Contract Question

[A.W. Bowman]

Sherri – excellent questions! Contracts and covenants are much the same thing – agreements that impose performance requirements on all the parties involve.

For the general membership there need be no contracts if one gives assent to the precept that there is but one One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Eph 4:5) and that Jesus Christ is not fragmented into little serfdoms (.1 Cor 1:13 +), as we are so prone to fracture Him up in our churches today.

A membership contract is unnecessary, for the same reason that from silence, none of the original 120 (members and “ministers”) or the 3,000 who joined the church on Pentecost did not line up to sign membership contracts, nor for that matter it does not appear that Paul, Timothy or Titus did. The First Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance of Israel (FPMAI) does not seem to have existed during the first several hundred years or so of the church age. That kind of thing also seems to be another Emperor Constantine era creation.

Now, a membership contract is quite different from a church membership role that is maintained in order to comply with state/federal organizational tax laws and regulations.

As to membership covenants. A covenant is a legally binding contract between two or more parties that require specific performances to be accomplished by all parties concerned. Failure to live up to one’s covenant obligations frequently results in a death sentence. Much like the blood covenant we have entered into with God through Jesus Christ. My covenant remains until I break it, because God is faithful and He will keep His side of the agreement(s). If I should break covenant with God, then Hell (death) is my reward.

So my response to [individual] membership covenants is: No. For I have a covenant with the entire body of Christ through His personal covenant with me – an obligation that I have accepted. Therefore, I am already in a covenant relationship with you, Shrrri, and with everyone else on this forum (and beyond) who has acknowledged the Jesus Christ is Lord and have turned to Him as both Lord and Master.

The final word is, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” If a member of the assembly proves to be untrustworthy, even to living in unrepentant sin, there are instructions already in existance as to what the congregation is to do with that person.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

My family and I are just now getting involved again in local ministries (music, singing etc) because I looked around one day and my oldest was about to be a teenager and I hardly knew my kids.

Never ending practices, stuff going on before services, after services, on off nights... nearly every night of the week we were up there tagging our kids along in tow treating them as if they were second, or third, or fourth in line for our devotion.

The main reason that we are getting back involved now is because our children play instruments and sing so this is something we can do together. I have already ran into a few scenarios where I had this knee jerk reaction (flashbacks ).

You can quickly become irreplaceable in a small church and that is when the guilt begins to be dumped on you if you have a trip out of town etc. We are enjoying ourselves but I find myself fearful sometimes.

That is absolutely TRUE!!!! It's important to keep boundaries, and make sure others know that your involvement is always subject to re-evaluation.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

Sherri – excellent questions! Contracts and covenants are much the same thing – agreements that impose performance requirements on all the parties involve.

For the general membership there need be no contracts if one gives assent to the precept that there is but one One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Eph 4:5) and that Jesus Christ is not fragmented into little serfdoms (.1 Cor 1:13 +), as we are so prone to fracture Him up in our churches today.

A membership contract is unnecessary, for the same reason that from silence, none of the original 120 (members and “ministers”) or the 3,000 who joined the church on Pentecost did not line up to sign membership contracts, nor for that matter it does not appear that Paul, Timothy or Titus did. The First Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance of Israel (FPMAI) does not seem to have existed during the first several hundred years or so of the church age. That kind of thing also seems to be another Emperor Constantine era creation.

Now, a membership contract is quite different from a church membership role that is maintained in order to comply with state/federal organizational tax laws and regulations.

As to membership covenants. A covenant is a legally binding contract between two or more parties that require specific performances to be accomplished by all parties concerned. Failure to live up to one’s covenant obligations frequently results in a death sentence. Much like the blood covenant we have entered into with God through Jesus Christ. My covenant remains until I break it, because God is faithful and He will keep His side of the agreement(s). If I should break covenant with God, then Hell (death) is my reward.

So my response to [individual] membership covenants is: No. For I have a covenant with the entire body of Christ through His personal covenant with me – an obligation that I have accepted. Therefore, I am already in a covenant relationship with you, Sherri, and with everyone else on this forum (and beyond) who has acknowledged the Jesus Christ is Lord and have turned to Him as both Lord and Master.

The final word is, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” If a member of the assembly proves to be untrustworthy, even to living in unrepentant sin, there are instructions already in existance as to what the congregation is to do with that person.

Well said and in keeping with the word of God....

[pelathais]

I will act as God has required the Pastoral Leadership in all things.

What exactly does this mean? Are they saying that you must also follow all of the little "God told me so" things that the "Pastoral Leadership" will throw in your way over time?

That has the potential to be one very exciting roller coaster ride. I'd sign "Mickey Mouse" on the dotted line and wave good bye.

These "platform standards" are just another fad that's here to stay. It's so sad that folks with this much influence in the lives of others won't even try and influence them toward godly Christian principles. Instead they make up things that are not in the Bible and set themselves up as the eyes and ears of Almighty God.

This is potentially a very dangerous trend.

[commonsense]

Originally Posted by pelathais

What exactly does this mean? Are they saying that you must also follow all of the little "God told me so" things that the "Pastoral Leadership" will throw in your way over time?

That has the potential to be one very exciting roller coaster ride. I'd sign "Mickey Mouse" on the dotted line and wave good bye.

These "platform standards" are just another fad that's here to stay. It's so sad that folks with this much influence in the lives of others won't even try and influence them toward godly Christian principles. Instead they make up things that are not in the Bible and set themselves up as the eyes and ears of Almighty God.

This is potentially a very dangerous trend.

I agree!

[commonsense]

[QUOTE=*AQuietPlace*;712674]Balance is very, very important. I think that's why so many ministers lose their children to the world.... they were so busy saving the world that they neglected their own children. I don't mean that in a critical way, it's just true, sometimes. Some preachers' children can end up very bitter because "church" always came first, and the desires and interests of the children were last.
--------
Unfortunate , but true. I had/have several relatives in UPC ministry.

An uncle put church first....in that his children did not ever have a non church activity/vacation.
Lots of resentment against the church. Of the 5 children, none attend UPC assemblies; 2 are faithful to "Christian" churches; the other 3 gave up on "religion"!
(On Sunday when newspaper came he removed the comics section and threw it away....just more control imo)

[Scott Hutchinson]

If my opinion if one could not honestly sign an affirmation like this,then don't sign it.
If you sign you should follow what is says,if not then don't sign.
I'm more liberal than alot of people in some things,however if a Pastor teaches somethings and expects the saints to follow what he teaches that doesn't necessarily make that man cultish.
I will grant you though there are controlling power mad pastors out there,who care more about defending their reputation than the well being of the saints.

[*AQuietPlace*]

I'd have no problem signing something that says "I agree to do" whatever (as long as I could follow the requirements), but I do have a problem signing something that says "I believe that the Bible teaches ..." That would almost seem to keep you from even studying or questioning issues. A lot of us go through times of questioning, and I'd hate to have to resign just because of questions in my mind.

If I went through a time of questioning, and came out on the other side completely disagreeing with the contract, well, then it might be necessary for me to resign. But to have to state categorically that "I believe the Bible teaches" would make me uncomfortable.