Have you ever thought to yourself, "Why does my church talk about church membership?"
I mean, is this a club or organization that is driven by numbers and boasting about how many members it has? Do the local pastors beat their chests at breakfast with one another bragging about the number of church members they have?
While some pastors may brag about the number of members their church has and some churches are driven by the pursuit of numbers; I doubt that is why your church talks about church membership.
So, why does your church talk about church membership?
I hope there are a couple reasons why your church hopes that you'll become or remain a member.
First, churches are concerned about membership because we need one another. John 15:12 says, "My command to you is this: Love each other as I have loved you." I believe this command is not for us to love every person in the world (although there are other commands to be loving toward all mankind). I believe this command is for us to love other Christians. As a universal Church family we should love each other as Christ has loved us. But how well can I love my Christian brothers in Chechnya? I mean, I've never met a single person from Chechnya.
The local church is how we can begin to love each other as Christ has loved us. In order to love each other fully we have to be living amongst one another. So, we stress church membership because it allows us to more fully follow Christ's command to love one another.
"But can't I love people in a church without becoming a member?" Yes you can. "Well then, why should I be a member?"
This brings me to my second reason for church membership. Church membership is making a commitment to love and serve with the people of that local church. Church membership is a public declaration of devotion to a body of believers. While this pledge isn't necessarily covenantal, I believe it to be important. I don't know about you, but when I make a commitment public it holds me accountable to that commitment.
Church membership is not a ploy by your local church to win some sort of numbers game. Church membership is an effective and powerful tool to help us better follow the commands of Christ; namely, the command to love one another. Being a member of a church allows you to better love your brothers and sisters and to be loved by your brothers and sisters.
Now, have you ever thought to yourself, "Should I become a member of my local church? Should I commit to loving them and serving God with them? Should I move beyond being just an attender to being a member?" I encourage you to discover the joy of pledging to love a local body of believers. If you're not a member of your church, pray about becoming one today.
Amen!
ReplyDeleteCJW
OF WHAT CHURCH ARE YOU A MEMBER?
ReplyDeleteThe question has been asked "Of what church are you a member?"
WHAT CHURCH?
Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
I am a member of the church of God which Jesus purchased with His own blood.
Romans 16:16 .....all the churches of Christ greet you.
I am a member of the church of Christ.
Galatians 1:22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ.
I am a member of the church that is in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea......
I am a member of the church of God in Christ.
I am a member of the church of the Messiah.
I am a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am a member of the church of the King of Kings.
I am a member of the church of the Lord of Lord's.
I am a member of the church of the Lamb of God.
I am a member of the church of the Prince of Peace.
I am a member of the church of the Son of Man.
I am am member of the church of God's only begotten Son.
I am a member of the church of the Living God.
I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
My church membership is written in the Lamb's book of life. (Rev. 20:15, Rev. 21:17)
The Lord adds the saved to His church. (Acts 2:47 ... and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.)
Jesus gave the instruction on how to be saved and added to His church. (Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved....)
THE CHURCHES I AM NOT A MEMBER OF
The church of King Henry the VIII.
The church of Alexander Campbell.
The church of the Pope.
The church of John Calvin.
The church Eudorus N. Bell.
The church of Alexander Mack.
The church of Mary Baker Eddy.
The church of Joseph March.
The church of John Knox.
The church of Freemasons.
The church of Charles Taze Russell.
The church Martin Luther.
The church of Menno Simons.
The church of Joesph Smith.
The church of George Fox.
The church of William Booth.
The church of Ellen G. White.
The church of Herbert W. Armstrong.
The church of John Smythe.
The churches of Catholics.
The churches of Lutherans.
The churches of Baptists.
The churches of Methodists.
The churches of Episcopalians.
The churches of Pentecostals.
The churches of Mormons.
The churches of the Salvation Army.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
You can join a denomination, but the Lord adds the saved to His church.
YOU CANNOT JOIN THE LORD'S CHURCH!
YES, I AM A MEMBER OF THE church of CHRIST. Why, because the Lord adds the saved to His church.
THE LORD ADDS ALL THOSE, TO HIS CHURCH, WHO HAVE OBEYED HIS TERMS FOR PARDON.
FAITH: John 3:16
REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38
CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10
BAPTISM: (IMMERSION IN WATER) 1 Peter 3:21
THEN, THE LORD ADDS YOU TO HIS CHURCH!
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Steve,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment.
I agree wholeheartedly that our first allegiance is the Big C Church... the Bride of Christ, the Church universal. However, the local church is of incredible importance. We can most effectively love each other in the local congregation.
All denominations that hold fast to the Gospel are part of the Big C Church. We are all in the same Church but there are many reasons to join a local church while remembering that the local church down the road is filled with your brothers and sisters and fellow members of the Church.
Thanks Steve.