Receiving Members Into the Church by T. E. BOWEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

Receiving Members Into the Church

By T. E. BOWEN

SOME time ago a sister wrote stating that she had been informed that some of our churches had adopted the plan of considering the names of those applying for membership one week before action was taken receiving them into the church. In commenting upon this practise, she says that others in her church thought this a bad ruling. ‘Why hold any one out who has been baptized or has been given a letter? Why not consider the name and act upon it immediately?’

The practise of giving careful consideration to the matter before admitting any one to church-membership we believe to be very important, and this subject should receive careful consideration by every Seventh-day Adventist church everywhere.

To hold open a name for one week is not so serious a matter. It gives every member of the church opportunity to carefully and prayerfully consider the move, and in case there is any question in the mind of any member as to the Christian experience of the candidate, he can satisfy himself either by visiting with the individual himself or in some other proper way seeking to clear away the difficulty that may be in his mind regarding the case. It is much more praiseworthy to look into these things before an individual is taken into church fellowship than afterward. If the member be true and loyal, no injustice is done him to wait one week for the action of the church. If it should occur that the name of an individual was under consideration who was not true to the message on some point, much injustice to the church may be avoided by postponing action.

In this connection it might be in place to mention that ministers examining candidates for baptism should be careful to make the examination in a thorough manner. Haste at this point may entail much trouble upon the church later. Baptized jewelry and feathers and disbelief of the Testimonies, etc., bring forth their harvest in the church that does not belong to the fruits of the Spirit.

While written to guard the point of selecting proper persons for church elders, the following Testimony is to the point concerning the exercise of care as to what is admitted into the fellowship of, and to be sanctioned by, the church:—

“The gospel net gathers both good and bad. It takes time for character to be developed; there must be time to learn what men really are. The family of the one suggested for office should be considered. Are they in subjection? Can the man rule his own house with honor? What character have his children? Will they do honor to the father's influence? If he has no tact, wisdom, or power of godliness at home, in managing his own family, it is safe to conclude that the same defects will be carried into the church, and the same

unsanctified management will be seen there. It will be far better to criticize the man before he is put into office than afterward; better to pray and counsel before taking the decisive step, than to labor to correct the consequences of a wrong move.”—‘Testimonies for the Church,’ Vol. V, page 618.

Thus in receiving members into the church, it will be better to pray and counsel over it ‘before taking the decisive step, than to labor to correct the consequences of a wrong move’ a long time afterward.

T. E. BOWEN.