Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover
Is there an assumption that one must be a "member" to be in the body of Christ??
|
1Cr 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
We are, indeed, members of this one body. I don't think the "membership" being discussed here has any authority in the realm of the membership spoken of in the verses above and the many other verses like them.
When letters such as the ones being discussed are required for "membership" then this should be viewed in it's true context. This is about membership in a legal corporation.
A pastor can control my voting rights in the legal corporation but these letters hold no weight in anyone's membership in the Body of Christ.