"Placed Membership"
In about every fourth report sent in by brethren to the papers, one sees that some have "placed membership." Of course, brethren, I know that when one moves into a new community, he should immediately join with the disciples of that place in worship and the "work of Christ." I also realize that the New Testament does not give much information on this subject. But it does seem that we're getting in a rut — is "placed membership" the only term that expresses what is done in such an instance? I expect to hear somebody accuse some brother of being "unsound" if he does have the originality to use another term to tell this news to the brethren.
I read in Acts 9:26, "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple." I suppose we would say: "believed not that he was a member of the church." I think the word assayed means to attempt, or try. So most modern English translations simply say that Saul "tried to join the disciples." But suppose I write in a report that "three joined the disciples here." I am sure that I would soon be assailed and "branded" as "unscriptural" and "unsound"! I did notice one brother broke the monotony by brazenly writing: "Two restored and five identified"!
Once in a business meeting of a church, someone suggested that we have the Lord's Supper and collection before preaching. A brother vigorously objected: "They don't do it that way in Birmingham!" I asked: "How did they do it in Jerusalem?" Someone ought to write a book on "The Voice of the Pioneers on Religious Terms and How Leading Churches Do It." But I promise you, before you write such a book, that I will neither buy nor read it.