Membership - CenterPointe Christian Church

Becoming a church member means leaving behind the comfort of individualism and voluntarily allowing yourself to be bound to others.

It is a beautiful picture of the Gospel. And we do this because Jesus joyfully left behind his comfort and bound himself to us.

There are at least three things that help us understand why church membership is biblical and important.

Membership Reflects What the Church Is

The church is the body of Christ, of which we are “members.”

“The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. (1 Corinthians 12:21-26 NLT)

There is a unity and organic relationship implied in the imagery of the body. There is something unnatural about a Christian attaching himself to a body of believers and yet not choosing to be a functioning member of that body.

The Bible Teaches Covenant Community

There is no such thing in the New Testament as a church without some recognition of belonging – of membership in community. People need membership commitment because they need to be connected to a Christian community. This belonging is implied throughout the New Testament.

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.” Acts 20:28

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

People Need Church Membership

Finally, we recognize biblical membership matters because people need it. This is not just for the sake of the faith community, but also for the sake of the individual. Within the covenant community is where Christ ordained spiritual growth of the individual to occur, where physical and emotional needs of each member can be met in Christ, and where individuals can discover their unique purpose and exercise their God-given gifts.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

“God makes us a part of His larger family when we are born again. But then we should covenant in a local body and live in a community with them, agreeing to live by certain established godly principles and standards.”

Excerpt taken from “Christianity Today” Magazine

Questions about Membership?

Are you interested in pursuing membership at CenterPointe Christian Church? Click below to register for an upcoming Next Steps luncheon, or contact us and we will reach out to you about your next steps.

Contact

Mike Meyers

Family Pastor