CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (2)

We need to go to the Bible to find out what it means to be a member of a local church – in our case: this church.

Here are some reasons why it is important to work out whether you are a member of Christ’s church:

1. You won’t and can’t build the church and make it stronger if you are not personally built into it – attending, turning up or visiting church is like a bird that lands on the branches of a tree – it is not being part of the tree itself.
2. It is unfair (and dangerous for them) if we encourage people who aren’t disciples of Jesus to assume they are members of his church. We are warned in the Bible that the church is like a watchman and if that watchman fails to warn people that they are in danger and that danger comes and sweeps them away, then that watchman should pay with his life (Ezekiel 33).
3. It is extremely discouraging to genuine Christians if people who are not followers of Jesus are treated as though they are - even though their lives contradict what Jesus teaches. It weakens the call to be holy and therefore shuts out massive blessing.
4. If people who are not born again put in their best efforts to work in the church, it will always be unspiritual activity with no life-giving energy – it will turn into stressful, hard and fruitless work. Nothing will come of it in the end. Unless the Lord builds the house, the workers labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127.