CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
"You are members of God's very own family, citizens of God's country and you belong in God's household with every other Christian." Ephesians 2:19b
Recently, after 3 years of attending Gold Coast Christian Family, Mark and I decided to become CHURCH MEMBERS. This is the longest we have attended a church without committing to membership, but you see these days it is not the `accepted' thing. These days Church membership is not always encouraged, as long as you are a regular attender.
So when people have asked me, `why bother about membership when you don't need to', it got me thinking. In our Church non members still get to vote, they are still encouraged to serve, and most importantly they are accepted into the family. So, why become a member? Are we just going through the ritual, or is Church membership really important to us. I can't really speak for Mark, though after being married for 29years, you get an idea of how your spouse thinks, and I believe we share most of these thoughts, if not all of them.
If you haven't already `guessed' from my writings, I am `not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ'. In fact my outgoing Christian faith has led to persecution, and at times embarrassed my family. But I am not ashamed of my Lord, and that I am a child of God. One of the ways I feel I can be seen as a true Christian is to identify myself with a church family.
At Church last Sunday we watched a short video that reminded us that the church is `God's agenda for the world'. (1) Christ loved the church and this is why He died. I remember when the Lord first told me I was to be His seed planter, I immediately thought this meant in the Church community. I later discovered that God wanted me to go out into the world. One of the best days of my life was when I discovered that both were intertwined - when those in `my' world started asking questions about my faith or why I went to church. Some even started going to Church themselves. God has given us a special privilege, as God's body to be His hands, His feet and His heart to the world.
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:25
Paul reminds us that being a member of a Church is like being a vital organ in the body. For the organs to survive they must stay attached. If they become disconnected, they wither and die. Often we find our faith dwindling when we stop having fellowship with other believers. This isn't always the case. I have known many people who are unable to go to Church because of age or illness, and they continue to have a mighty faith; but they are also members of a Church family who love and care for them, visit them often and make sure they know they are not disconnected from the body.
"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are parts of one body, and we belong to each other...... If one part of the body suffers; all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of out body is honoured, all the other parts share the honour." 1 Corinthians 12:4&5, 27
Everyone needs to belong. Psychologists will tell you that this is one of humanity's greatest needs, and in Genesis we are reminded that this is the way God planned it. We were created for community, fellowship and most importantly FAMILY. I can attend to the fact that a `Church family moves you out of self centred isolation', a trap that is so easy to fall into. As a serving member of a Church you discover the joy of caring for others, more than yourself.
"It is not for man to be alone." Genesis 2:18a
"So let's not grow tired of doing good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should be good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith." Galatians 6:9&10
Have I ever fallen? Have I ever sinned? You bet! But where would I be today if not for my Church family? I hate to think about it. What I do know is that the Bible reminds us that as members of a church family we are to pray for, encourage and admonish one another. We grow stronger and reach maturity by learning from one another and being accountable.
"Encourage one another daily..... so that none of you will be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13
"If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them and bring them back." Galatians 6:6 (MSG)
Finally, but not of the least importance, being a member of a Church family not only provides me with the spiritual protection of godly leaders, but gives me the great opportunity of encouraging and providing for them. God has specifically gifted each one of us with spiritual gifts to help us serve others; but our Church leaders have the greater responsibility for which they are accountable - in guarding, protecting and caring for the spiritual welfare of their flock. I count it a privilege to have known and I hope been an encouragement and help to many of these `shepherds'.
"Those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good gifts with them." Galatians 6:6
Okay - but can't I have all these things without becoming a CHURCH MEMBER? Yes, probably. I feel loved and have been accepted into a wonderful family, I have opportunities to serve and encourage others, so why not just be an ATTENDER and not a MEMBER?
Well, as a housewife the analogy I think about is the difference between owning my own home and renting. I can do a lot more and am committed to improving and developing something I own, more than something I just have for a time. But others may think about this analogy more. A sports team - when you are members, you are committed to giving your all for your team - you don't just come to the practices.
You can probably think of a better analogy, but what I am trying to say is that Church membership means COMMITMENT. The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it is a commitment to others. I have found this commitment a little slack over the last 3 years, when I have just been `attending' Church. Oh I can blame my health and Mark can blame his work, but ultimately we have been giving 20% rather than 100% to caring for others and serving the Lord.
Also, our first decision to become Christians, meant we have salvation, and we will never lose that, but to keep our faith growing and maturing we need FELLOWSHIP. Simply, I love the way Rick Warner puts it:
"WE ARE CALLED TO BELONG, NOT JUST BELIEVE" (1)
"They committed themselves to the teachings of the apostles, the life together, the common meal and the prayers." Acts 2:42 (MSG)
1. Rick Warren, `The Purpose Driven Life' (2002) Zondervan.
it. Or if one part of our bodu is
Recently, after 3 years of attending Gold Coast Christian Family, Mark and I decided to become CHURCH MEMBERS. This is the longest we have attended a church without committing to membership, but you see these days it is not the `accepted' thing. These days Church membership is not always encouraged, as long as you are a regular attender.
So when people have asked me, `why bother about membership when you don't need to', it got me thinking. In our Church non members still get to vote, they are still encouraged to serve, and most importantly they are accepted into the family. So, why become a member? Are we just going through the ritual, or is Church membership really important to us. I can't really speak for Mark, though after being married for 29years, you get an idea of how your spouse thinks, and I believe we share most of these thoughts, if not all of them.
If you haven't already `guessed' from my writings, I am `not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ'. In fact my outgoing Christian faith has led to persecution, and at times embarrassed my family. But I am not ashamed of my Lord, and that I am a child of God. One of the ways I feel I can be seen as a true Christian is to identify myself with a church family.
At Church last Sunday we watched a short video that reminded us that the church is `God's agenda for the world'. (1) Christ loved the church and this is why He died. I remember when the Lord first told me I was to be His seed planter, I immediately thought this meant in the Church community. I later discovered that God wanted me to go out into the world. One of the best days of my life was when I discovered that both were intertwined - when those in `my' world started asking questions about my faith or why I went to church. Some even started going to Church themselves. God has given us a special privilege, as God's body to be His hands, His feet and His heart to the world.
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:25
Paul reminds us that being a member of a Church is like being a vital organ in the body. For the organs to survive they must stay attached. If they become disconnected, they wither and die. Often we find our faith dwindling when we stop having fellowship with other believers. This isn't always the case. I have known many people who are unable to go to Church because of age or illness, and they continue to have a mighty faith; but they are also members of a Church family who love and care for them, visit them often and make sure they know they are not disconnected from the body.
"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are parts of one body, and we belong to each other...... If one part of the body suffers; all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of out body is honoured, all the other parts share the honour." 1 Corinthians 12:4&5, 27
Everyone needs to belong. Psychologists will tell you that this is one of humanity's greatest needs, and in Genesis we are reminded that this is the way God planned it. We were created for community, fellowship and most importantly FAMILY. I can attend to the fact that a `Church family moves you out of self centred isolation', a trap that is so easy to fall into. As a serving member of a Church you discover the joy of caring for others, more than yourself.
"It is not for man to be alone." Genesis 2:18a
"So let's not grow tired of doing good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should be good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith." Galatians 6:9&10
Have I ever fallen? Have I ever sinned? You bet! But where would I be today if not for my Church family? I hate to think about it. What I do know is that the Bible reminds us that as members of a church family we are to pray for, encourage and admonish one another. We grow stronger and reach maturity by learning from one another and being accountable.
"Encourage one another daily..... so that none of you will be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13
"If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them and bring them back." Galatians 6:6 (MSG)
Finally, but not of the least importance, being a member of a Church family not only provides me with the spiritual protection of godly leaders, but gives me the great opportunity of encouraging and providing for them. God has specifically gifted each one of us with spiritual gifts to help us serve others; but our Church leaders have the greater responsibility for which they are accountable - in guarding, protecting and caring for the spiritual welfare of their flock. I count it a privilege to have known and I hope been an encouragement and help to many of these `shepherds'.
"Those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good gifts with them." Galatians 6:6
Okay - but can't I have all these things without becoming a CHURCH MEMBER? Yes, probably. I feel loved and have been accepted into a wonderful family, I have opportunities to serve and encourage others, so why not just be an ATTENDER and not a MEMBER?
Well, as a housewife the analogy I think about is the difference between owning my own home and renting. I can do a lot more and am committed to improving and developing something I own, more than something I just have for a time. But others may think about this analogy more. A sports team - when you are members, you are committed to giving your all for your team - you don't just come to the practices.
You can probably think of a better analogy, but what I am trying to say is that Church membership means COMMITMENT. The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it is a commitment to others. I have found this commitment a little slack over the last 3 years, when I have just been `attending' Church. Oh I can blame my health and Mark can blame his work, but ultimately we have been giving 20% rather than 100% to caring for others and serving the Lord.
Also, our first decision to become Christians, meant we have salvation, and we will never lose that, but to keep our faith growing and maturing we need FELLOWSHIP. Simply, I love the way Rick Warner puts it:
"WE ARE CALLED TO BELONG, NOT JUST BELIEVE" (1)
"They committed themselves to the teachings of the apostles, the life together, the common meal and the prayers." Acts 2:42 (MSG)
1. Rick Warren, `The Purpose Driven Life' (2002) Zondervan.
it. Or if one part of our bodu is
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