Church Membership Series
"What's in it for fellow Christians?"
Part 2 of 3
Editor's Note: This series provides a look at church membership from three different perspectives. Thereby, I aim to address three sincere questions that people have regarding church membership as well as provide progressively better questions for the inquirer. My first article addressed the question, “What’s in it for me?” This article escalates the question from a me-centric question to an other-centric question: “What’s the benefit of church membership for fellow Christians?”
Many of our hesitations to identify with a local church are demonstrably me-centric. Excuses like, “but I’m moving away shortly,” “I’m a member of a church in another place,” “I get all the discipleship I need from online ministries,” or “I don’t think that membership can help me to follow Christ” are merely derivatives of a singular conviction. Namely, if church membership exists, then itmust exist to serve me. This betrays an assumed narcissism; the 21st Century’s primary reference point - the self - has distorted many Christians’ understanding of church membership. If you agree that the me-centric view of church membership is flawed, let’s narrow our research question even further. Since we are discussing one person joining a church, then we must rephrase our question to reflect the addition of that one person to a group of other Christians. How about this: “What thing has God given me for other Christians, and where do I express it?”
These things that the Lord gives Christians for other Christians are called spiritual gifts, and a letter to some first-century elect exiles (1 Pet 1:1) might help us to arrive at a better synthesis of church membership and loving other Christians.
These things that the Lord gives Christians for other Christians are called spiritual gifts, and a letter to some first-century elect exiles (1 Pet 1:1) might help us to arrive at a better synthesis of church membership and loving other Christians.
«Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.»
1 Peter 4:10-11
CSB
The Objective of Spiritual Gifts
Loving others through service
1 Peter shows us that whatever spiritual gifts are, they do not exist for us individually. Teaching gifts are not for the glory of the teacher. Gifts of mercy are not for the praise of the one who shows mercy. Gifts of exhortation do not exist to incite guffaw in the church at the wisdom of the exhorter. All gifts exist to serve others (Eph 4:12). This is how God is glorified within the church body: by a kaleidoscope of spirit-indwelled unique believers who bear with one another’s weaknesses and benefit from one another’s gifts (Eph 4:16; 1 Cor 12:11-12). This is how we fulfill the “one-anothers” of Scripture: we follow the example of our Lord as we love one another through service and give and receive sound teaching.
Question:
How are teaching and serving gifts discerned?
Answer:
Glad you asked! If we are to follow the Apostle Peter’s teaching, this raises a few questions. Both of the gifts that Peter highlights, speaking and serving, are actually nonsensical without the presence of other believers, and also, beyond a certain degree, they require formal recognition. For example, all believers ought to teach the Bible to one another within the bounds of certain gender roles (Col 3:16; 1 Tim 2:12); but those who oversee, shepherd, and model Christian maturity are formally recognized as elders (1 Pet 5:1-4).
We need to look no further than 1 Peter 4:10 to see that Peter enjoins “each one” to service and not merely a select group. Moreover though, serving the church in a unique and visible way is the definition of being a deacon (from διάκονος/diakonos meaning servant). The fact that deacons are set aside by an act of the church following the Holy Spirit gives us an obvious precedent: certain spiritual gifts in individuals are discerned and recognized by the local church (Acts 13:1-3, Acts 6:1-6).
Summarizing then,
We need to look no further than 1 Peter 4:10 to see that Peter enjoins “each one” to service and not merely a select group. Moreover though, serving the church in a unique and visible way is the definition of being a deacon (from διάκονος/diakonos meaning servant). The fact that deacons are set aside by an act of the church following the Holy Spirit gives us an obvious precedent: certain spiritual gifts in individuals are discerned and recognized by the local church (Acts 13:1-3, Acts 6:1-6).
Summarizing then,
- There must be a group of Christians who benefit from the gifts of teaching and serving.
- A group recognizes individuals who speak and serve well.
- The act of recognition presupposes a group to which individuals belong.
How are Spiritual Gifts Applied?
In the context of the local church.
Certainly, most Christians recognize that spiritual gifts are not exhaustively delineated in Scripture, but when the overflow of the Spirit flows from us into others, every drop is a gift from the Spirit (i.e. a spiritual gift). These gifts are applied for the glory of God (1 Pet 4:11) and the unity of the body of believers (1 Cor 12:25-26). Fundamentally, we must recognize that spiritual gifts are simply the Spirit-given works of love that we have for the growth and sustenance of the local church.
Since a church covenant is an expression of commitment to certain “one-anothers” of Scripture, it is a summary of biblical teaching on what the Law of Christ commands regarding our actions toward fellow believers. Here is an example of one such Church Covenant. Neither this statement nor any other church covenant is exhaustive of everything that Christians ought to do for one another; but it is nonetheless a good summary - at least by my estimation. Interestingly, however, notice all the instances where some biblically named spiritual gifts could be inserted.
Since a church covenant is an expression of commitment to certain “one-anothers” of Scripture, it is a summary of biblical teaching on what the Law of Christ commands regarding our actions toward fellow believers. Here is an example of one such Church Covenant. Neither this statement nor any other church covenant is exhaustive of everything that Christians ought to do for one another; but it is nonetheless a good summary - at least by my estimation. Interestingly, however, notice all the instances where some biblically named spiritual gifts could be inserted.
- Church Covenant:“walk together in brotherly love”Spiritual Gift(s):serving, mercy, giving
- Church Covenant:"exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness
over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require."Spiritual Gift(s):serving and exhortation - Church Covenant:“endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.”Spiritual Gift(s):mercy
- Church Covenant:“work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines."Spiritual Gift(s):distinguishing between spirits
- Church Covenant:“contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church…”Spiritual Gift(s):giving, generosity
- Church Covenant:“be bound by this church’s covenant, constitution, and statement of faith in all matters pertaining to church membership and church discipline.”Spiritual Gift(s):teaching
Join a Local Church for Love's Sake
The point of our discussion is to show that loving one another is commanded by Scripture, and love is not merely a feeling for Christians, but it is an act of the will unto service (Mat 23:11-12, John 21:17, Gal 5:13, Heb 6:10). All those acts of servant love are given by the Spirit and commanded by God - that’s what church covenants express. So where will you fulfill them? Who is waiting for your covenanted servant love, Christian? The local church, that’s who. Go join one, and serve it faithfully by using everything the Spirit has given you.
This has been part 2 of a 3-part series regarding local
church membership. I also addressed what church membership does for the Christian (part 1) and an upcoming article will address what the local church does for Christ on earth (part 3).
church membership. I also addressed what church membership does for the Christian (part 1) and an upcoming article will address what the local church does for Christ on earth (part 3).
