Once again, we are in the process of receiving new members into our fellowship at All Saints. The idea of church membership isn’t one that the modern church made up but one we find in Scripture. It is true enough that we don’t have a verse we can quote that commands, “Thou shalt be a member of a church!” However, it is quite clear when we read Scripture as a whole that church membership is assumed. In the Old Testament, the people of God were set apart from everyone else. And gentiles who wished to belong to this set apart group were absolutely welcomed to join. There was even a formal process. The head of the household, along with all the males in the household, had to receive the sign of membership: circumcision (Exodus 12:43-49). In so doing, they not only openly identified themselves with Israel and entered into the blessings of being an Israelite, but they also came under the law of Israel. So we see a clear pattern in the Old Testament of a set apart people and a formal process to join that people—a process that resulted in gaining the blessings and also coming under the authority of the community.

"Yes, but that was the Old Testament!” Indeed, some things have changed but some things haven’t. There is still a people of God in the world set apart from the world. And those who are not a part of that people become a part of that people by confessing faith and repenting of their sins. They then join the fellowship of the saints in a visible way by baptism, the new sign of membership. This fellowship is not merely spiritual as some wish to argue. The New Testament is full of language that defeats such an argument. For example, when Paul entered a city on a missionary journey and preached the gospel, what did he do with the converts? He gathered them together into a fellowship that met together, joined to one another not only spiritually but in the flesh by their common faith. He then gave this community instructions about how they were to love and care for one another, both spiritually and physically. When someone sinned and would not repent, he gave clear and forceful instructions: put him out of the congregation (1 Corinthians 5:1–8)! These are just a few brief examples. According to the New Testament, there is still a people of God set apart. That people is still marked off as a real community. Those who wish to be part of that community are still marked by a sign of their membership: baptism. And being a member still ushers you in to both the blessings of membership in that community and brings you under the authority of that community.

If you have been visiting with us for very long, please give serious consideration to joining our fellowship. Of course, by faith and repentance, you already belong to Christ and therefore the people of God! But God, in his perfect wisdom, has given us to one another in local communities that we may better love one another. No community is perfect, and All Saints is no exception. If you have worshipped with us for a while, though, perhaps it's time to stop dating the church and make a commitment. We are ready to commit ourselves to you! If you’d like to know more about membership, please email me (mbradley@allsaintspres.net) or any other member of the session. We’d love to discuss it with you.

Your fellow servant of Christ,
Pastor Matt