CONTENTS

Constructive Church Discipline
Church Membership Committee Material
Personal Church Discipline
Corrective Church Discipline
Punitive Church Discipline
Local Church Discipline
Neglected Church Discipline
Foot Washing -- Church Ordinance or Church Discipline?

PART II

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE INFORMATION

This chapter is devoted to the meeting which we have with those applying for membership in our church and the materials which we give them.

WELCOME

We welcome you as a new member of the West Side Baptist Church. You may be one who has just experienced the joy of being saved, or you may be one who comes to us by transfer of membership, statement, or restoration, and have known our Precious Lord as your personal Saviour for sometime. In either case, welcome to your new church family! We are indeed happy to have you and pray that we will be a strength, challenge, and help to one another as we seek to do His will, as His children, and as members of the same local church.

Our committee is not only here to welcome you but to talk with you about our responsibilities as those who are saved and privileged to be a member of one of His local churches. This committee consists of the pastor and other members of our church family. Due to different schedules of labor, the pressure of duties, and emergencies that often arise, we are not all able to meet every time our committee welcomes a new member. But now you have received the same information and the same heartfelt welcome, if we are all or only some present. We present you with this information because it gives you the material in print which we give you in our personal greeting. We trust you will keep it, refer to it, and find it a reminder and challenge as to your privileges and responsibilities as a member of the West Side Baptist Church.

Much of the material which we give you in this chapter will not be new to you who come to us from another of His local churches, but it is always good for us to be reminded of these things and examine our hearts to see if we are being faithful. To you who have just been saved, most, if not all, of it will be new. It is important; so, do seek diligently to be one who knows and practices what God expects of you.

SALVATION

God's Word teaches that we are all helpless sinners who deserve to go to Hell. We cannot save ourselves. The churches cannot save us. Our own efforts cannot save us. Nothing which our friends or loved ones can do for us will save us. I repeat, we are sinners who deserve to die and go to Hell (Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; and Revelation 21:8).

But here is good news; the Lord Jesus Christ can save us. The word gospel means "good news" or "glad tidings." And the good news is that Christ died for us, was buried, and arose again the third day. In so doing, He did all that was necessary to make salvation available to us as the free gift of God (Isaiah 53:6; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; and 2 Corinthians 5:21).

So, when a sinner repents (repentance means "an about face" -- change of mind, attitude, direction) and receives Christ (believes what the Bible says about Jesus and the salvation He has provided and trusts his lost soul to Him) as personal Saviour, he is saved (born again or washed in the Blood). Thus, through repentance and faith we become the children of God (Acts 20:21; Luke 13:3; John 1:11-13; and John 5:24).

Have you had this experience of having the Lord Jesus become your own personal Saviour? Be sure; it is eternally important. And only saved people should be members of a local church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We ask you about this matter for two reasons: (1) because it is so important that you know you are saved, and (2) because the Lord commands everyone of His children to be witnesses for Him. Our Lord does not call every child of His to be a preacher or a missionary, but He does call and command every child of His to be a witness. When you tell a lost person what you have just told us about how the Lord saved you, you tell that person enough for Him or her to be saved, too, if he or she repents as a sinner and receives Him. Be a witness; be a soul winner! He intends all of us to be just that: the men, the women, the boys, and the girls. Everybody in our church is expected to be a witness. We disobey Him, if we are not. You, whether a man, woman, boy, or girl can witness and must witness. There are some you can reach, whom the remainder of us will never have the opportunity to reach. Do remember that every member of our church is to be a witness!

BAPTISM

The prerequisite to baptism is salvation. So, it is only after on is saved that he can be Scipturally baptized. Baptism has nothing to do with saving us. It is an act of obedience to the Saviour after we are saved. It is of the Lord for every saved person to be baptized.

Immersion is the only mode of baptism taught in the Bible. Baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In baptism, we testify to the world what He did to save us. Baptism is also a picture of what happened to us when we were saved. We came to Christ, were saved, died to the old life, were buried with Him in baptism, and raised again to newness of life in Him. The Lord Jesus was baptized to prefigure His own death, burial, and resurrection, and to identify Himself with the sinners for whom He would die. Baptism is a beautiful ordinance and portrays a wonderful message. Many discount it, but we have no apology for it. And we are grateful that we can practice it to His glory. Some teach that baptism was intended to be discontinued at the close of the apostolic period. But not so, it is to be practiced as long as the Gospel is preached and people get saved (Matthew 28:19-20).

THE LORD'S SUPPER

The prerequisites to the Lord's Supper are: salvation, baptism, and membership in a local, New Testament Church (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-47). The Lord's Supper is like baptism in that it has nothing to do with saving us. It is also an act of obedience after we are saved. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only New Testament Church ordinances. We are not worthy to be saved, baptized, or to partake of the Lord's Supper, but His grace makes all three possible for us.

Unleavened bread and grape juice are the two elements of the Lord's Supper -- not leavened bread and wine! Leaven in the Scriptures from Genesis through Revelation is always a symbol of evil. We certainly do not want to symbolize His Body and His Blood with that which is a symbol of evil -- therefore, leavened bread and wine (both leavened substances) are not acceptable as the elements to use in observing His Supper. The unleavened bread and grape juice do not become His Body and His Blood -- neither do they contain His Body and His Blood -- they are merely and simply symbols of His Body and His Blood.

There is a two-fold message in the Lord's Supper: a memorial and a prophecy! We observe His Supper in memory of Him. Yes, we remember the precious Body that was bruised, torn, and mauled, and the precious Blood that was purposely poured out (not spilled) for our sins. What could be a more precious memory to the Christian than this? It is a time to weep for joy, as we are reminded of what He has done for us. Then, it is a prophecy; He said, "This do in remembrance of me till I come." Yes, it is not only a memorial of what He has done for us but also a prophecy that He is coming again for us. This is one of the most precious services for God's people at our church, waiting together, remembering Calvary, and yearning for His coming in the Rapture to take us to Glory with Him. Let every one of us members be faithful in participating in the observance of His Supper!

The Bible does not teach us how often to observe the Lord's Supper. Some observe it once a week, some once a month, some once a quarter, etc. The Bible does not say how often; It just tells us that as oft as we do it we are to do it in remembrance of Him till He comes again. Our church observes His Supper once a year at 10:00 P.M., March 22. The best scholars tell us that March 22 is the date when He originally instituted His Supper, and the Scriptures indicate that 10:00 P.M. was approximately the hour. We do not tie this observance to another service. It is a service all its own. We come together truly seeking to remember what He has done for us and to look anew for His return. Would it not be wonderful for all local churches to observe it at this time as the Jews observe the Passover in Judaism? Do not miss the blessing at our church's observance of the Lord's Supper, March 22.

OUR COVENANT ¹

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, 2 to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour 3 and, on the profession of our faith, 4 having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 5 we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one anther as one body in Christ. 6

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit 7 to walk together in Christian love, 8 to strive for the advancement of this church 9 in knowledge, 10 holiness, 11 and comfort; 12 to promote its prosperity and spirituality; 13 to sustain its worship, and, 14 ordinances, 15 discipline, 16 and doctrines; 17 to contribute cheerfully regularly 18 to the support of the ministry, 19 the expenses of the church, 20 the relief of the poor, 21 and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. 22

We also engage to maintain family 23 and secret 24 devotion; to religiously educate our children; 25 to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; 26 to walk circumspectly in the world; 27 to be just in our dealings, 28 faithful in our engagements, 29 and exemplary in our deportment; 30 to avoid all tattling, 31 backbiting, 32 and excessive anger, 33 to abstain from the sale of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage; 34 and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour. 35

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; 36 to remember one another in prayer; 37 to aid one another in sickness and in distress; 38 to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling 39 and Christian courtesy in speech; 40 to be slow to take offense, 41 but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay. 42

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God' Word. 43

1. Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21; 2 Chr. 15:12
2. John 6:63; John 16:7-11, 14
3. John 1:12; 1 Thess. 2:13
4. Acts 2:41; Acts 8:37
5. Matt. 28:19
6. 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Acts 2:42
7. John 14:26; John 16:13
8. Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:9
9. Eph. 2:21-23
10. 2 Pet. 3:18
11. 2 Cor. 7:1
12. 1 Thess. 5:14
13. Jude 20
14. Heb. 10:25
15. Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:24-25
16. Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6
17. Acts 2:42; 2 John 9-11
18. 1 Cor. 16:2
19. Matt. 10:10; Gal. 6:6
20. Malachi 3:10
21. Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:1-5
22. Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8
23. Deut. 11:18-20
24. Matt. 6:6
25. Eph. 6:4
26. Mark 5:19
27. Matt. 5:16; Eph. 5:15
28. Rom. 12:17
29. Eph. 4:25
30. Eph. 5:8
31. Eph. 4:31
32. 2 Cor. 12:20
33. Eph. 4:26
34. 1 Cor. 6:10; Eph. 5:18
35. Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4
36. Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 5:14
37. Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:25
38. Gal. 6:10
39. 1 Cor. 12:25-26
40. Titus 3:2
41. Rom. 12:19
42. Matt. 5:23-24; Matt. 18:15-18
43. Acts 18:27-28; Rom. 16:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:58; Col. 3:23

Here we have our covenant, promise, or vow which we make to our Lord Jesus Christ and our fellow-Christians as members of this local church. It Is not uncommon for members of our church family to come forward during an invitation and say that they have been sinning and want the Lord and the church to forgive them. They are right in so doing. You see, we make this covenant with the Lord and each other; so, we should ask forgiveness of the Lord and the church when we break it.

You will note Scripture references given constantly along with the things which we promise. This is because the Covenant is not something in addition to but the very teachings of God's Word put in the form of a covenant, vow, or promise.

Now, let us consider the covenant in detail. In the first paragraph we say that we have been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our own personal Saviour, that we have been baptized, and that we make this promise to God and this assembly. Some of you have already been baptized and are simply transferring your membership, or are coming for restoration; others of you will be baptized soon here in our church. But do note, we become members of this local church testifying that we have been saved. Nobody, but nobody, except saved people should unite with one of His local churches. Note also that in making this covenant with Him and with each other as one body in Christ, we do it solemnly and joyfully. It is a voluntary matter. No one forced you to ask for membership in this local church. You did it solemnly and joyfully for His glory and your good.

In the second paragraph, we promise to love one another. Every family should be characterized by love, and this is especially true of every church family (John 13:35). As bothers and sisters in the Lord, we promise to love one another. We also promise to strive for the advancement of our church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort. Now the building is not the church. Our signs on the front of the building and on the street corners read: "West Side Baptist Church." Technically, they are incorrect. This building is not the church; it is the church's meeting house. We saved folk who are members of this organization are the church. We have Morning and Evening Bible Conferences, Mission Conferences, etc., that we may advance in knowledge of Him. So, we are promising to be faithful in this! Then the covenant reads, "holiness." We promise to advance in holiness -- that simply means separation from sin and separation unto our Lord Jesus Christ. We violently disagree with some holiness churches, denominations, and sects, but we promise to practice Bible holiness. Then the word, "comfort:" we promise to be a comfort to one another. How this is needed in a day when there are so many sorrows, heartaches, and difficulties. We also promise to make ours a prosperous and spiritual church. A local assembly who is a praying, Bible studying, soul winning, and separated people is the prosperous and spiritual church who is used and blessed of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again we promise to uphold and carry on the worship; we must be faithful in attendance, if we are to keep this promise. We promise to uphold and promote the ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We also promise to uphold and sustain the discipline. Our church practices discipline. Every home, school, and church must practice discipline, if they are to please Him and accomplish what He purposes. The things for which we dismiss members (withdraw fellowship) are things which bring public reproach upon our precious Lord. Examples of discipline matters are: drinking intoxicants, dispensing intoxicants (such as: serving them in cafes, checking them out in stores, delivering them for stores, or buying them for others), adultery, lying, use of marijuana, use of other drugs (other than for medicinal purposes), fighting, cursing, gambling, mixed swimming, dancing, homosexuality, lesbianism, heresy, not attending church for a year (exceptions: illness, away in school, serving in the armed forces, serving on the mission field), not moving membership within one year after moving too far away to attend West Side (exception: no church there with whom you can conscientiously join -- then you must notify our church of this situation and support our church with your tithes and offerings). We also discipline for certain Sunday activities, such as: attending movies, ball games, hunting, fishing, other sports. The other chapters in this booklet on the subject of discipline explain our discipline program here at West Side in detail.

In the second paragraph of the covenant, we also promote to uphold, practice, teach, and propagate the doctrines of God's Word. A doctrine is simply the body of teaching in the Bible on that subject. Hence the doctrines of Hell, Heaven, sin, salvation, justification, sanctification, the second coming, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Father, the Trinity, etc., are simply the body of teachings found in God's Word on these subjects. Today with so many sects, cults, and false prophets teaching and spreading their propaganda, we need to be very diligent in upholding and propagating the doctrines of God's verbally inspired Word. The covenant continues with the promise to contribute our money to support the ministry, the church expenses, the gifts for those needing help, and the mission program of the church. Every Christian must be a tither and giver of offerings to obey the Scriptures. The tithe is the tenth of our income, and an offering is anything above the tithe. Not to bring a tithe is to be a cheat and a robber. Not to bring an offering above the tithe is to show no real love and gratitude to our Precious Saviour for His manifold goodness to us. As a member of one of His local churches, we are responsible for the financial obligations of that particular church. We will say more about this when we discuss our budget and faith promise to missions.

The third paragraph of the covenant begins with a promise to have family and personal devotions. Every home desperately needs a family altar -- a time and place when and where the family comes together to read the Word, pray, and worship. There is no substitute for this needful practice in the family life. Notice that we also promise to have personal devotions. Family altar is very important but should never be substituted for our time of personal devotion to, fellowship with, and worship of Him. Parents promise in this covenant to religiously educate their children. This means to teach, train, and set the example for their children that would lead them to Christ and lead them to be true disciples of Christ. The juvenile delinquency of our day surely emphasizes the need for us to be faithful to this promise. In the next place, we promise to seek to lead the lost to Christ. One of the most prevalent sins in local churches today is that of letting the lost go to Hell without a witness. What sin could be more despicable to Him? We cannot walk with and fellowship with Him without being witnesses -- without a broken and compassionate heart for the lost to be saved. In our Bible studies, prayer hours, and preaching services you will constantly be reminded of your duty and privilege to be a witness for Him. Did you notice in our percentage chart earlier that 95% of Baptist church members never lead a lost person to Christ? This will change and quickly, if we simply keep this promise in our covenant. Let us ever be aware of how sinful and backslidden we are, when we neglect to witness to the lost of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be a part of our church's visitation program and witness consistently in your daily contacts. Our promise continues: "to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment...." In other words, we are promising to so live and conduct ourselves that we will be Known by the outside world as Christians. We will be good examples, honest, faithful to our promises, and well-rounded Christians. We also promise to abstain from tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger. Christians should be the most difficult people on earth to become angry. But, if and when they do, they should be eager to return to the Lord, seek forgiveness, and right any wrongs they have done.

The forth paragraph of this covenant deals with brotherly love, praying for one another, helping each other in difficulties, manifesting compassion, courtesy, and constant diligence to right wrongs. We promise to do these things for His glory and the good of our fellow church members. Lists of our church family and missionaries affiliated with our Maranatha Baptist Mission are being given you with this material. Do pray for all of the members of our church and these missionaries every day. We all need each other's prayers. And this is something everyone of us can do. Please do not consider your duty to your fellow church members completed until you have prayed daily for them by name. Finally, we promise to move our church membership when we move away. The same God Who moves our place of residence and work moves our place of worship, service, and church membership. This does not apply if you move within the area where you are still in traveling distance of our church, but it does apply when you move completely away. We urge you to be sure about any church before considering transferring your membership to it, since so many churches (including many Baptist) are departing from the truths and practices of God's Word.

Keep this covenant; practice it daily!!!! It is a serious, sacred matter. We promise our Saviour and our church family all of these things, and it is a heavy responsibility. Let us not be guilty of taking this solemn promise lightly or trivially. Let us be a people who do what we say, and practice what we preach and teach.

The Church and the Churches

In God's Word, there is a distinction made between the church and the churches (or local churches). It is true that most of the references are to the churches (or a church) rather than the church. The percentage of references in the New Testament to the churches is up in the nineties; so, there are few remaining references to the church. But God only has to say a thing once for it to be true and eternally binding. Some say that they believe in the churches but not the church. Others say that they believe in the church but not the churches. To believe the Bible is to believe in the church and the churches.

The church is made up of all born again, blood washed believers. The minute one is saved he becomes a member of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the members are already in Heaven. Some will yet be saved and become members; so, in this sense the church is in prospect yet. At the time of the Rapture all the members of the church will come together for the first time as we all meet Him. Several figures of the church are given in the New Testament. Let us note three. The church is pictured as a Bride, a Building, and a Body. He is the bridegroom, and the saved are the Bride. In the Building, He is the Chief Cornerstone, the apostles and the prophets the foundation stones, and the remainder of the saved the living stones. In the Body, He is the Head, and the saved are the members.

The churches are organized, local assemblies. So, when we speak of the churches we refer to local churches -- ours -- the West Side Baptist Church is one. A good definition of a local church: "She is an organized group of saved, baptized believers who are voluntarily banded together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord, spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and practicing and teaching the complete message of the Lord Jesus Christ." Our Saviour is the Head of the local church. The Bible is her final authority. The church covenant is the message of God's Word for Christians put in the form of a vow or promise to help us as members of a local church to so live and conduct ourselves as to give the world a picture of the church -- the Bride -- the Building -- and the Body of our Lord. The pastors, deacons and deaconesses are the officers of the local churches. Pastors are also called Bishops and Elders in God's Word. Each of these names speaks of the varied duties and qualifications of the man of God in this office: Pastor -- refers to him as a shepherd of the sheep; Bishop -- refers to him as the foreman or overseer; Elder -- refers to him as a man of spiritual maturity. Deacons and deaconesses are male and female servants. They were elected in the New Testament as officers only as the need arose. In a sense, every male and female officer in the local church is either a deacon or a deaconess. But in addition to these, in the New Testament, there were special officers designated as deacons and deaconesses (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13). Many local churches today have mistakenly considered the committee of deacons to have the same authority in the local church as a Board of Directors has in a corporation. Deacons and deaconesses are simply, Scripturally, those servants who are trusted with more responsibilities than the others. They should be people of high spiritual qualities responsible mainly for temporal and material affairs of the local assembly.

Our church has never elected any ladies to serve officially as deaconesses, but we do use many of the ladies in such a capacity. We would not hesitate to elect some should we be convicted of the need and have the Lord's leadership to do so. Little emphasis is given to deaconesses in the New Testament.

Local churches are not democracies, as many are led to believe today. According to the Bible, they are theocracies operated on democratic principles.

The Lord Jesus Christ purposes to carry on His work here through His local churches. Yes, local, indigenous, New Testament churches are the channel through which He purposes to do His work. And according to the Bible He has no other channel. The two main responsibilities which He gave to His local churches are those of leading the lost to Christ and teaching the saved all things whatsoever He has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; John 21:15-17; Acts 2:41-47). Therefore, our giving, teaching, preaching, evangelism, tithing, missions, and all other activities should be through His local churches. The local churches should be sovereign, New Testament in teaching and practice, indigenous, autonomous organizations free from denominational hierarchy and political authority. They should practice and teach religious liberty and separation of church and state.

OUR BUDGET AND FAITH PROMISE TO MISSIONS

Now let us turn our attention to our budget -- a copy of which is being given you with this booklet. We want to be good stewards for Him with our money as well as our time, talents, bodies, homes, and influence. Study this budget; it shows you how the tithes and offerings are used. First, we need to be good stewards by bringing our tithes and offerings to Him in worship regularly, consistently, and honestly. Do not be a cheat. How can your Christian life really grow, prosper, and glorify Him, If you are dishonest in the way you handle the money He permits you to have? We want to use the money as a church to His glory in the salvation of the lost and the building up of the saved in the holy faith.

When the tithes and offerings are received, they are counted and recorded by the deacons and the secretary. Each bill is paid by check by the treasurer after vouchers have been issued for them by the secretary. The yearly budget is recommended by a committee for adoption by the church family. These yearly budgets cannot be changed by anybody except by a vote of our congregation. The secretary and the treasurer cannot issue vouchers and checks except as listed in the budget. Any exceptions must be voted on by the church. We want all moneys handled in the way that will truly glorify Him.

In addition to the tithes and offerings used in meeting our budget, we also have a faith promise plan for missions. A portion of the budget as you will note is used for missions, but in addition to that we challenge the members of our church family to trust Him for extra money to be given for missions. We want you to do this so as to be blessed spiritually. Some trust Him to make it possible for them to give extra from their regular income to faith promise to missions, and others trust Him to give them moneys above their regular income for the faith promise missions. Let us challenge you to seek His leadership in this matter, trust Him for the amount He lays upon your heart, and be blessed as you see Him work miracles for His glory in providing extra funds for missions. A sheet showing our goal for the faith promise for missions and how it is to be used is being given you, along with these materials. The accompanying box of envelopes is provided to be used in bringing your tithes and offerings and faith promise to missions, in order that good records can be kept and your gifts can be receipted for income tax purposes. The envelopes are really two envelopes in one. The left side is to be used for your tithes and your offerings and the other side for your faith promise to missions. Write your name and the amount clearly on every envelope, before placing it in the offering plate. Here is a sample of our pledge and faith promise card:

My Pledge to My Church

With faith in God's Word which promises us that He will "open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing" upon those who bring their tithe and offering, I pledge

$ ___________ weekly.

My Faith Promise to Missions

In dependence upon Him Who promised to be with us always, if we would go, or send others, "into all the world to give the Gospel to every creature" I will endeavor, as God enables me, to give to missions through my church,

$____________ weekly.

Name: ______________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________

OUR SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

Along with this booklet, you are being given a schedule of our church services and other activities. Keep it before you, and have a part in everything that is for you. You will note that almost everything in our services and other activities is for every member. So many Christians lose their joy, their fellowship with Him, and their influence for Him because they do not faithfully and devotedly have a part in the services and other activities which are their privileges and responsibilities. He intends for us to grow and to be fruitful. There is no place for laziness, selfishness, or carelessness in the lives of God's children.

Be in the services, bring unsaved friends and unenlisted Christians, and let us truly worship, honor, surrender to, and serve Him. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

PASTOR AND MEMBERS

The Lord Jesus is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. He called us pastors to be under-shepherds. I truly long to be of service to you, as your pastor. When I first got saved, I thought pastors were half human and half divine and that it was good to stay away from them. As a result, I did not grow as I should. Had I known that I could approach my pastor, there were many questions he could have answered for me, and there was much needed counseling which he could have given me. But due to my lack of understanding, I missed all of this and consequently did not grow in the Lord. There is a very tender relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, and our Lord wills it thus for the pastor and the members of the church family.

When you have sickness, problems, and other difficulties, please call me. I cannot answer all of your questions nor solve all of your problems, but I will be glad to pray for you and to share them with you. However, it is necessary that you let me Know. Some say that the pastor should not be bothered, since he is so busy. I am busy, but not too busy to be concerned to help you with your burdens and heartaches. So, please let me know when and how I can help you; that is one of the very reasons for my being here. You may talk confidentially with me about any matter. I want to help you in every way possible, as His under-shepherd.

We try to give you a good balanced, spiritual diet in our church services. We want every member to be involved for Him. Do not just belong to our church; be in the midst of things for Him. Take responsibility, be faithful, devoted, and diligent in serving our Lord Jesus Christ. Be faithful in your church attendance; do not miss except when you are providentially hindered. Be a soul winner and a source of strength to your fellow Christians. We need you, and you need us. And we all need Him!!!!

When you move, keep the church office informed of your address. We always want to know how and where to contact any and all of our members. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICERS

1. I believe that it is God's will for me to hold this office. "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17).

2. I am willing to be faithful to the duties of my office, faithful in witnessing, faithful in tithing, faithful in visiting, and faithful in attendance upon the regular and special services of my church. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).

3. I will not attend and/or watch worldly movies and videos and television programs, or use tobacco.

4. Ladies: I will groom myself as a Christian. I will not wear shorts or other immodest dress. I will not wear pants or other type clothing which will identify me as a "liberated woman" or associate me with unisex. I will not cut my hair short in a unisex fashion, remembering that the Bible says the long hair is the woman's glory (1 Cor. 11:15).

5. Men: I will groom myself as a Christian. I will not wear short pants, go without a shirt, or dress in any other way which is immodest. I will keep my hair cut above my ears and above my collar, remembering that it is a shame for a man to have long hair (1 Cor. 11:14).

In performing the duties of an usher I will be neatly dress and, also wear a necktie in every service, in order that I may always be prepared to serve.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17).

I agree with these requirements and promise to meet them in accepting the office of . . . . . . .

If I should ever stop believing and/or practicing these requirements and am unwilling to repent and confess the sin, I promise to resign.

Our Church Officers are to conduct themselves as Christians ladies and gentlemen at all times. This is to show in their attitude, speech, actions, and appearance. Since their appearance is obvious to all, we are elaborating upon it.

We seek to follow the guidelines established in God's Word for His people. We believe that the Bible establishes at least three minimum standards for Christian dress:

(1) Modesty (1 Timothy 2:9, 2 Timothy 2:22) It is true that God's standards for men and women are high.

(2) Distinction (Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 11:14-15). Men should dress like men and women should dress like women. Notice in Deuteronomy 22:5 the verse says that if we do not dress according to our sex, we are an "...abomination unto the Lord our God."

(3) Identification with the Lord and not the world (1 Timothy d4:12, Romans 12:1-2, and 1 John 2:15-16). 1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." God's Word is so clear that we are to dress and conduct ourselves as becoming His children.

LADIES:

The Bible clearly teaches that women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel. Your dresses and skirts must be long enough to completely cover your knees. You must not wear tight sweaters or tight skirts. The neckline of your dress and blouses must not be revealing or suggestive. Do not wear clothing which will identify you with the women of our day who are rebelling against being a woman or associate you with unisex (pants suits, slacks, jeans, pedal pushers, gaucho pants, etc.). Do not wear shorts, see-through clothing, tight fitting, revealing clothing, skirts with seams left undone (originally called "split skirts" but culottes have now taken on this name). Should the need arise to wear culottes, they must be full at the waist and not fitted like pants, (to wear culottes may be considered needful in certain activities only, when to wear a dress might be considered immodest, e.g., climbing a ladder to paint a wall, playing basketball, softball, and/or volley ball, etc.). If you have a question regarding whether or not to wear something, it is safer to wear something of which you have no question. Keep your hair clean and well groomed. Do not let your hair style be exaggerated or overwhelming. Be careful about "trend" and "mod" styles. If you wear makeup, be sure that it is applied in such a way that it does not call attention to the fact that you are "painted." Always be sure that you are not noticed for your flashy clothing, obvious hair-do, gaudy jewelry, or heavy make-up. The Bible points out very candidly that these must not attract attention.

MEN:

Dress like Christian gentlemen. Be sure you are clean and neatly dressed. Keep your hair clean and well groomed. It must not touch your ears and/or your collar and must not in any identify you with styles which have been set by the "stars" of this world. If you choose to wear sideburns or a mustache, they must not be extreme and must be kept neatly trimmed. You must not wear short pants, tight fitting, revealing pants, or go without a shirt.

We expect our church officers to be spiritually mature enough to discern appearance that would be considered worldly, refrain from it, and teach their children to observe the same.

OUR CHURCH -- LOCAL NEW TESTAMENT

The West Side Baptist Church, Natchez, Mississippi, is a local, New Testament church. Some would call us independent Baptists, because we are not affiliated with any Convention or Association. We disclaimed such affiliations because of liberal theology, compromise, and control which so constantly accompany them. We are very dependent upon our Lord Jesus Christ and the Precious Holy Spirit in doing the Lord's work. We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired, infallible Word of God, and want to practice and preach this God-given message to His glory. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We oppose Communism. Liberal theology, Neo-orthodoxy, Neo-Evangelicalism, the charismatic movement, divine healers, the national Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches, liturgical formalism, ecumenicalism, five point Calvinism (TULIP), Arminianism, the philosophy of Humanism, (secular and religious), the "new morality," and abortion.

We believe every born again Christian should be a soul winner, separated from the world, faithful in church attendance, and faithful in Bible reading, and prayer. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

OUR MISSION -- THE MARANATHA BAPTIST MISSION

The Lord has given us the Maranatha Baptist Mission as a channel through which we can serve Him in seeking to send the Gospel around the world. Our Mission was founded in 1961 by our pastor, Dr. James W. Crumpton, and Dr. and Mrs. H. Mel Rutter. The Maranatha Baptist Mission is a ministry of the West Side Baptist Church.

To have this Mission is indeed a great privilege but also a terrible responsibility. As a member at West Side, you are privileged and responsible to help us make the Maranatha Baptist Mission what our Lord Jesus Christ would have it to be. Our gifts, our prayers, and our labors are essential in this ministry. Seven of our church family serve as the board of directors of the Maranatha Baptist Mission and between 20 and 30 members serve as members of the Corporation. Through our tithes, offerings, faith promise to missions, and our prayers, we can all have a part in this important ministry. Some of our church family volunteer to do work at the mission office; many serve faithfully to help us in the many tasks and responsibilities that are ours in our Annual Institute of Missions in the months of July and August. The Maranatha Haven grounds, on the Morgantown Road, are being prepared for our future summer camps, Bible Conferences, and cottages for missionaries. We have a grade school and high school at the Haven for which we praise Him. There is a place for you to help us in these mission activities for Him.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20). "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Timothy 2:1-3,8).

OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH

1. We believe that the Bible, The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God. It is divine revelation; the original writings (words) were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit as He inbreathed holy men of old.

2. We believe in a Triune God (Ephesians 2:18) Who Is --

God the Father, Creator of Heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, rich in grace, supreme in love, and measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all mankind, that He hears and answer prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

God, the Son, Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, ever obedient unto the Father, and the only atonement for the sin of this world by His death (through the shedding of His blood) on the cross. We believe that He arose bodily after the third day, ascended into Heaven on the fortieth day, and Only Mediator, making intercession for His own. We look for His personal, visible, premillennial, pretribulational, and imminent return to the earth according to His promises; that is our Blessed Hope.

God the Holy Spirit, a Person, co-equal with the Father and Son, in all His attributes. He was sent by the Lord Jesus Christ from God the Father to reprove the world of sin, to regenerate all who receive Christ as personal Saviour, and to indwell, guide, and teach them the things of God. He empowers the believer to live in victory over sin, self, Satan, and the world. He helps our infirmities and intercedes for us according to the will of God the Father.

3. We believe that man was created in the image of God but because of Adam's transgression (disobedience) that the whole human race fell. Because of this, all men are totally depraved and without Christ, spiritually dead and lost. All men everywhere are sinners, both by nature and by choice. To die in this condition is to be damned forever and eternally separated from God.

4. We believe in a personal devil (Satan) who is presumptuous, proud, powerful, wicked, malignant, subtle, deceitful, religious, and fierce. He was cast out of Heaven and is now prince of the air and this world system. He caused the fall of man, is his constant adversary, and seeks to beguile, tempt, accuse, and devour him. He is the archenemy of God, hater of Christ, and for this he perverts the Scriptures, opposes the work of god, hinders the Gospel, and works lying miracles (wonders). He has already been judged and someday will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night, forever and forever.

5. We believe that in Christ only is salvation. To obtain this salvation is to repent as a sinner toward God and to have faith toward Christ (to receive Him in the heart by faith). This great salvation is by grace, a free gift, through the merits of the shed blood of the Son of God. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the sins of all mankind, not merely for a selected few. When one obtains salvation, he can never be lost. It entails what Christ called the new birth, being born again from above by the Word of God (the instrument), and the Spirit of God (the Person).

6. We believe that Heaven and Hell are literal places, prepared of God as the only eternal abodes according to the Scriptures. All those who have been saved (born-again) shall live eternally with God in Heaven. All those without Christ (devoid of spiritual life) shall abide in the lake of fire forever, eternally separated from God.

7. We believe in the church (the Body of Christ) who is made up of all blood-bought, born-again believers from the public ministry of Christ until His coming again for His own (the Rapture). Some are already in Heaven. The group has never all been together at one time; so, in this respect we could say that the church is in prospect. The church will be together for the first time at the time of the Rapture. We also believe in the local assemblies (or churches). The Holy Scriptures teach us more concerning the local churches than the church. These local churches consist of regenerated believers who have been Scripturally baptized (buried with Him in baptism) and are banded together for worship, work, and spiritual fellowship, spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, according to the specific teachings of the New Testament. Christ is the Head of the church. We believe that immersion in water in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the only true Scriptural baptism. The prerequisite to Scriptural baptism is the new birth. We believe that the Lord's Supper consists of unleavened bread, and unfermented fruit of the vine, and that they are mere symbols of His body and of His blood which were broken and poured out on the cross for our sins. The prerequisites to Scriptural observance of the Lord's Supper are the new birth, immersion in water (baptism), and membership in a local New Testament Church. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only ordinances of the New Testament assemblies and are not for believers apart from the assemblies.

Each local church is to be independent and autonomous and free from political authority or ecclesiastical hierarchy. We believe in religious liberty, in separation of church and state, and in Christians being good citizens.

8. We believe in Bible separation, that is, to be set apart from the world, sin, self, and Satan, and to be separated "unto the praise of His glory" and the furtherance of the Gospel.

We believe that each of us should be born of the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), and be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), that by His power and grace we might bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We believe in being separated from pride, lying, tattling, backbiting, envy, jealousy, bitterness, malice, foolish talking, ingratitude, covetousness, and any other sin of the flesh or spirit (Galatians 5:24). We believe in being separated from the world, and therefore not participating or indulging in alcoholic beverages, drugs (except for medical purposes), tobacco, immodesty, the dance, mixed swimming, the lodge, worldly movies and videos and television programs, gambling, or in being a part of anything else that dishonors our Lord or jeopardizes the Gospel.

9. We believe that all believers (Christians) are to be witnesses unto the lost for Christ. We believe that all believers have certain God-given gifts and are stewards for God and that some are called to preach or to other special tasks. We also believe that all who have rejected the Gospel or have never heard the Gospel are lost and that it is every believer's responsibility to help get the Gospel to everybody.

See New Testament Church Discipline Part III -- "Church Membership Committee Material"