Church Membership
At Messiah, we recognize the need for
formal membership. We believe formal membership in a local church is important
for four reasons.
BIBLICAL
REASON:
Christ is committed to the church.
Ephesians 5:25 states, "Christ loved the church, and gave His life for
her." Membership in a local church is an important step in
demonstrating our commitment to Christ.
CULTURAL
REASON:
We live in an age where very few want
to be committed to anything...a job, a marriage or family. This attitude has
produced a generation of "church hoppers and
shoppers." Membership swims against the current of America's consumer
mentality and is an antidote to society. Membership sets us apart from the
culture, allowing us to preserve our distinctive Christian beliefs and values.
PRACTICAL
REASON:
Membership identifies our community and
family. It defines who can be entrusted with positions of leadership within the
church.
PERSONAL
REASON:
Membership produces
spiritual growth. The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for
Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. A person
cannot be accountable when they are not committed to any specific church
family. We desire to belong to the body of Christ, to connect and grow
together, to be a part of God's bigger plan for our lives.
As you visit our
church, we pray that you will consider all the benefits and privileges of
membership to a local community of believers. Our prayer is that you will join
us in our commitment to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
Membership classes are
held periodically and are a wonderful time to hear about Messiah's
distinctives, mission, vision, and values; what it means to be a Christian and
to be a member of a church, and why it matters. At Messiah, we recognize
the need for formal membership. As part of the membership process, we will
discuss baptism and communion instruction.