Membership & Baptism
Becoming a member of New Life
Members of New Life have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and believe that He truly is the Savior of, and Lord over, all creation. They involve themselves in this expression of Christ’s body through worship, genuine fellowship, and active ministry, using their God-given gifts to glorify God and strengthen His children through ministries that involve reconciliation and restoration.
Getting started!
- Foundations Class Attend a ‘Foundations Class’ to learn more about New Life and become active in its ministries.
- Interview Schedule a brief meeting with the pastor and an elder.
- Baptism If you (or your child/children) have never been baptized, this is the time!
Everyone who desires to be part of New Life vows to commit to the following…
- Do you believe the Bible, Old and New Testaments, to be the Word of God and its doctrine of salvation to be the only true doctrine of salvation?
- Do you confess that because of your sinfulness, you humble yourself before God, and that you trust for salvation not in yourself but in the Lord Jesus Christ alone?
- Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your sovereign Lord and do you promise in reliance on the grace of God to serve Him with all that is in you, to oppose all sin – both that which remains within you and that in the world around you – and to lead a Christ-like life?
- Do you promise to support this church with your prayer, talent, substance and participation as the Lord allows; seek its peace, purity and growth; and in your relations with others to endeavor to model Christ’s self-sacrificing love?
- Do you agree to give the elders of this church your encouragement, submission and prayers, recognizing that they have been called by God to keep watch over the flock and must give account to Him for their ministry?
Why Membership in a Church?
If you are among those who are struggling with the idea of ‘membership’ in the church, consider these things. To be a member of a church is to make a public promise to live according to the Word and to support the work of that church. In the Bible this is called a covenant. Every believer is part of the church as organism (the Spiritual Body of Christ), but only by a public promise can you be part of the church as organization. A public promise, or covenant, is the basis for all society, according to the Bible: marriage, employment, citizenship, church membership, etc., are all relationships of accountability.
Membership in a church is not like membership in a social club or other organizations. Most organization members are consumers; the organization exists to serve them. The Church of Christ is a completely different community – membership means ministry and service, going from being a consumer to becoming an agent of God’s love and care to others through reconciling and restoring the three forms of relationships that are found in the world (your relationship with God, with others, and with creation). At New Life, we take seriously that we are a church not for ourselves, but for others.
The Bible teaches that those who are Christians are members of one body, the body of Christ (see Ephesians 4.25, 5.30, Colossians 3.15). As people in the New Testament came to a new life in Christ, they joined themselves to the church in their city, town or village. Membership is not a piece of paper; it is a relationship with Christ and His people. Membership to the body reflects a humble and sincere commitment to the fellowship. Anyone who is fully functioning as a member of Christ’s body in this fellowship, giving of time, energy and resources to God’s work in a consistent manner, is encouraged to join this expression of Christ’s Church.
The New Testament reveals that all who believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior and the King of the world were baptized into the name of God—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28.19). If you and/or your children have not been baptized, this is your time!
Many benefits of a vital congregation are available to anyone who becomes involved, members or not. But there is a rationale for formal membership(1):
1. Scripture indicates church membership in New Testament times
Church in the NT usually meant a specific local church like that at Ephesus or Corinth. Did people actually join local churches formally, or was it an informal association? Here are five indications:
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The Biblical metaphors used to describe local churches
Flock, temple, body, and household are used specifically of local churches (Acts 20, Ephesians 2, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Timothy 3). Each of these metaphors has a clear distinction of who is part of the church, and who isn’t.
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The meaning of “the whole church”
In 1 Cor 14:23, Paul says “if the whole church comes together in one place…” How would the leaders know if the “whole church” was there if no formal relationship was established?
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The instructions for pastoral oversight and spiritual leadership
Pastors/overseers/shepherds were to care for “all the flock” (Acts 20:28, cf. 1 Timothy 3, Acts 20, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1). Leaders of the citywide churches must have had some listing of believers. Since leaders were accountable for the souls of the flock under their care (Hebrews 13:17), they must have had some commitment for care.
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The meaning of the word “join”
After the fiery end of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:13, no non-Christians “dared join them [the church], but the people esteemed them highly.” The Greek word for join has strong connotations of commitment. The same word is used to speak of sexual relationships (1 Corinthians 6:16) and joining to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17).
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The instructions for church discipline
Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 5 talk about putting a person out of the church (‘remove’ NASB, ‘expel’ NIV) and treating him like an unbeliever. Since unbelievers were welcome at worship, removal must have indicated a distinct formal association.
“In the New Testament there is no such person as a Christian who is not a church member. Conversion was described as ‘the Lord adding to the church’ (Acts 2:47). There was no spiritual drifting.”
Douglas Millar
2. Biblical reasons for joining a church
- You have the benefit of receiving the care of, and being accountable to, spiritual leaders. Believers are called to “obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls” (Hebrews 13:17). This command assumes that you have a covenant with certain spiritual leaders. They are responsible for you and you to them. Some people may say, “I am accountable only to God.” Ultimately, only God has authority over you. But the reality of sin should sober us about making ourselves the sole judges over our own hearts: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Hebrews 3:13 says we need others to exhort us “daily” lest we become hardened by sin.
- You have the benefits of church power to shape the ministry of the congregation. Members choose officers and guide the direction of the congregation. Officers are elected by “the people” (Acts 6:1-6). Formal membership entitles you to voting rights within the government of our church. While congregational meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend, only members may pass resolutions, vote for changes to the by-laws or nominate and elect the officers. Members officially call the pastors to the work of the church and recommend the annual budget to the Elders.
- You are not ashamed to identify with Christ or His people (Mark 8:38).
- You stop being an independent Christian (Matthew 18:15-17, Hebrews 13:17).
- You participate in a stronger, more unified effort of God’s people.
- You have greater opportunities to use spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4).
- You openly demonstrate the reality of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).
- You encourage new believers to a commitment to the local body (Hebrews 10:24f).
- Informal membership privileges may include priority in pastoral and private counseling, church ceremonies such as marriage, and opportunities to lead church ministries or serve as church officers. Members may have their infant children baptized into the covenant family as well.
(1) Adapted from Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church, 1996.
To learn more about becoming a member of New Life, feel free to speak with the pastor or one of the elders. They would be happy to answer your questions!