Keeping the Church Pure

[AnthonyMartin]

I think it is possible to have a church with repentant saints as compared to a church with known sinners. Just like there is such a thing as clean water and dirty water.
We could get legalistic and point to impurities in the clean water, and to humanness in the church. But I don't think that is what the New Testament is aiming for when it talks about "so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

I also don't think membership roles for earthly organizations with earthly governance is what is referred to here as the church without spot or blemish. I don't think that membership roles are the tool that best pursues this purity.

[Josh]

I think it is possible to have a church with repentant saints as compared to a church with known sinners. Just like there is such a thing as clean water and dirty water.
We could get legalistic and point to impurities in the clean water, and to humanness in the church. But I don't think that is what the New Testament is aiming for when it talks about "so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

I also don't think membership roles for earthly organizations with earthly governance is what is referred to here as the church without spot or blemish. I don't think that membership roles are the tool that best pursues this purity.

The church is the body of Christ, not an earthly organisation. And it’s governance is not “earthly” (unless it is a false church).

[AnthonyMartin]

The church is the body of Christ, not an earthly organisation. And it’s governance is not “earthly” (unless it is a false church).

I don't disagree. Although the OP, and most of the dialogue, seemed to be discussing local membership roles, perhaps I misunderstood.

[aussieandy]

I draw the line at any continual sin that won't be repented of, stopped, carried on purposely without struggle.. etc.

Examples:

Sin struggles like pornography - a growing problem, so long as it is condemned by the "user", worked on, battled against, and the struggle is real... (this includes drugs) and the person fails, tries, fights, begs for help, etc etc. They are my brother or sister in Christ. They can fail and fail again... Seventy times seven.... So long as the fight is real, they pull for Christ, and ask for help.

A person who has murdered, and had true repentance, is my brother or sister in Christ.

But if a person simply whispers profanity at somebody and refuses to apologize/repent..... We have a real problem on our hands. This is up for excommunication.

This is pretty much my position too.