Concerning Membership

No one shall be admitted to full membership in this Church who is not in full accord with the teaching of the same as set forth in sustaining the Basis of Union.

In accordance with these professions, all who remain with us shall take as their rule of conduct the Word of God.

Gal. 6:16 "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

and shall conform outwardly as well as inwardly in their daily walk and conversation to its simple teachings.

We are commanded in God's Word.

• Not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, and to have no communion or fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, such as oath bound social clubs (II Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:11):

II Cor. 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

Eph. 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

not to conform to this world

Rom. 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."

to come out from among them and be separated

II Cor. 6:16 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

To turn away from those who have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof

II Tim. 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away;"

To cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit

II Cor. 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

(such as the use, growth, sale or handling of tobacco in any form, and/or narcotics, or intoxicants, filthiness of speech, foolish talking or jesting, or the use of slang language)

To abstain from all appearance of evil

I Thes. 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil;"

And to do all we do to the glory of God, and in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:17; I Cor. 10:31; I Tim. 1:9)

Col. 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him,"

I Cor. 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

II Tim. 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

A practical observance of all these scriptural requirements and a complete separation from all these things which do not tend to deepen our own spirituality and promote the glory of God is hereby required of all of His members.

Every member of the church shall be required to observe the Lord's Day, according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and not take it for a day of vacation to attend beaches and go automobile ridng and picnicking.

Evil and immoral (I Cor. 5:7-13; II Tim. 3:5):

I Cor. 5:7-13 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

Ye not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such an one no not to eat.

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

II Tim. 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Those who will not work, but meddle and tattle.

II Thes. 2:11 "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." Heretics (Titus 3:10; Rom. 16:17-18)

Titus 3:10 "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject."

Rom. 16:17-18 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good works and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

Unruly (Matt. 18:15-18; Gal. 5;16-21)

Matt. 18:15-18 "moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Gal. 5:16-21 "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But if ye be led of the spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

The condition the church must be in to properly and savingly execute discipline without sin.

John 8:7 "So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up himself, and said unto them, he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

Obedience must be fulfilled, everything led captive to Christ.

II Cor. 10:4-6 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."

Power of Christ must be present. (John 15:5; I Cor. 5:4):

John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

I Cor. 5:4 "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together and my Spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Christ being present and working in the saints, it is really God who does the turning out and taking in. Then the work is done in Heaven and in earth.

Matt. 18:18 "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Much depends on the proper exercise of discipline in the church. As the body of Christ, she must keep wise, clea and strong.

Eph. 5:1-10 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints: Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth:) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."

Praise God. He comes quickly. Every member of His body is responsible for its condition. Whosoever sins or connives with sin, helps to defile the Temple of God.