Members of God’s Household
I want to spend a moment this morning talking about church membership.
First, lets get on the same page of what we are talking about when we use the word membership. The word is used quite often in our current context. And maybe along with the church membership, what pops into your head might be something like a membership to Costco, or to Lifetime, maybe a country club or a private golf course.
The main idea behind memberships in our society is to convey certain material benefits that members are entitled to, that the rest of the public is not. It is primarily about the stuff you get, and secondarily, if at all, about the communal benefit. Take, for example, Costco. I really doubt anyone here has a Costco membership, because you really like the community at Costco.
The image conveyed by the word membership, is that you are one part of a body. Whether an eye, a hand, a foot, or an ear. The image of the body shows that there is one body that members are a part of, and that those parts are dependent on one another. The eye, or hand or heart cannot function right on their own.
The church is described as the body of Christ, with each of us being members of the body. The church is also described as one big family, the household of God. We likewise can say that we are members of God's household. And this image stands in contrast with memberships like Costco. Societal memberships give us material benefit, but membership to a church gives us spiritual benefit.
The importance of your physical family is prominent in all of scripture. But, Jesus also speaks with striking clarity about the spiritual family of God.
Jesus, when told his mother and brothers were looking for him, responds and says:
Matthew 12:48–50, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
The language of brother and sister actually ties to an eternal reality, it isn’t just fun language to show close friendship. You will see and hear this later today in the baptisms. It is an acknowledgment of the ultimate and lasting family of God.
And if you have experienced new birth in Christ, you are part of this family. It’s not a matter of if you are in the family or not, it is a matter of if you will participate in the family, or not.
Are you living as an estranged family member? Or have you decided to commit to, and participate in, a local church?
You may object and say, yes I am in the family of God, the universal church made up of all believers, in all places, at all times.
That is true, but to stop there neglects the overwhelming thrust of the Bible to link arms with a local church. Out of all the mentions of the church in the Bible, over 75% of them are talking about a local, specific congregation, and it could be higher depending on some text that could go either way. Each church is given elders to shepherd the flock that is among them. Not just whoever happens to be around on any given day. But the flock that is among them, that are fellow members of the body.
The commands of Jesus are tangible, they involve consistent relationship with one another for them to be obeyed. The church is manifestly local. And the church is a family in a way that your kids school, or your old college buddies, or your current seminary class, is not.
The exhortation this morning is not meant to be a word to produce guilt, but it is an invitation. An invitation to come into the family, all the way in. There is room in our family and hearts for you, even if there isn’t always a seat in here for you. Join a group of people that want to worship Jesus, care for one another, and seek the good of our neighbors and city.
To join a church is to say, I believe in Jesus and want to follow him, I also want to help you follow him, and want you to help me follow him as well. A church made up of in-progress people, with in-progress leaders, committed to helping each other find their hope and joy and strength in Christ alone. Don’t live as an estranged member of the family. Learn what you need to learn, and then come join the family. For your joy and progress in Christ.
Would you pray with me…
Father, we know that many in this room are members of this church. But whether we are members or not, we all can think too little of the value and glory of your local churches. Churches in which Jesus is the chief shepherd of, and died for. The local church is a gift, that is greater than we realize, and it helps us comprehend the glory and the goodness of you Jesus. You have ransomed not just individuals, but a diverse people to be together with you for eternity. We confess that we can view your church as one good thing among many, rather than see the eternal family you are building. We also at times can look to the church to meet our personal preferences, rather than coming to worship you and love those around us. Forgive us, as we confess these sins, and others sins, in this moment of silence…
Father, now would you help us to see and be amazed, that not only do we get to worship you, but we get to worship you together. Help us to be mindful of those around us. That we have a community of people right next to us that were dead in their sins, but have been made alive by the grace of Jesus. Father you adopted us all as sons and daughters into your family. We praise you that we can sing, and pray, and learn alongside each other. Thank you Jesus for saving us, Amen.