are for a new pastor. I am sure there are other scenarios as well but they appear to be finding plenty of places to hide in the vast emptiness that is my mind.

Originally Posted by stmatthew

A lot of these "Membership Letters" and "Ministry Agreements" stem from the fear that someone will sue the church. An example would be if someone was ministering in the choir, and had stated that they agreed with standards of the church concerning jewelry, and then showed up all decked out like Mr T. If such a one was "set down", they could not run and try to sue over it because they had signed the papaer that they understood and agreed with the church standards.


Personally, I think these things are foolish, and childish. If you don't know someone by the spirit enough to trust them on the platform, then you really shouldn't bring them up there in the first place.

St, Matthew, I agree in part, depends on the situation. Some are about control and manipulation and then it is best to part ways.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by MomOfADramaQn

Well - from what I understand they are not "fed" - they are mostly beat over the head with rhetoric like "if you don't support me in the decisions I am making then you are going to hell" - maybe not those exact words but that is the message he is preaching. I have heard a lot of the members say they are "starving" spiritually becaue of the way he is preaching now. As for the tithing - he has told people they are not members but yet still tells them if they don't give him their tithes they are cursed - actually heard him say that with my own ears once - he can't have it both ways. He is causing division and confusion in the church - the bible says God is not the author of confusion - the Devil is having and field day with this pastor.

Absolutely. When all you hear is the same message time and again about being delivered from legalism and if you know what is good for you then you will support this ministry; or you have the spirit of Jezebel and will die by the sword in 6 months...it is a little...like what you are claiming to be delivered from...if I might say so.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Fiyahstarter]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Okay... your post reminded me of this song from the 80's...

I Want To Be A Clone - By Steve Taylor (Lyrics below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtusbAxrAdA

Lyrics

I'd gone through so much other stuff
That walking down the aisle was tough
But now I know it's not enough
I want to be a clone

I asked the Lord into my heart
They said that was the way to start
But now you've got to play the part
I want to be a clone

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

They told me that I'd fall away
Unless I followed what they say
Who needs the Bible anyway?
I want to be a clone

Their language it was new to me
But Christianese got through to me
Now I can speak it fluently
I want to be a clone

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

Send in the clones

Ah, I kind of wanted to tell my friends and people about it, you know?

What?
You're still a babe
You have to grow
Give it twenty years or so
'Cause if you want to be one of his
Got to act like one of us

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

So now I see the whole design
My church is an assembly line
The parts are there, I'm feeling fine
I want to be a clone

I've learned enough to stay afloat
But not so much I rock the boat
I'm glad they shoved it down my throat
I want to be a clone

Everybody must get cloned

LOL!

Good thing you posted the words... I couldn't understand a THING that dude was saying.