Limboland

"Peter, feed my sheep." "You betcha, Lord.  But I'll be limiting that to those who agree here on this document I made up."

Lots of pastors, mostly presbyterian or congregational, might eventually admit they either can't or won't or don't want to give you discipline (refuse communion, voting privileges, etc) unless you first stipulate agreement to their right thereto.  Their "membership agreement" usually has clauses to this effect tucked away in there somewhere, so this becomes the contract they think covers their butts should you think to sue if you later get disgruntled with said discipline.


Wimps!


That discipline is a biblical obligation on a pastor, whether or not the sheep agree ahead or no.


And what of those who haven't officially signed up?  Are they in some sort of fellowship limboland where they're missing some of the privileges that accompany the obligations they haven't yet taken?  Oddly, most pastors often comfort themselves with the idea that those gentle folk "have been coming for years" without becoming members. What they really mean is that all have enjoyed the important benefits of the arrangement, and the pastor hasn't taken on the risk.


But what, then, were nonmembers missing out on?  What do they get when they become members?  I bet if you ask them after they sign up, you'll hear that they feel really committed now, and fully accepted.


How sad.  Like all the members of Christ's body, the Church, these people have been some of pillars holding up the place.  Yet the local pastor has subtly engendered doubt and insecurity in them because of his own insecurity in taking on his obligations.