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Joining the Team
- Connecting BAPTISM and MEMBERSHIP
- Identifying What You Would be JOINING
- Wrestling With the Logic of MEMBERSHIP
- Illustrating Why MEMBERSHIP is Logical
and Practical
- The Benefits of BECOMING A MEMBER
- Becoming a MEMBER at CENTRAL HEIGHTS
3. Wrestling With the Logic of MEMBERSHIP
a. Distinguishing between Positional and Practical Membership
“But how exactly is a ‘member’ defined?"
This is a legitimate question – one that needs some
clarification, since the Bible actually describes two kinds
of ‘membership’. Scripture is full of references
to the once-and-for-all union with Christ and His body,
which happens at the instant of conversion.” (1 Corinthians
12:12-13), (Ephesians 2:13-22), (Ephesians 4:3-6), (Colossians
1:13-22).
At that moment, you become a “Positional Member”
of Jesus Christ’s universal Church, based solely on
His merit and grace. “Positional Membership” is
eternal and unchanging. But then the Bible also urges positional
members in a specific local assembly. (Romans 12:4-8), (1Corinthains
12:25-31), (1Corinthians 14:12, 26), (Hebrews 10:24-25),
(1Timothy 3:14-15).
Obviously, a person may be a participating member of several
different local bodies during the course of his or her lifetime
while maintaining a permanent positional membership in Christ’s
universal Church. We can not see the Invisible Bond
of positional membership but we can Identify
those who are the Participating members here
at Central Heights (quote taken from Church
Leaders Handbook: Willow Creek Association).
b. Identifying the Early Church concept of Membership
Membership is a biblical concept. Although the word “membership”
is not a term specifically found in the scriptures, it is,
without doubt, that the Early New Testament church had an
accountability relationship with each of the participants
associated with each particular church fellowship. An example
would be the Corinthian Church in the Apostle Paul’s
writings. Today we just call that accountability relationship
“membership”.
c. Articulating how Membership helps us to Understand
and Cooperate with each other
There are three key words which will help us to understand
how membership plays a guiding role in our relationship
to each other.
- Membership is an opportunity to be Committed
to a particular “Local Expression of Believers”.
- Membership is an opportunity to be intentionally
Unified with a group of believers around a
particular Mission, Values, Dreams and Strategy of Ministry.
- As well, membership is an opportunity to be in Mutual
Submission to an accountability group.
In short, what we are saying is that being Committed
to, Unified with, and in Submission
to, a group of believers is a significant step for an individual
to Grow Deeper in their relationship with
Christ. So, as a member of Central Heights Church you would
be saying that you will be Committed to the
local body of believers here. You would be saying that you
will contribute and protect the Unity and
oneness in this church. As well you will put yourself under
the Authority of the leaders in this church.
Although some of the following information may be found in
brief on this site, the following links express in detail:
If you would like more details, please contact
Pastor
John.
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