mpethe
Supporting Member
Posts: 62
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Post by mpethe on Mar 8, 2005 7:42:51 GMT -5
For many denominations over the years, it seems like membership at a local church has been an important paradigm. Almost every church I have ever visited has some concept of 'becoming a member' of that local congregation.
But is this a Biblical norm? Did the New Testament church function in the same way in regards to membership?
The most common answer I hear in regards to this is that the early part of the book of Acts shows that there was some effort to number/count the believers as they were added to the church.
I have never really been convinced by this and wonder if someone can give me any further evidence that becoming a member of a local congregation is Biblical.
Now, I understand that there are advantages to having a local membership in our day with the way we 'do church' - but those pragmatic reasons have never really persuaded me either.
Currently, I am not officially a member of the church I attend. I have been going there for about 15 years and have served in many different capacities. Through times of refreshing and through times of struggle, I have remained there - trying to faithfully serve God with the gifts He has given me. I am not a 'church - hopper'.
I suppose I am asking, because so many people I know (with more wisdom, more knowledge, and more experience than I) tell me that church membership is important. I would like to understand this better.
Thank you.
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Post by rgrove on Mar 8, 2005 19:20:49 GMT -5
I guess I would say I would fall into the category of one who takes it seriously. One of our pastors did a sermon series on the importance of membership last year as a matter of fact. Let me know if you'd like them. I could mail you the tapes or something. This is a topic that a little post on the board will not settle in most minds I expect. It's not a chapter and verse argument. My feelings on the matter have evolved. Mostly from being in a church where membership really meant nothing to being in one where it does mean something. I pray I never go back to a church where it only means you have an asterix next to your name in the church bulletin. But that's really what it means in most Baptist churches today (I won't speak for other denominations of course). Our church constitution may be found here: www.art-brand.com/glencullen/constitution.htmlI don't have a copy to check, but they were supposed to put the new one up recently. Hopefully this is the newest version. I'm at work and can't check. But in Chapter V Section 3 you will find the heart of the argument from a Reformed Baptist perspective for church membership. It's a covenant between you, the member, and the church. The church universal is unseen, but we are called to live our lives in real churches. In those fleshed out churches we are called to have a serious, two-way relationship. Hebrews 10:24-25 says " And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.". Reformed Baptists believe that God has worked out his will in history through His divine covenants. So membership in a local church is looked upon as a covenant between the believer and the local, visible church to live out Hebrews 10:24-25 in a real way. That's why Section 3 is entitled " Expectation of members and Church Covenant". It outlines what we feel to be the biblical responsibilities of members of a local Christian church towards one another and towards the world. If we violate that covenant we have also said to the church that we will accept the churches discipline. Not only it's right to do so, but it's the church's responsibility to do exercise it when need demands. The elders are hardly arbitrary and looking for ways to discipline people, but by entering into a covenant with the body of Christ in the form of a local church body there is more at stake in the minds of most people. For example, if I am fired from my job for gross negligence or some serious wrongdoing I personally expect the elders to look into the matter and if I acted in an manner unbefitting a Christian man I expect they will discipline me in some way, shape or form. Since I have entered into covenant with the local church and discussed my responsibilities and the churches responsibilities towards me and my family at length (during the membership process) I feel a deep connection that wasn't there at the last church. My covenental responsibilities illustrate that my whole life needs to be in subjection to Christ and His commandments. If I fail to take my responsibilities seriously towards the churches business meetings, Lord's days, prayer services, etc. then I have breached the covenant that I have entered into with he church. When I was at a church where it meant nothing functionally, it might as well not have existed. So whether you should join? I would say yes, but perhaps it means nothing more than an asterix next to your name in the church bulletin. If so, then it's simply a formality left over from yesteryear when a church covenant in a Baptist church actually meant something. I pray I never end up in a church like that again. My covenant with the church has opened my eyes to my practical responsibilities before God in the world and in the Church like never before. Yours In Christ, Ron
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