Saturday March 28, 2015

Read Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:7-13

Having discussed the issue of church membership all this week there would still be, no doubt, people who are antagonistic to membership. Several would quote biblical arguments for avoiding local church membership.

 Several argue that the references to the body of Christ are single and that there is only 1 body of Christ, namely the church. They would no doubt quote Romans 12:4-5, 1 Cor 12:12-13, Col 3:15 etc. And the argument goes that if you are a member of the one body of Christ then you don’t and shouldn’t be a member of the local body of Christ.

But Paul calls the church in Corinth the body of Christ (12:27). He calls the gathering in Galatia, the church and so on. Such language does not negate the truth that there is one universal church and that each believer is a member of that universal church.  The gathered church was expressed locally and in each “church” it was expected that there would be a church government, church discipline and mutual edification of each other. All of these presuppose and can only work when there exists a knowledge of who belongs to the church and who doesn’t. As we have seen all week, there is an overwhelming indication throughout the New Testament that people gathered in the local church were to be committed to that particular local church. Church membership is simply a commitment to the local church. It is not based on anything except genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Several people seem opposed to the public declaration of commitment to the local church. Again, they argue that when one is converted they are joined to the one universal church. That much is true. But in the New Testament baptism was a public declaration of the work of God in one’s life and through baptism one was accepted into the earthly church. At ChristLife church baptism is still a sign of the grace of God in someone’s life and is still the point of admission into membership of the church. But others who transfer into the church from other churches may have already been baptised. Rebaptism is not an option. For these, membership is still an option and to show their commitment they are asked to publicly state their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their commitment to the body of Christ in this particular location. 

In Romans 16:1 and other places, letters of recommendation were used to introduce people into a new church.  Several denominations still have such letters, called disjunction certificates or transfer certificates, which allow people to be recognised by new congregations as genuine bona-fide believers. Many denominations see this as a transference of membership from one local church to another.

Unfortunately almost every church has seen a waning of commitment across the board and the movement of people as soon as such issues as discipline become necessary. Some people are happily swapping churches and denominations to avoid discipline.

Contrary to popular belief among the membership-skeptics, membership does not change the body of Christ from a living organism to a dead corporation. It does not mean some will be more favoured than others. It does not mean that rules and regulations overtake and replace the grace of God. It does not mean only a certain class or group of people can join. It does not mean that you are stuck for ever and a day in that one particular church.

Membership is simply a way for you to express your commitment to your local church. Are we ready to be committed?

Prayer:

Based on today’s reading passage and notes jot down your own prayer points.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Ask the Lord to bring a growing sense of commitment among your church and throughout all the churches in this land. Pray that commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ would bring a growing commitment to each other.

Discussion & Reflection

1. Discuss your views on church membership. 

2. Discuss whether they have changed or not.