CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Church membership is one of the greatest privileges a man can enjoy upon the earth. If a local church is as it should be, it is a fellowship of believers around the gospel of Christ. It is a family whose hearts are all united around one Object, the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a kingdom under the rule of Christ. It is an army, loyal to seeking and maintaining the honor and glory of Christ. It is a brotherhood of love, joy, and peace. What a privilege it is to be a member of such a society! And where there are great privileges, there are great responsibilities.

                Church membership involves much more than being baptized and having your name placed on the church register. It involves COMMITMENT: Commitment to one another--Commitment to the gospel of Christ--Commitment to the glory of Christ. Church membership also involves LOVE. The church of Christ is a family, a family of love. Our ties to the family of God ought to be stronger than any natural family ties we may have. The bonds which knit us together are the blood of Christ, the Spirit of Christ, and the love of Christ. Sincere brotherly love is patient, longsuffering, forgiving, and kind. In this family of God love is our covenant, the gospel is our creed, and faith is our strength. And church membership involves SUBMISSION: Submission of my rights--Submission of my opinions--Submission of my desires. I am talking about submission to Christ, submission to the Word of God, submission to my brethren, and submission to the gospel.