THE TRUTH IN PRINT
August 2003, Vol. 9: Issue 7
A Publication of the Valley
(928) 539-7089
WHAT ONE NEGLECTS IN NOT PLACING MEMBERSHIP
By Bob W. Lovelace
Here is a brief outline for your review. How can members of the
church ask the appropriate questions about membership if they don't know the
organization, purpose and work of the local church as taught in the New
Testament?
The
1. Agreement to Worship & Work Together: Acts
11:18.
2. Placement Under a Common Oversight: Acts
Heb. 13:17; I Cor. 11:3; I Tim. 2:12; I Cor. 11:3;
it is the men who have charge of the congregation, I Cor. 11:3;
3. The Pooling their own Resources into a Common Treasury: Phil. 4:15; Acts
4:34-37; 5:1-4; I Cor. 16:1-3.
4. Working to Accomplish a Common Purpose (Work) or Goal:
a. The Work of Edification through teaching, worship, and discipline of
unruly members: I Cor. 14:26; Acts 20:7; Eph. 5:19-21; Col. 3:16; I Cor. 5; I
Th.
5:14; 2 Th. 3:6, 14.
b. The Work of Evangelism: I Thes. 1:8; Phil. 4:15; I
Cor. 9:14; 2 Cor. 11:8.
c. The Work of Benevolence to Needy Saints: Acts
Dear reader many are seeing and discussing a pattern manifesting
itself among those who are members of the church. That pattern is simply that
Christians are not seeking to be identified with the local church where they
locate. These are often young Christians who move elsewhere or who move about
frequently. The same is said concerning some who are older as well. Why do you
think this is taking place? Could they be so untaught that they see no
spiritual need? Or is this because of selfishness and carnal lusts?
When Membership Is Neglected By Having Made
Provision For The Flesh:
Here deciding not to place membership includes a sufficient
amount of
pre-planning and forethought within one's own mind. Hear Paul, "But
put ye on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the
lusts thereof" (Romans
forethought, that is, provident care or supply: - providence, provision"
(Strong's
definitions). In Thayer's Definitions it says: 1) forethought, providential
care
2) to make provision for a thing. Paul is discussing something that is
intentionally planned wherein one makes a place for it. The convenience of
having planned to not place membership opens a multitude of opportunities to do
non-spiritual things and sinful things with that amount of time that would be
spent
fulfilling collective duties. Need I say more?
It has been my experience through the years to become acquainted
with
young adults, especially those in the military, who really have no intention of
establishing themselves with a local congregation where they are stationed.
Parents often distressed over knowing that their children have not bothered to
inform them as to where they are worshipping will at times call and ask for
assistance in getting them to church. The ho-hum attitude on the part of these
young adults, being Christians, is astounding to the same degree as their
apparent rebellion against God and His word! (Heb. 10:24-25). There is not a
more empty feeling for parents who desire faithfulness on the part of their
children than to experience this. Moreover, sometimes the parent exhibits a
lack of knowledge as well in making excuses for their disobedient child. As one
parent
said upon learning of her son's non-attendance, "Well he's just having fun
right
now." Of all things! But we must never make a game of this. Let's face it,
young adults being adults know "what" they are doing and they know
"why" they
desire to do it. Beloved, when young Christians leave worship and
collective
responsibility "out" they put the world "in." Do not kid
yourself in thinking
otherwise! How could it be otherwise when they do not care for the strength and
support that God intended be provided by the local body? You see, they have no
one watching for their soul and that makes it all the more easy for them to
continue in sinful things (see I Thes. 5:11-14).
Not Placing Membership Is An Enticing Worldly
Advantage Offering Exemptions To Collective Responsibilities & Actions:
First, look at the pattern that Paul, an apostle, established as
recorded
in Acts. First, having been introduced to the
disciples at
with them at
Barnabas brought him to
assembled with the church and taught a great many people" (Acts
Acts 13:1 tells us some of those who were "in the church," and it
includes
Barnabas, Paul and others. You see, God gave a certain organization for
assembling together and that is the local church (see Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25; I
Pet. 5:1-3, here we see membership by necessary inference; I Cor. 1:2,
"the church of God which is at Corinth"; Phil. 1:1 "to all the
saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi"; Rom. 16:1, "Phoebe… a
servant of the church that is in Cenchrea,"
etc.). Question: What church are you presently a member of? Why?
Now, about those who desire a worldly advantage offering
exemptions for
collective responsibilities and actions entailed in an
agreement to worship and
work together, and that through a pooling of resources into a collective
treasury. Here one can but write the script with little difficulty.
"MY schedule
is MINE and I (the big "I") do not have the obligation others have as
regards
to assembly times," such will be thinking. Special considerations others
give
to work, recreation and vacation time are no problem here!
As regards "giving" liberally, as in the church at
Corinth (2 Cor. 9:1-11), isn't it safe to say that one who does not recognize
collective responsibility in membership spends their money on their own selfish
desires? Of course it is!
And isn't it amazing how "church discipline" (I Cor.
5:1-5) is negated from a collective basis?
Consider The Effect Not Placing Membership Has Upon
Others:
What effect does it have upon one's own family, both immediate and
distant? How are you going to influence them without commitment to God's
organization that He ordained (Acts
Slothful Christian, how much do you sound like the religious
world at large when you talk to others about Christ? When someone asks
about the church you belong to and you reply, "I'm currently visiting at
the _____
they know how long you've lived in the community!
Now turn that opportunity around and see it in light of
fulfilling your duty to the Lord via local church membership. Your whole reply
will be meaningful as far as helping to bring one to the Lord. You can tell
them where you are a member. You can explain why God ordained the local church
and collective action therein. Moreover, here is an opportunity for you to
explain briefly the point of collective responsibility versus
"individualism," and those false religious philosophies that cry out
against "organized religion" as they say.
Hey! Are you with them in reality?
What kind of invitation do you have to offer for them to visit
with you
at church? You can't say come and visit with "us" because you are not
a part of
the local church. What would you look like should they ask for someone from
the church to visit with them, thus seeking further truth? Just imagine a
scenario where such is the case and the church "member" tells the
respondent that the one who invited him to come and hear is neglectful in
faithfulness to God.
Don't think for one minute that those who chose not be members of
a local
congregation never have these insights and thoughts. These things do add up
in one's mind. I find it difficult to think that those who do not place
membership work hard at bringing others to Christ, if for no other reason than
their simply being ashamed on their own part.
There is no sense in beating around the bush on this, for under
most
circumstance those who are neglectful of "membership" display for the
most part
poor attendance, poor giving (how do you desire to give to a local church when
your obligation is not even there to give?), poor evangelistic efforts to bring
others to Christ, and a mighty poor example for their family members,
immediate and distant.
Note: Note:
Click here
to study more about local church membership at our On Line Bible Correspondence
Course, Fundamental Lessons on the Church, Lesson Four Part One of Two,
"God's Divine Organization ~ The Local Church."