Why Join a Church?
We appended this to the end of our church doctrinal statement and constitution:
Why Join a Church?
Why would you want to join a church? Our culture is afraid of commitment. It is sad that people let this mindset deter them from joining a church. It is true that you can continue to attend Grace as you are now and enjoy the building up that comes from the fellowship of believers, the worship of God, and the teaching/preaching of His Word. But we would encourage you to think through the following reasons to join Grace Baptist Church.
1. Follow a Biblical Model:
Church membership is not commanded in the New Testament. But the organization involved in a local body was similar to our practice of church membership. Consider the following examples:
First, in the early church those who became believers were added to the group of Christians (Acts 2:41-42, 5:14, 11:24). This is mentioned three times in Acts but this first time is very instructive because it is at the beginning of the church. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This passage shows four consecutive steps that we still see today as a normal procedure at the beginning of someone’s spiritual walk. 1. Receive the word – believe in the Gospel message. 2. Publicly show this profession through water baptism. 3. Add yourself to the number of believers (demonstrated through church membership). 4. Devote yourself to the spiritual priorities of that local church, namely: the apostles teaching, koinonia (a sharing together), communion and prayer.
Second, when Paul considered the purity of the local church in Corinth he asked them to take someone from their number because of the open and unrepentant disobedience. “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst (1 Corinthians 5:1-2).” Removing someone from the midst of a local church is only possible with a defined church membership.
Third, there were formal lists of widows in different local churches which indicates that a listing of membership has biblical precedent. Paul gives Timothy instruction about when to add a widow to the list of the local church’s monetary support. He gives several prerequisites that needed to be met before a widow was “put on the list (I Timothy 5:9, 11).” Similarly, prerequisites need to be met before a believer is “put on the list” of church membership.
2. Fulfill Your Role:
The most prominent biblical picture of the church is the body. Each person should try to be plugged in to their role in the local church body. In fact, the only way that a church is going to grow into Christ-likeness is if each individual is doing their part. Read the following verse carefully: “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).” Only as each person is ‘properly working’ will the whole body be built up spiritually. You need to understand two conclusions from this:
First, you need the church. Only as you are interacting and fellowshipping with other believers will you be built up in every aspect of Christ-likeness. You must regularly receive biblical instruction, encouragement, and yes at times reproof in order to continue your spiritual growth. You do not have to be an official member of a local church to do this. However, church membership is a good step in displaying your commitment toward growing in Christ-likeness. Not too many eyeballs roll around New York City from body to body just dipping in and out when they want. No. There is a certain amount of commitment to a physical body that an eyeball has. Yet many spiritual members of the body of Christ wonder around from church body to church body exhibiting no level of commitment. It is obvious that at least agreeing to a formal membership is a type of commitment encouraged by the metaphor of the body.
You may think, “but I have been burnt before by trusting a local church.” It is sad how believers have been treated in local churches in the past by other ‘carnal’ believers or how people have just gotten ‘burnt out’ by getting too involved. But that is no reason not to continue to fulfill your spiritual role in a local body. To quote an American President “It’s better to trust and be disappointed once in a while than it is to distrust and be miserable all the time (Lincoln).”
Second, the church needs you. Just because you think you can ‘fly solo’ through the rest of your Christian life does not mean that the Lord does not want to use you in other’s lives. There is a great need for believers to get involved in local churches exercising their gifts for the glory of God. One man who lived on Long Island proudly claimed that he did not need a local church anymore. He just listened to the radio and witnessed to others on his own. When asked why he responded, “I just see myself as so much more mature then the others in these local churches. They just don’t have the background that I have.” Our hearts should hurt for him. Not only is this a proud thing to say. But if he believes himself to be mature then a love for other believers gives him an even greater reason to commit himself to serving in a local church.
3. Submit to Accountability:
There is a great benefit of submitting yourself to the accountability that is involved in becoming a part of the membership of a local church.
First, there is benefit gleaned from the oversight and accountability of the spiritual leader of the church through his prayer and admonishment. In this relationship the Lord commands people to “obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17; See also I Thessalonians 5:12-13).” The way for the church leadership to know those whom they have to pray for and keep accountable are those who have joined themselves to that local assembly.
Second, there is benefit gleaned from the accountability of the other brothers and sisters in the family of the local church. We could list many verses but listen to these two passages: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:22-25).” “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2).” A huge part of our love toward one another is keeping each other accountable so that none of us will fall into the “deceitfulness of sin.”
We pray that this local body of believers will be used of the Lord in your life to build you up spiritually and to give you an opportunity to exercise your gifts and abilities as well. May God bless you in your relationship with the Lord and fellowship with His saints.
If you can agree to support Grace in this way we would love to have you as a member. In fact, we need you because you are an essential part of this body being built to the glory of God! Please contact an elder if you have any questions at all about the membership process. Thank you and may God bless your growth in Him as a member of His glorious Body!
Grace Baptist Church Elder Team
Why Join a Church?
Why would you want to join a church? Our culture is afraid of commitment. It is sad that people let this mindset deter them from joining a church. It is true that you can continue to attend Grace as you are now and enjoy the building up that comes from the fellowship of believers, the worship of God, and the teaching/preaching of His Word. But we would encourage you to think through the following reasons to join Grace Baptist Church.
1. Follow a Biblical Model:
Church membership is not commanded in the New Testament. But the organization involved in a local body was similar to our practice of church membership. Consider the following examples:
First, in the early church those who became believers were added to the group of Christians (Acts 2:41-42, 5:14, 11:24). This is mentioned three times in Acts but this first time is very instructive because it is at the beginning of the church. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This passage shows four consecutive steps that we still see today as a normal procedure at the beginning of someone’s spiritual walk. 1. Receive the word – believe in the Gospel message. 2. Publicly show this profession through water baptism. 3. Add yourself to the number of believers (demonstrated through church membership). 4. Devote yourself to the spiritual priorities of that local church, namely: the apostles teaching, koinonia (a sharing together), communion and prayer.
Second, when Paul considered the purity of the local church in Corinth he asked them to take someone from their number because of the open and unrepentant disobedience. “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst (1 Corinthians 5:1-2).” Removing someone from the midst of a local church is only possible with a defined church membership.
Third, there were formal lists of widows in different local churches which indicates that a listing of membership has biblical precedent. Paul gives Timothy instruction about when to add a widow to the list of the local church’s monetary support. He gives several prerequisites that needed to be met before a widow was “put on the list (I Timothy 5:9, 11).” Similarly, prerequisites need to be met before a believer is “put on the list” of church membership.
2. Fulfill Your Role:
The most prominent biblical picture of the church is the body. Each person should try to be plugged in to their role in the local church body. In fact, the only way that a church is going to grow into Christ-likeness is if each individual is doing their part. Read the following verse carefully: “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).” Only as each person is ‘properly working’ will the whole body be built up spiritually. You need to understand two conclusions from this:
First, you need the church. Only as you are interacting and fellowshipping with other believers will you be built up in every aspect of Christ-likeness. You must regularly receive biblical instruction, encouragement, and yes at times reproof in order to continue your spiritual growth. You do not have to be an official member of a local church to do this. However, church membership is a good step in displaying your commitment toward growing in Christ-likeness. Not too many eyeballs roll around New York City from body to body just dipping in and out when they want. No. There is a certain amount of commitment to a physical body that an eyeball has. Yet many spiritual members of the body of Christ wonder around from church body to church body exhibiting no level of commitment. It is obvious that at least agreeing to a formal membership is a type of commitment encouraged by the metaphor of the body.
You may think, “but I have been burnt before by trusting a local church.” It is sad how believers have been treated in local churches in the past by other ‘carnal’ believers or how people have just gotten ‘burnt out’ by getting too involved. But that is no reason not to continue to fulfill your spiritual role in a local body. To quote an American President “It’s better to trust and be disappointed once in a while than it is to distrust and be miserable all the time (Lincoln).”
Second, the church needs you. Just because you think you can ‘fly solo’ through the rest of your Christian life does not mean that the Lord does not want to use you in other’s lives. There is a great need for believers to get involved in local churches exercising their gifts for the glory of God. One man who lived on Long Island proudly claimed that he did not need a local church anymore. He just listened to the radio and witnessed to others on his own. When asked why he responded, “I just see myself as so much more mature then the others in these local churches. They just don’t have the background that I have.” Our hearts should hurt for him. Not only is this a proud thing to say. But if he believes himself to be mature then a love for other believers gives him an even greater reason to commit himself to serving in a local church.
3. Submit to Accountability:
There is a great benefit of submitting yourself to the accountability that is involved in becoming a part of the membership of a local church.
First, there is benefit gleaned from the oversight and accountability of the spiritual leader of the church through his prayer and admonishment. In this relationship the Lord commands people to “obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17; See also I Thessalonians 5:12-13).” The way for the church leadership to know those whom they have to pray for and keep accountable are those who have joined themselves to that local assembly.
Second, there is benefit gleaned from the accountability of the other brothers and sisters in the family of the local church. We could list many verses but listen to these two passages: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:22-25).” “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2).” A huge part of our love toward one another is keeping each other accountable so that none of us will fall into the “deceitfulness of sin.”
We pray that this local body of believers will be used of the Lord in your life to build you up spiritually and to give you an opportunity to exercise your gifts and abilities as well. May God bless you in your relationship with the Lord and fellowship with His saints.
If you can agree to support Grace in this way we would love to have you as a member. In fact, we need you because you are an essential part of this body being built to the glory of God! Please contact an elder if you have any questions at all about the membership process. Thank you and may God bless your growth in Him as a member of His glorious Body!
Grace Baptist Church Elder Team
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