As Baptists, we insist on a converted membership. To do less than this would be to deviate from what we conceive to be the plain teaching of God's word on the subject. Our Lord's kingdom was to be a spiritual kingdom, and its subjects were to be those whose hearts had been touched, softened and cleansed by the Spirit's power. If any one would seek a home within its sacred limits, he must exhibit fruit worthy of repentance. This fundamental truth should ever be made prominant both in the teaching and discipline of our churches. To grow lax at this point is to admit an evil whose portion will extend itself to every department and activity of church work and bring into disrepute the religion we love so dearly.

      In order that the moral character of our churches shall approximate the high standard set for them by the Word of God, it is important that our religious teachers emphasize the necessity of a thorough change of heart; that applicants for membership be rigidly examined as to their Christian experience; that pastors and churches exercise tender and vigilant watchcare over their weak and wandering members; and that prompt and positive discipline be administered in all cases where the Scriptures require such action.

      Unfortunately, the world does not get its idea of Christianity from the Bible, but from the lives of professing Christians. Keen, and frequently unfriendly, eyes are observing the conduct of those who have taken upon themselves the obligations of discipleship. This being true, nelther individual nor general effort should be spared to increase the practical piety of our churches.
     W. C Lattimore.

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[From Campbell County Baptist Association Minutes, 1887, p. 9. This document is from the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association office, Erlanger, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall ]

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