Beyond Membership - Part 3

Part 1 succinctly defined the notion of church. Part 2 provided three of Jesus' statements as to His involvement as well as His expectations for His church. Here, we must consider our response to those three statements. So, how do we respond?

Nearly two years ago, I did a series on the Kingdom of God based on the Kingdom parables in Matthew 13. That series was the launch point for a strategy based on the acrostic JOURNEY. (The blog was started later and has few, if any, direct references to Matthew 13. You can find the links here for Journey, Kingdom, J-Jesus, O-Observe, U-Unite (1), U - Unite (2), R - Revere, N - Nurture, E - Evoke, Y - You).  The idea was that we are all on a JOURNEY individually, and collectively. Our destination is not church. Our destination is the Kingdom. The Church is God's tool to lead people to the Kingdom. I mentioned earlier that the word for church is used 3 times in the Gospels – all in Matthew. The word Kingdom is used over 120 times in the Gospels.

The reality is that too many people today are worried about being a member of a church instead of being a member in God's Kingdom.

To keep it simple, three levels of involvement may be found at most in most churches. These three levels are fellowship (relational), membership (commitment), and discipleship (determined).

Most everyone wants to feel accepted - to belong. This is the fellowship aspect. Some are willing to get involved and commit to a local gathering. Few are willing to go to die to self in order to truly be a disciple. Yet, this is what Jesus desired - "Follow me." Unfortunately, in our world today, the committed (members) are less and less committed. Also, church leaders (self-included) generally tend to make disciples out of those who are already members. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, it does not need to be this way. In fact, it wasn't for Jesus!

Yet, it must also be understood that these three levels are not mutually exclusive. Some might wish to diagram the words as:

Fellowship  VS  Membership  VS  Discipleship

Yet, a better model might be:

Fellowship  →  Membership  →  Discipleship

But, ideally, the model should be:
Fellowship  ↔  Membership  ↔  Discipleship

This series of posts is not to refute church membership. It is meant to stir the idea that being a member of a church is more than just a concept, it is natural because of who we are in Christ. And yet, as argued above, membership is just one aspect of discipleship - which is the ultimate goal of Christ for our lives. We can be members of a church without being a disciple, but we cannot be a disciple without being in fellowship with other believers which effectively makes us members of a church.

True members are in fellowship with one another, are committed to one another, and help to disciple one another. Unfortunately, for many in today's world where independence reigns supreme, people don't want this level of involvement, and therefore not only turn away from discipleship and membership, but often turn away from the fellowship as well. However, it has been said that the New Testament knows nothing of a Christian who is not a part of a local church.

Certainly, Jesus was concerned about unity (John 17.11, 20). Jesus modeled life so others could also model for others (see Paul, 1 Cor 11.1). These men and women learned what it meant to follow Him, so that eventually they could lead others. The early church wasn't about membership so much as was about community. People wanted to be in community with one another. Today, people are often defined by the organizations to which they support (whether good or bad), and some people just want their name affiliated with something. I am a member of the xxx. Yet, almost any organization has more stringent requirements (at least annual dues) than most churches expect from their "members".

Again the reality is that fellowship, membership, and discipleship are all interwoven (or should be). To live this out effectively we should serve as members of God's Kingdom whether we are "in church" or "in the world". The truth is that God created (formed) each and every one of us. Yet, it is not about us at all. It is all about Jesus. Our JOURNEY is ultimately about Jesus - or finding our place in the midst of His Kingdom. It is about Him calling us out - from ourselves, so that we might do His work. Jesus has a plan. In fact, it is not just the master plan, it is the Master's plan. His plan involves the church. The church is the tool to build His Kingdom (Mt 16.18). But we, as a church, must choose more than membership. We must choose Jesus.

We must choose to follow Him (Mt 4.19) so that we may later Go, make disciples (Mt 28.19). He has created us with certain talents, skills, gifts, passions, etc. but now He wants to refine them so that they may be fully used for His glory.

Has God chosen you? Has God said to you, "Follow Me." If so, respond by choosing Him. Then learn all you can, live what you learn, learn to love what you live, and lead others to do the same. He will be with you all the way (Mt 28.20).

Beyond Membership - Part 2

In Part 1, a definition for church was provided. The definition is quite contrary to a place as it is often designated. Rather, the church is a gathering of people. This is not a new understanding. But, for many, it is a new application of their understanding. So, having defined church, what did Jesus say?

So, having defined church, what did Jesus say? Did Jesus say, "Go to church?" No. Did Jesus say, "Be the church?" No. He said, "Follow me." Of course, in following Jesus we will be who He wants us to be and be with others he wants us to be with, but the focus was on following Him. Here are three things that Jesus did say (among others):

• Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4.1)
• ...on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Mt 16.18)
• Go, make disciples, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded... (Mt 28.19)

Educators will see the three domains of learning in this verse.

A discipleship model I am working on applies to this verse quite well. The model is based upon 4 steps Learn, Live, Love, Lead. The idea is that we must first learn something. Once it is learned, we begin to live it out (applying work or wisdom). Next, over time, we begin to love it (remember this is a discipleship model, and is not applicable to all of life's situations. But as disciples, we will learn to love the things of the Lord). Finally, we lead others through these steps as well.

For Matthew 4.19, Follow me (Learn) and I will make you (Live → Love) fishers of men (Love → Lead).

The other verse (Mt 28.19-20) also fits the learning domains and my discipleship model - although it is backward.

Go, make disciples, teaching others to observe all that I commanded you (Mt 28.19-20).

Christians may dispute the meaning of these three quotes, but the fact that Jesus said them nor their implications for the Church as a whole, should not be refuted by Christians. The first and third statement require us to do something. The second is Jesus statement alone. Let me say a quick word about that statement and then move on.

Jesus is the only one who can build His church? Why? Because it is truly His to build. Notice He did not say build THE church. That would mean that there could be no other gatherings (called out ones). But there are. There are plenty of false churches, false teachings, false gatherings. But Jesus' church is His. And He will build it. But He can also tear it down. The gates of Hades may not stand against it, but if a local church is not doing what it needs to do, Jesus can shut it down. It is His right. And the response of a congregation to Matthew 4:19 and Matthew 28:19-20 may determine its future.

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Mt 4.19)

We are to follow so that He can turn us into what He wants us to be. This is foreign to many church members who believe the church is about their preferences and desires. Christ is the head - period.

• Follow me - Cognitive (Head) - we must make a decision
• I will make you - Affective (Heart) - transforming us, literally from the inside out
• Fishers of men - Psycho-motor (Hands) - what we will (must) do

Go...make disciples...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you... (Mt. 28.19-20)

Each of these last two passages require a response from us - the church. In Part 3, we must consider our response.

Beyond Membership - Part 1

I often hear comments from people stating they are a member of this or that church. I often ask how things are going, and then find myself in shock when the reply is something like, "Well, I haven't been there in 3 (or 10, or even 20) years. But I was born there, and I have been a lifelong member." It can be really difficult to respond to that on the spot, but (hopefully) I am learning to respond tactfully and lovingly.

The reality is that all of us justify some type of sin in our life. And while not going to church is not a sin, claiming to be a member of something without any involvement is duping ourselves into believing something that is not true. Most people are members of some organization. Try not participating in, or paying dues to that organization and see how long you remain a member. But somehow we feel church is different. Well, largely it is because we have a false impression of what church is, and therefore what church membership is. It is not about going to church, or giving money to church, etc. It is even more.

Over the next several weeks, I will be touching on certain aspects of church membership. This series has been in my mind for quite some time. However, last year Thom Rainer published a book entitled, I Am A Church Member, which will serve as a guide and has given me some added direction for how to best (tactfully) present this topic.

This first entry is to consider three questions: What is church? What did Jesus say? How will we respond?

What is church?

It surprises most people to learn the word church was only used three times in the gospels (once in Mt 16, and twice in Mt 18). Certainly, the word is used more commonly by Paul in many of his letters as well as in Hebrews, James, John's letters, and Revelation. The word itself is “ekklessia” which means “called out ones”. While the work originally meant people called out in a gathering (such as a public assembly), the double entendre certainly applies to Christians being called to live in, but not of, the world.

A detailed look at church history is far too much for this entry (or even this blog), but shortly after the Protestant Reformation in 1517, a confessional statement known as the Augsburg Confession was created (in 1530). Article 7 defined the church as “the congregation of the saints in which the gospel is rightly taught and the sacraments are rightly administered.” This type of sentiment has been echoed for centuries. In summary, and in part, the current Baptist Faith and Message (2000) says this of the church in Article 6. A church consists of believers who:

• come together because of their faith

• to share in fellowship of the gospel

• observing both baptism and the Lord's Supper in a respectful manner.

Yet, in our day, we have turned church into a place instead of a people. There is a history to this (largely based on the German word kirche), but again, that is too much for this entry.

So, church is not a place, it is a people gathered for a purpose. If that is the case, what is the purpose? In Part 2, three of Jesus' statements about His church will be briefly examined.