Some people dismiss church membership because they think it means making people jump through hoops, or they think it means erecting standards of behavior for the sake of entry. However, Christianity is not about standards, it is about free grace. We must understand that the standard for church membership should be no higher or lower than the standard for being a Christian. The church’s responsibility is to affirm sheep. What are the steps that we should look at in order to bring a person into membership to the church? This must be something universal, and regardless of age or culture. It does not mean that they should have a complete knowledge of the Bible, but it does mean that a person who becomes part of a church can point to three things that will be developing in their heart and mind. Every person is at different stages in these three areas, but they must be able to demonstrate that they are willing to grow in their understanding of these three areas of thinking:1. Faith – A church is to affirm a person’s profession of faith as Jesus did with Peters affirmation in Matthew 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son … READ MORE

The body of Christ which is represented in every redemptive community is designed to put the alternative rule of Christ on display for the waiting world. The very boundaries, which are drawn around the membership of a church, yield a society of people that invites the nations to something better. We must remember that Jesus said that “I will build MY Church” (emphasis mine), how does He do that? Romans 10:13-15 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall thy call on Him in whom they have not believed: and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” God uses His people to bring the message of salvation to the world, and the church is supposed to demonstrate the power of a transformed life to the world. The church is a beautiful thing that we should desire to represent to our community. None of us is a … READ MORE

We need to understand that churches are imperfect institutions filled with sinful people trying to learn to be like Christ. At the same time the church body (those who are members) formally affirm an individuals’ profession of faith and baptism as credible and trustworthy. In Matthew 18:20 while talking about the importance of purity within the church, Jesus tells the disciples, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Many use this verse to talk about the power of prayer meeting, but the reality is that this passage is talking about the authority of the church to affirm a persons walk with Christ based on the choices they are making. The Lord gives the body of Christ the authority to affirm that a person’s walk matches His words. If they do not the body of Christ responsibility is to evangelize the person living in sin, and no longer exhort them to repent. This gives us assurance in our walk and relationship with Christ, not because we we hope to get to heaven, but because there is a redemptive community that affirms our walk with the Lord. We must remember that … READ MORE