As a pastor and a lifelong church man, I’m concerned about the
increasing tendency among young evangelicals to dismiss church
attendance as irrelevant to spiritual growth. Today, my friend, Dave
Jenkins shares five biblical reasons for being a member of a local
bible-believing church. Dave is as pastoral intern and blogger and the
director of Servants of Grace Ministries.
The belief that professing Christians should gather together as
members of a local Church in is waning many sectors of Christianity
today. Some feel that faith shouldn’t be “institutionalized” and should
be a private matter between individuals, not something to be experienced
in community.
Here are five reasons why I feel Christians should be members of a
local church. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these reasons give
Christians a biblical framework to think through why they should be
members of a local Church.
First, The Bible clearly teaches that God made a distinction between His people and the world (Lev 13:46
; Number 5:3; Deut. 7:3). Christ says that entering the Kingdom of God means being bound to the Church “on earth” (Matthew 16:16-19; 18:17-19). The New Testament refers to some people being inside the church and some people being outside the church. (1 Cor. 5:12-13).
The church in Corinth consisted of a definite number of believers, such
that Paul could speak of a punishment inflicted by the majority (2 Cor. 2:6).
Not only does the New Testament speak of the reality of church
membership, but its dozens of “one another” passages are written to
local churches. The “one another” passages in the New Testament fill out
our understanding of what church members should look like practically.
Biblical church membership is important, because the church presents
God’s witness to Himself in the world, and displays His glory. In the
church’s membership, then non-Christians should see in the lives of
God’s changed people that God is holy and gracious and that His gospel
is powerful for saving and transforming sinners. Continue at Daniel Darling
; Number 5:3; Deut. 7:3). Christ says that entering the Kingdom of God means being bound to the Church “on earth” (Matthew 16:16-19; 18:17-19). The New Testament refers to some people being inside the church and some people being outside the church. (1 Cor. 5:12-13).
The church in Corinth consisted of a definite number of believers, such
that Paul could speak of a punishment inflicted by the majority (2 Cor. 2:6).
Not only does the New Testament speak of the reality of church
membership, but its dozens of “one another” passages are written to
local churches. The “one another” passages in the New Testament fill out
our understanding of what church members should look like practically.
Biblical church membership is important, because the church presents
God’s witness to Himself in the world, and displays His glory. In the
church’s membership, then non-Christians should see in the lives of
God’s changed people that God is holy and gracious and that His gospel
is powerful for saving and transforming sinners. Continue at Daniel Darling
No comments:
Post a Comment