Weekly Words - Vol. 4, Issue 20

Dear friend,

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Mt. 28:18-19a).

The Lord Jesus has commanded us to make disciples. In this context, a disciple is a follower of Christ. A church member is a disciple of Jesus who follows Him in a particular way as part of a particular Christian community. How does a church member follow Jesus? What does a church member do?

I came across an old document in the archives or our church office. It made four clear statements about the meaning of membership. They come after an introduction and are written as four promises that members made. I am hoping you will find them helpful so I have republished them here:

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and on the profession of faith, having been baptized in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one Body of Christ.

• We promise, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.


• We promise to maintain family and private devotions; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in this world; to be just in our dealing, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.


• We promise to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; and to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the teachings of our Savior, to secure it without delay.


• We promise that when we move from this place, we will unite as soon as possible with some other church where we can continue to carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

These old promises define membership as a commitment to Jesus and others! If you are a church member, when was the last time you really thought about your commitment. Would you dare to make promises like those above? Are you wiling to bravely follow Christ as part of a body of believers? Would it not be beautiful if we all were?

Your friend,

Stephen

Pastor Stephen St. John