MEMBERSHIP

In today's society of independence and self-reliance, the thought of becoming a member of a local church seems unnecessary to a lot of people. Also, many Christians feel that being a member of the Body of Christ is sufficient for them to please God. The following information lists the necessity and benefits of belonging to a local church.

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Why Should I Be A Member Of A Church?

  1. Church membership keeps your fire burning for the Lord. As coals in a fire, if one is removed or isolated, it will eventually go out. So will the Christian.
  2. Church membership protects us from self-deception. James 1:22 says to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. It's easy to think we are walking in truth when in actuality we can be fooling ourselves. With relationship with other believers, any deception will be recognized. Remember this, whatever we possess in our relationship towards God that doesn't translate horizontally into our relationships with people, isn't genuine.
  3. Church membership leads to maturity. As in the case of our natural families, some of the hardest lessons of life were learned from the conflicts with our brothers, sisters, and parents. If you had good parents who disciplined you and taught you to resolve the differences in your family, then you know that you are a better and more mature person today because of your family environment. The same is true for the church family. Listen to Proverbs 18:1, "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment" and Proverbs 12:1, "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." Don't be a spiritual "teenage runaway" who messes up the rest of his life because he can't get along with someone at home. Commitment to a local church gives God the leverage to mature you as His child. This isn't always easy, but it is necessary and proper.
  4. Church membership helps you grow and produce fruit. Just as a plant that isn't given time to root will never bear fruit, neither will the Christian bear lasting fruit if he or she doesn't stay in one place long enough to mature. Every Christian has God-given gifts and talents which have been given to them to bless the local assembly of believers. To not be plugged into a church will result in the Christian's life becoming stagnant. A foot, a kidney, a heart, a hand, etc., doesn't exist for itself, but for the body. So a Christian isn't functioning unless situated in a body.
  5. Church membership is obedience to the Lord. The Scripture says we are not to forsake coming together, especially as we near the return of the Lord. Hebrews 10:24 - 25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
  6. Church membership helps the local church and the cause of Christ. If God calls your church to build a sanctuary, a school, an outreach center, etc., the local city zoning, as well as financial institutions, might make their decisions to accept or fund such projects based upon the names on the official membership role.

What can I expect from the leadership?

  1. Good leadership ensures a safe and peaceful environment for the worship of the Lord Jesus, free from distractions and disputes over peripheral doctrines and traditions of men.
  2. Good leadership provides an atmosphere of acceptance of the repentant and a hatred of sin. Standards for righteousness, holiness, and Biblical faithfulness will be maintained.
  3. Leadership, to the best of their abilities and resources, provides education and ministry opportunities for all ages within the congregation.
  4. The leadership shall, to the best of their ability, train and equip the saints (the congregation) for the work of the ministry.
  5. The leadership shall maintain complete openness regarding financial and governmental decisions of the church.