That's not a bad thing. Church membership is a covenant relationship. The church body is the bride of Christ and, likewise, it requires a committed relationship.

I think that is great advice. I have thought that the best approach is to preach through books of the Bible with expository sermons. If a pastor does that, then he will preach on any subject as often as the Bible covers it. That will lead to a few sermons on subjects like tithing, and a whole lot of them on being nice to each other.

Very good post by the OP. And Clem, I don't blame you, I wouldn't sign a contract like that either. Most good things are ruined by someone taking them too far.

To make what I meant, and my opinion, very clear, I am not talking about the missing an occasional service that is a good day to be in the deer woods that happens to fall on a Sunday. And I am NOT judging anyone about anything. I belong to a fairly pricey dove club in South Alabama. I missed church twice this season to dove hunt because the days were great and the scouting reports were excellent. I still felt a little guilty, a little, but I went and had a wonderful time, but I don't hunt much at all on Sundays anymore. My choice! I am speaking of the guy who, let's just say, lives a pretty good life, works hard, loves his wife and kids, and hasn't attended church since he graduated high school. Maybe he drinks a little too much Saturday nite and finds it hard to quit. Maybe he is searching the porn channels every time his wife goes to visit her momma, and yearns to do more and more of it. He has the notion that being in the woods, or on the lake, is an even substitute for services. He hasn't read Scripture in years. He thinks he is a good man, but is he living a Christ centered life? THAT is an example of who I am talking about, questioning about, not judging anyone...again, being in Nature is part of God's plan, and I love it, too.

That's nuts man.

If may add to Jason's post.

I was recently told by a yote I am mentoring, that he has done too much wrong to be made right. If anyone is reading this thread and thinks they arent good enough, or they dont know enough about the bible to go, please, dont listen to that hogwash.

Anyone that thinks they have done too much wrong, just needs to read up on Saul an abhorrently evil man before he became Paul.

My reply to those who won't go because "they're just a bunch of hypocrites" has always been the same: Had you rather spend three or four hours a week with them, or spend eternity with them?

While I see your point, and agree to an extent, i imagine a lot of arguments, law suits, etc...could have been avoided if more churches did this. Take for example the thread about a gay marriage taking place in a church.

Just my assessment and Billy Graham had similar observations, 80% of folks in church on any given Sunday are lost. Sure, many of them were dunked in the water but it was only just to avoid Hell. They've never actually surrendered their life to Christ. So, basically people who say the church is full of hypocrites are essentially correct, but they believe they are observing actual Christians.

My Grandfather was a Baptist preacher and I was his constant sidekick
as a kid.
"Memberships" were unheard of, you just went to Church.
As it should be.

I think we might go to the same church stob

Heck why did they stop there? They should've asked for tax records and current income statements to force you to tithe at least 10%. Place sounds pretty corrupt.

When one is saved they are added to the church Christ established automatically. There is no contract to sign and man has no say so over it. If they try then just move on and find a scriptural church

I enjoy getting refueled on Sunday with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

One lady asked a pastor " Ive been to all these churches and Iam just not getting anything out of it, how come?", The paster replied, " In your question lies the answer, you don't go to chuch to get something, you go to glorify the lord and worship him.". Alot of guys give me the Hypocrite excuse. I usually tell them that maybe its their job to be the example. Anyhow its a commandment that Jesus gave, and i've learned the more of those you follow the happier you are.