On My Mind...
I said last week in my article that we will be appointing our study group at our next business meeting on October 15. I said that this was a very important matter as we will review our existing documents to make sure we are clear on what it means to be a member and what we are to be about as a church. This is not a “rewrite” or a whole-sale revision but a clarification on a few points with the goal of making membership meaningful. Well, what does is the meaning of meaningful membership? If membership was merely joining an organization, then that would be a simple matter of checking the box. “Yes, I joined. I’m a member of the club.” That is not the biblical picture. Rather, the Scripture speaks of covenant. To be in covenant means to assume obligations. Think of all the “one another” passages in the New Testament. We are responsible to and for one another. To bear one another’s burdens, to spur one another on to love and good deeds, to lovingly confront one another’s sins.
Think about the metaphors in Scripture for the church. The church is a body, a temple, and a family. As a body we are connected in a vital, essential way to one another. As Christians, we do not live isolated or independent from others. You are a hand, or foot, an adrenal gland or an eye. Of course, those parts are only healthy and useful if they are connected to the body. They can’t live cut off from the body. Paul speaks of the Church as the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Peter calls us living stones that build up a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-5). The point again being the necessity of our being joined together as the dwelling place of God. We are a family. Obviously, a family is not names on a document. A family is a network of relationships and obligations. A sharing of life. Taken together this means that membership means having a vital connection to one another. The church is not an “add on” or option but a necessity. If it is a necessity, it is critical that we clearly understand who/what we are and how we are to work together.
This study group is going to help us clarify some important questions as we seek to take seriously what it means to live together as the church. While all will have many opportunities to give input, those who serve on this study group need to be folks who are deeply committed and involved in the life of our church. Folks who have demonstrated, over time, genuine commitment to the life and wellbeing of the church. This is why we are recommending that 4 of the 7 members come from the deacon body. We ask that you prayerful consider the 3 to be appointed at the meeting. Thank you for your prayers and I look forward to our meeting on the 15th.
I will see you Sunday for worship. Have a blessed week!
Rod
Think about the metaphors in Scripture for the church. The church is a body, a temple, and a family. As a body we are connected in a vital, essential way to one another. As Christians, we do not live isolated or independent from others. You are a hand, or foot, an adrenal gland or an eye. Of course, those parts are only healthy and useful if they are connected to the body. They can’t live cut off from the body. Paul speaks of the Church as the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Peter calls us living stones that build up a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-5). The point again being the necessity of our being joined together as the dwelling place of God. We are a family. Obviously, a family is not names on a document. A family is a network of relationships and obligations. A sharing of life. Taken together this means that membership means having a vital connection to one another. The church is not an “add on” or option but a necessity. If it is a necessity, it is critical that we clearly understand who/what we are and how we are to work together.
This study group is going to help us clarify some important questions as we seek to take seriously what it means to live together as the church. While all will have many opportunities to give input, those who serve on this study group need to be folks who are deeply committed and involved in the life of our church. Folks who have demonstrated, over time, genuine commitment to the life and wellbeing of the church. This is why we are recommending that 4 of the 7 members come from the deacon body. We ask that you prayerful consider the 3 to be appointed at the meeting. Thank you for your prayers and I look forward to our meeting on the 15th.
I will see you Sunday for worship. Have a blessed week!
Rod