Question?

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

ARP, you live in the Dark Ages. Your mindset is no different than those who burned innocent people at the stake, all because of an IDEA that cannot be validated or proven.

You cannot prove your dogma, and your little brain is coated with a lie bent strait from the heart of Religion, the same kind of Religion that allowed fanatics to murder Stephen.

what bugs me most about the slavish insistence on acts 2:38 here--not mentioned but surely also added to, with the initial tongues thing--is what is heard behind that, meaning, OUR definition of Scripture, said OUR way (which it's perfectly fine to fake, no one will ever be the wiser...), which just displays all kinds of issues. Especially for a pastor. There just seems to be no room for spirituality in it at all, wadr, ARP.

[Reader]

Originally Posted by AR Pastor

The bylaws just state that the individual must be living a holy separated life and following the teachings of the church.

Any new person added to the roister roll must be approved b y the pastor and add only by the pastor.

Are your church teachings specified in the bylaws? If not, where would one find a list of the teachings of your church to determine if they wanted to join? Is the no facial hair requirement listed anywhere at all?

With your second paragraph, it would appear that as pastor you could override anything written in the bylaws in being the sole determiner of all memberships. For instance, if you had something personal against a person and yet they were living a separated life and following the church teachings, you could stand in their way of becoming a member by rejecting their application. (I do not mean this part personally- it would not matter who the pastor was.)

[Reader]

Originally Posted by AR Pastor

I believe that facial hair in our day still has connections with the rebellion of the 60's and is a pride issue with men, thus it is taught against.

I thought you said you didn't actually teach this? Or am I incorrectly recalling past postings?

Do you believe that the above would describe every man who chooses to have facial hair?

What would happen if a long time male member of the church, one you knew well & trusted, decided to grow some facial hair? Would they be kicked out? Would they be removed from any positions or responsibilities? Would their membership be revoked?

[AR Pastor]

Originally Posted by Reader

I thought you said you didn't actually teach this? Or am I incorrectly recalling past postings?

Do you believe that the above would describe every man who chooses to have facial hair?

What would happen if a long time male member of the church, one you knew well & trusted, decided to grow some facial hair? Would they be kicked out? Would they be removed from any positions or responsibilities? Would their membership be revoked?

Yes they would be removed. The church I pastor is totally against facial hair. We are a conservative church and aren't going to change,

I will say I have never preached against facial hair. Never have had too in over 30 years

[AR Pastor]

Originally Posted by Reader

Are your church teachings specified in the bylaws? If not, where would one find a list of the teachings of your church to determine if they wanted to join? Is the no facial hair requirement listed anywhere at all?

With your second paragraph, it would appear that as pastor you could override anything written in the bylaws in being the sole determiner of all memberships. For instance, if you had something personal against a person and yet they were living a separated life and following the church teachings, you could stand in their way of becoming a member by rejecting their application. (I do not mean this part personally- it would not matter who the pastor was.)

NO standards are listed in the by laws. Women cutting their hair, wearing pants, makeup, etc are not listed but no woman doing these things would qualify to be on the roster role

[Reader]

So where would one find a list of the teachings of your church to determine if they wanted to join?

[Reader]

Originally Posted by AR Pastor

Yes they would be removed.

Removed from positions or removed from membership or both?

[AR Pastor]

Originally Posted by Reader

So where would one find a list of the teachings of your church to determine if they wanted to join?

There is no list. We are a small town rarely does someone move in. We pray new people through and teach them.

[Reader]

So a potential new member has no way of knowing the teachings until you sit down and share them?

[AR Pastor]

Originally Posted by Reader

So a potential new member has no way of knowing the teachings until you sit down and share them?

I have never been a part of or pastor of a church that had a list for people to read. Never heard of such a thing