Membership Matters

Church of the Holy Spirit - Leesburg Tenth Anniversary Photo

Being committed to the church is a commitment to the work of our Lord. It requires submission to His authority. Active participation equates to offering our gifts and talents. It means giving of ourselves and receiving the grace and love without letting our will interfere. Often people, myself included, enjoy visiting other churches to experience what the body of Christ is doing in and around our respective communities.

Often we end up making a go of it ourselves, but our desire to be independent can then become our focus in life. If you’re a Christian, a component of your life is to build up other Christians. If you want to be like Christ, then you need to put the needs of others ahead of your own and be a servant to the church.

However it is imperative that we belong to one church. We can be discerning to ensure a specific church is grounded in correct Bible theology and practices the art of caring, but not seek out the perfect church that meets our every expectation. A church should compel us to be public about our faith and have commitment to others within the character of our Lord. We should be passionate about our church.

While scouring the internet viewing various church websites, I came across a pastor Clancy Nixon article titled, Membership Matters. Pastor Nixon is forthright in explaining why all of us need to make a commitment to membership in one church.

Membership Matters
By Pastor Clancy Nixon
Church of the Holy Spirit – Leesburg

In my experience, Christians can have a variety of objections to formal church membership. Some say, “I love Jesus, not the church;” others say, “I got burned in my last church;” and still others are wary of commitment in general. Unfortunately, some people move from church to church with disturbing frequency, claiming to be “led by the Spirit.” When I see this pattern, I have my doubts. Others hang around their church, but never fully commit to it. My strong hope is that for however long people are attending their local church, they fully commit to it as soon as they intend to stay, until they are called away.

1. It is Biblical. The New Testament (NT) knows nothing of Christianity without a full commitment to a local church. Coming to Christ meant joining a local church. This was not a private commitment to Christ; it meant joining formally with other local believers and “devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

2. Church Government. In the NT pattern, Elders were chosen to oversee each local church. The duties given to elders presuppose a clearly defined group of church members who are under their care. Godly men are to shepherd God’s people (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5), and to have charge over them (1 Tim. 5:17-22). We are to pray for our pastors, for our pastors must give an account to God concerning those in their charge (Heb. 13:17). These responsibilities mean elders must know for whom they are responsible; who is part of the flock, and who is not. Outreach to strangers is one thing; the duty of pastoral care to members is another.

Scripture also enjoins us to submit to our leaders in the church, even to obey them (Heb. 13:17). So every believer must know who their leaders are. One who does not commit to a local church, and entrust himself to the care of elders, has no clear leaders. For that person, obedience to Hebrews 13:17 is impossible. As your pastor, I submit to Bishop John; and am also held accountable by my fellow elders and our elected Vestry. If you don’t join a local church, how might you be disciplined if that were called for? (Matt. 18; 1 Cor. 5)

3. Mutual Service. Membership also lets you know which Christians you are responsible to serve, love, encourage, and warn. (Eph. 4:11-16) You and I cannot be responsible to care for all believers on the planet. We need a clear sense of the group with whom we are responsible to obey the “one-another commands” of Scripture.

4. Growth in Godliness. Matt Chandler’s longish quote is worth reproducing. He says, “If you view church as some sort of ecclesiological buffet, then you severely limit the likelihood of your growing into maturity. Growth into godliness can hurt. For instance, as I interact with others in my own local body, my own slothfulness in zeal is exposed, as is my lack of patience, my prayerlessness, and my hesitancy to associate with the lowly (Rom. 12:11-16).

Yet this interaction also gives me the opportunity to be lovingly confronted by brothers and sisters who are in the trenches with me, as well as a safe place to confess and repent. But when church is just a place you attend without ever joining, like an ecclesiological buffet, you just might consider whether you’re always leaving whenever your heart begins to be exposed by the Spirit, and the real work is beginning to happen.”

If anyone is interested in posting a faith article, please contact Mark Gunderman at gunderman2001@aol.com.

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