The
Bible teaches that the Lord adds those who are saved to the universal church
(Acts 2:47).
Saved individuals then join themselves to other disciples in their area for
work and worship as a local church. When a Christian moves from one place to
another, it is necessary that he join himself to the church in the new
location. This is what Saul attempted to do in
Acts 9:26;
the Scripture states that “when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join
the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he
was a disciple.”
Local churches
would normally consider it a blessing to receive new members from other
places. Yet the Jerusalem church was cautious about accepting Saul. Barnabas
had to testify of Saul's faithfulness before the apostles in order for Saul
to be received
(Acts 9:27).
Here then is an apostolically approved example of a church exercising
caution about receiving a new member. Although Saul was worthy of
acceptance, the cautiousness of the disciples was warranted and implicitly
approved by the apostles.
Today, many
churches have thrown this caution to the wind. Churches will accept anyone
into their number who claims to be a Christian -- without any apparent
concern for the person's past faithfulness or lack thereof. This practice
not only weakens the local church, it also does nothing for the spiritual
welfare of one who may need reproof much more than acceptance.
Choice Bryant,
now in his eighties, relates an experience from his many years of preaching
which well illustrates the need and benefit of exercising care in this
matter. He writes as follows: Leaving Grandfield, Oklahoma, we moved to
Floydada, Texas to work with the church in that city. One Sunday morning, a
lady ``came forward,'' asking to be identified with us. As my custom is, I
simply asked from what church she comes, and she said it was the Lockney
church. I wrote to the elders of the Lockney church and they promptly
answered that she was not faithful as a member, and even her life was out of
harmony with Bible teaching. I acquainted our elders with this letter,
explaining that this lady needed to be confronted with this letter, that we
could not accept her in her sinful life. One of the elders, a very
influential man in the area (in fact, he was a business man in the city)
said that we need not do anything, we must not “get our feet wet” in such
situations, that we must just accept her “as is” and proceed with our work.
This disturbed me no little, and I rebuked him for speaking thus as an elder
of the church.
Then another
one of the elders offered to go with me to talk with the lady (who lived in
Silverton -- a few miles north of Floydada). We set a date to go, and upon
approaching her with the letter from the Lockney elders, she first angrily
denied the charges and criticized them for writing in, and raved for some
time. We just patiently listened to her rantings, and when she finally
stopped I simply said, “if what you say is true, then the Lockney elders
lied on you, therefore, we are now forced to get with those elders and get
all this straightened out.” At this point she broke down and cried like a
baby, saying, “yes, what they say about me is true; I am guilty of their
charges!” I then replied, “you need to do two things, (1) confess your
wrongs to them, and (2) do the same before our congregation!” We left on
that note. The next Sunday morning she came before the congregation
confessing her wrongs, and right behind her was her husband who confessed
his faith in Christ and asked to be baptized. The result of our doing our
duty in contacting her as we did, there were two souls saved (instead of
being lost)!
Incidentally,
thereafter that couple became two of our best friends. I am a firm believer
in “checking up” on those who ask to be identified. Either you will uncover
the wrong-doing in their lives, or, you will learn of the valuable assets
they possess to use in your local work. (Choice Bryant, “An Octogenarian
Reminisces: Experiences in Floydada,” - With All Boldness, May, 98).
Sometimes, an
individual may be like a goat trying to join a flock of sheep. He is not
intending to do the sheep any harm, but he really doesn't belong in the
flock until he is truly a sheep (this was the case of the woman in brother
Bryant's story). In other cases, an individual may be more like a
wolf--trying to gain entry into the flock in order to devour sheep with
false teaching and heresy. The apostle Paul warned the elders of the church
in Ephesus that, “...savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the
flock”
(Acts 20:29).
As shepherds of the flock, these elders were bound to do their utmost to
keep the flock safe from wolves.
It is vital
that churches check up on those wishing to join their fellowship. One
sensible and Scriptural way to accomplish this is simply to communicate with
trusted Christians who know the individual in question. Barnabas was known
and trusted by the apostles in Jerusalem
(Acts 4:36-37),
and he was acquainted with Saul, so he was in an ideal position to offer
testimony about Saul's character.
When Apollos
went from Ephesus to Corinth, faithful brethren in Ephesus sent a letter of
recommendation with him; “the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to
receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed
through grace”
(Acts 18:27).
Such letters of recommendation from one church to another were regarded as
necessary in some cases and seem to have been commonly sent in New Testament
times
(cf. 2 Corinthians 3:1).
Our prayer is
that each local flock will be a place of safety for the sheep, but not a
haven for goats and wolves.
Other Articles by Steve Klein
Dedicated, Determined and Dependable
Praying With the Confidence of Christ
Choosing Between Christ and Kin
The Work God Gave to the Local Church
The Gospel Five Step Plan
Making Difficult Decisions
Baptism and the
Fellowship of the Saints
Legalism -- The Un-Sin
Winning Last Place
How Men Act When They Repent
Hairpin Curves
For Past Auburn Beacons go to:
www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
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