The Meaning of Membership (part 2)
Eighteen years ago, I asked the girl who would become my wife to marry me. This action was fraught with meaning. In this action I declared my love for her. With it I committed myself to her for the rest of our lives. And through it I pledged to her all that I had.
Like my marriage proposal, church membership is an act that carries significance. It is public profession of our faith. It is a formal commitment to the church. In it we submit to the authority that God has ordained, and with it we identify ourselves with the vision of the local church we are joining.
Public Profession
Church membership at its most basic is a public profession of faith. It declares to the world that we belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). With it we confess our sinfulness and our trust in God’s grace to us in Jesus Christ for salvation. In joining the church we, like Paul, are proclaiming to the world that we are not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).
Throughout history God has visibly separated his people from the world. He gives to Abraham the sign of circumcision to be a very visible sign of being a part of his covenant community (Genesis 17). Christ’s disciples were publicly associated with him (see what prompts Peter’s denials during Christ’s trial in Matthew 26). Christ commands us to baptize all who follow him (Matthew 28), setting them apart, adding to the church all who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47; 5:12-16; 6:7; etc.).
Commitment
God’s relationship with his people is not an empty promise. Rather, he makes a commitment to his people. Scripture calls this commitment a covenant. In his covenants with his people God commits himself completely. At the core of the covenants is his promise, “I will be your God” (see for example Genesis 17, Exodus 6, and Jeremiah 30).
Just as God makes a commitment to his people, he calls them to commit to each other. This is a commitment of love. It is a promise to be a part of each others’ lives during joys and struggles. It is a statement that we are prepared to take the time and the energy to see each other grow. It is a commitment of love, acknowledging the bond with each other we have in Jesus Christ. (see Hebrews 10:24-25)
Submission to biblical authority
To be Christian is to follow Christ. As followers of Christ we submit to our Lord in all of life. This same Lord Jesus Christ instituted the church as the gathering of his people. Christ made his church to be his instrument to care for his people (see John 21 and 1 Peter 5 for calls to church leaders to shepherd the people of God). Our membership in a local church acknowledges Christ’s lordship and his reign over our lives. When we join the church we submit ourselves to Christ’s authority, for his glory and our good.
Identification with the vision
Each congregation is called by God to a particular community at a particular time for a particular purpose. As we join the local church we are identifying with them. We own their vision as our own and promise to work towards it.
Conclusion
We become members of many things: a family, a profession, a team or club. Sometimes we have no choice. Other times we join willingly and eagerly. Each membership carries a different meaning. But none carry the deep meaning of church membership. It is truly a unique action of great meaning for every Christian.