Can unbelievers be under church discipline?
548246
Paul said it was not his business to judge those outside the church, therefore I think the concept of 'disciplining" those outside the church is unscripitural and fruitless.\nThose outside the church already know they are imperfect sinners, they need to hear the message of God's love and His offer of forgiveness in Christ. Discipline would be trying to but a round peg in a square hole.
941469
if you don't repent and turn away from your sins, or if you don't accept Christ as your savior, you go to Hell. I think the unpardonable sin is blasphemy against the holy spirit.\n\nthe scriptures say that no unrighteousness will inherit eternal life.\n1 Corinthians 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
235636
Any religion that does not require you to give up your full self completly has NO power in it's religion. Also, how could you have a church with no authority? NO church EXCEPT The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a Prophet of God or authority it needs to carry it self out as a church. Just some reasons why its true and always has been and ALWAYS WILL be.
827624
Sounds dangerous.  The apostles appointed deacons so they wouldn't have to attend to the day-to-day business of the church.  Without checks & balances, human nature can cause problems, to say the least.  For the worst, look at PTL, Enron, WorldCom... CEOs who don't have internal controls over their organizations get in trouble with this.  The pastor could be considered the CEO for the local church, so the same rules should apply.
91403
first off, does the organization have a lease for the facilities?  If so you can check the lease to see if there is any violation of the terms of the lease.\n\nRegarding separation of church and state, I believe as long as the mission of the organization is nonsectarian, that is, providing assistance or service to those of all religions, then it is not violating church/state restriction. \n\nYou could be a bit more specific about the activities and mission of the organization for a better answer.
350506
I would pray for them, talk to them to try and convince them to stop, and the church would do the same (at least mine would and all the other true Christ following ones). Email me if you have questions or are a fellow believer in Christ at questinchrist@yahoo.com. God bless
702830
They leave the faith but are not willing to leave the faith alone.
618504
Yes..\ncheck this out: http://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/11/15/article_01.htm
458261
No. All non-Christians have the right to request and use a non-Christian or non-religious oath, or in some courts they will be required to "affirm" that their testimony is the truth.  Even Christians may do that -- some Quakers, for instance, believe that asking god to back up your testimony is a form of cheating (and if you think about it, they have a point), so they use the affirmation oath instead.
1104967
Not God but the old people who would join your congregation..  you should look into prison ministry.
290165
If a man can not take care of his own household how can he take care of God's church.  Its an honorable responsibility you cant just let anyone do it. I think its referring to pastors they have to live a righteous life outside of the church also. God Bless!!
1041181
Jesus spent alot of time with unbelievers. I don't think these happen for no reason. You have to look past the little comments  that don't even present an argument and are just there for a stupid comment. There are others who truly have no reason to believe. There could come a day when someone wants to know more and that is why it's good to have Godless people here. God came to save the unbeliever. he doesn't have to worry about those that already believe. Trust that God has his hand in this as well. It's all Good!
964711
They could stay, but would have to change their sinful ways and repent and stop living that life, or have to go esle where. The Chruch has an obligation to not only share the word of God, but inforce it. \n\nThere was a man and a woman that were both married to other people, but went to church and was having an affair with different other people from their church. The pastor talke to them privately and let them know that they had to stop that behavior or they will be evicted from that chruch. \n\nNow this was done in priviate. The woman refused and told the pastor that it was none of his business. He told her that she was no longer allowed to attend His church if she did not repent of that sinful lifestyle. \n\nThis foolish woman took what was done in priviate, and called the TV stations, and had it aired all over the state. Now how stupid of her was that?\n\nIf you deliberatly refuse to change your sinful ways, that church does not have to keep you as a member. \n\nHebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.\n \n1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
684089
I do not attend church because of all the false teaching that spews forth from most pulpits.\n\nThe doctrines of men have replaced the pure and simple doctrines taught by Jesus Christ and the Apostles in most churches.  People in the pew believe and trust whatever comes from the pulpit, without studying scripture for themselves.\n\nWe are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, scripture says.  Therefore, I meet with a small group in my home.\n\nI would not recommend most churches to anyone.  It is sad that mainstream Christianity has become so paganized and steeped in the world's system.\n\n"Church" is not the answer anyway.  Jesus Christ is.
477853
DEFINITELY NOT. How can you profess to follow the Lord Jesus, but turn completely away from Him.  This is called a backslider.  They are not saved and unless they repent and turn from their wicked ways, and be cleansed of their sin, they will go to Hell or be left behind in the soon coming rapture of the TRUE believers of Jesus Christ (whichever comes first).
422200
Preaching to unbelievers rarely, if every works.  But lliving a gracious and joyful life is something that people see and are truly moved by.  I think we should always be clear we are Christians and live as ambassadors of Christ; not beating others over the head with our fancy leather-bound Bibles, but shining Jesus' love and grace through our daily lives.  Then God will move others to see him through us.  We care bear witness to broken-hearted and troubled people in this way and in his time, he will open them to also hear the clear gospel through us.  Actions speak louder than words.  The unbelievers don't care what we say (if they did, they'd already be in church!), but they are very interested in seeing what we do.  Jesus' primary command to his disciples?  "Love one another as I have loved you."  Jesus never criticised, condemned, pointed out others sins; he loved them, and when his love opened their hearts, he taught them the way of God.  We should do likewise.
506434
God's fatherly discipline,which can effect our spiritual lives,can take many forms.One is His arrangement to exclude from the Christian congregation a person who no longer wants to live by God's standards,or refuses to do so.A person who is thus strongly chastised or disciplined may repent and turn around.In the process,the congregation of loyal ones are also disciplined in that they learn the importance of conforming to God's high standards-1 Tim.1:20.\nWhen a man in Corinth was unrepentantly immoral,Paul told the congregation:"Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or a idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner,not even eating with such a man"(1Cor.5:11-13).\nHopefully,such ones will repent so that they can be accepted back.(Acts3:19).\nBy disfellowshiping the unrepentant one it also serves as a protection for the rest of the congregation.So it is a loving arrangement,even though it may not seem so from the wrongdoers point