What does it mean to be a member of the church? First and foremost, it means to be a disciple of Jesus who seeks to follow the risen Christ by loving God and one another, forgiving and praying for others, serving as Jesus showed us and taught us, and proclaiming the good news of his resurrection and God’s love for the world. The basic affirmation of faith in the early church was simply, “Jesus is Lord!” To be a church member is to make that same affirmation personal – to affirm that Jesus is Lord in your life by how you live day-to-day. Our Book of Order offers a vision for what those commitments look like in practice:
A faithful member bears witness to God’s love and grace and promises to be involved responsibly in the ministry of Christ’s Church. Such involvement includes:
- Proclaiming the good news in word and deed,
- Taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation,
- Lifting one another up in prayer, mutual concern, and active support,
- Studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life,
- Supporting the ministry of the church through the giving of money, time, and talents,
- Demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church,
- Responding to God’s activity in the world through service to others,
- Participating in the governing responsibilities of the church, and
- Reviewing and evaluating regularly the integrity of one’s membership, and considering ways in which one’s participation in the worship and service of the church may be increased and made more meaningful. (G-1.0304)
In different seasons of our lives, the shape of our responses may vary, but we can hardly call ourselves members of the church if we are not actively participating in the life of the church in some way, shape, or form. The advent of live streaming of worship and virtual participation has expanded opportunities for such committed involvement. How then are you doing as a member of Christ’s Church in this Covenant community? Are those marks of membership reflected in your life? If not, then might this be an opportune time to consider how you might commit to be a more faithful member, not in order to impress your neighbors, but in order to respond to Christ’s call? For, the church is not a club you join without any responsibilities that go with it. It is call to discipleship – and whether it is here or elsewhere, it is a call to which we respond by our actions and by our inaction. Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ is a joy and a privilege, suggests that same provision in the Book of Order. Embrace the joy!! — April 22, 2024 (John Peterson)
