The Membership
One of the marks of a Christian is that they belong - to Christ and to one another. The beloved Heidelberg Catechism says that we are not our own, but we belong body and soul, in life and in death to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. The upshot of belonging to Christ is that we belong to one another as members of His body (Romans 12:5; Colossians 1:24; I Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12; etc…). While this is absolutely universal in that we belong to all Christians throughout the world, this is also given expression in the local church. We see such belonging biblically in Philippi, Colossae, and Ephesus. Today, this belonging is given expression in local congregations such as Christ Church. I have been reflecting on this membership as we prepare to receive several new members this Sunday by means of profession of faith and through baptism.
So what are affirming when we join a local church? We are affirming that we recognize that we are God’s glorious creations in need of renewal because His image in us has been shattered. We are affirming that it is only through the finished work of Christ that we have any hope of finding the renewal needed. We further affirm that our healing and renewal is a daily journey of grounding ourselves in gospel promises which tell us we are forgiven, adopted as daughters and sons, and that we are being healed, renewed, and equipped for life in Him. And particularly in mind this week, we also affirm that our healing and renewal depends upon life in community as a member of Jesus’ bride, the Church.
It is within this membership that the Spirit molds and shapes us. It is because we are created in the image of an intensely relational God that we must refuse to live out our Christianity alone. When we are in pain or struggling, it is incumbent on us to reach out and receive the care that the Body would offer us. Conversely, we must continually seek out those whose situations preclude reaching out. It is within our membership that our deep need for the gospel is exposed. We find in the membership that we both wound and are wounded; we offend and are offended. But it is as we engage these hurts with the truths of the gospel that we remember that it is Christ’s sufficiency which is the shining reality that marks us, as opposed to our perfections or our shortfalls. It is for the glory of this gospel that we must commit not to withdraw when offended, but rather to engage with grace and be a gospel maker-of-peace.
All this sounds great in print. But, it is in the realities of life in a current pandemic, life fraught with political and cultural tensions, life touched by cancer, job loss, and wayward children where we need to lean into our Savior and trust that "greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4). I am so glad to belong to such a membership. And incidentally this is not an exclusive club, at least not in the way many think. This membership boasts homecoming queens and former drag queens. This membership includes people for whom life seems easy and charmed, and delights in welcoming the broken and bruised, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Regardless of the path that brings you to the membership, with a surrendered heart to Jesus and public proclamation of resting in His love, you will find a seat at His table. So if you haven't taken your place yet, we are holding your spot, eager for you to join!
photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash