I’m baffled by how today’s church came to believe that inviting anyone to attend is a good idea. It’s like the U.S. opening its doors to the world and asking them to join in a battle for the country. By doing so, you risk bringing in people who neither understand nor care about what you’re fighting for—and even worse, you may inadvertently invite the enemy.

The only assurance of membership in God's Church is the Holy Spirit. When a person is saved, they become a member of God's Church, whether they recognize it or not. From that moment of salvation, they enlist in God's army, becoming pillars of His temple and embodying the voice, hands, and feet of Jesus. While nothing else is needed for membership, the presence of the Holy Spirit is essential.

This is why membership in the institutional church should not be mandated. While the institutional church claims that membership is necessary for commitment, accountability, participation, and volunteering, these responsibilities belong to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who motivates Christians to embody these qualities. By requiring membership, the church oversteps and assumes the role of the Holy Spirit, creating confusion about whether congregants are led by the Spirit or merely by membership expectations. The book of Acts (Acts 2) vividly illustrates how the Holy Spirit motivated the early believers. They were inspired, driven, and willing to sacrifice their lives for God.

You might wonder how people can be saved if we don't invite them to church. First, it’s important to understand that the church is not primarily a place for salvation; it is meant for the saved. Second, inviting the unsaved can unintentionally open the door to the enemy. Third, when we invite those who aren't saved, the church often spends more energy trying to inspire and save them than nurturing those who are genuinely Holy Spirit-driven. Fourth, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between believers and nonbelievers. Finally, unbelievers in the church can influence young Christians, leading them to compromise their faith or leave altogether. Inviting unbelievers ultimately weakens the institutional church and hinders the work that God is building within it.

I recognize that there will always be individuals who attend church, whether invited or not, who may not be saved. This is why it’s essential for us to remain centered on the Holy Spirit, so these individuals can come to realize their spiritual state. Our hope is that they will ultimately find salvation; if not, they may choose to leave. This approach helps the church remain strong and true to its mission as God’s Church.

In the book of Acts, as the church began, God saved people and added to the church daily. He is still able to build His Church today; we simply need to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work (Acts 2).