When an individual is saved, they become a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Because he is united to Christ and the other members of the body in this way, he is therefore qualified to become a member of a local expression of that body.
To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include receiving instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 Pet. 4:10-11), participating in the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42), and proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matt. 28:18-20). In addition, when one becomes a member of a church, he submits himself to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified elders that God has placed in that assembly.
In a day when commitment is a rare commodity, it should come as no surprise that church membership is such a low priority to so many believers. Sadly, it is not uncommon for Christians to move from church to church, never submitting themselves to the care of elders and never committing themselves to a group of fellow believers.
To neglect—or to refuse—to join a church as a formal member, however, reflects a misunderstanding of the believer’s responsibility to the body of Christ. And it also cuts one off from the many blessings and opportunities that flow from this commitment. It is essential for every Christian to understand what church membership is and why it matters.
“If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)
The first requirement for church membership is salvation. Every person who presents themselves for membership must be saved and living a exemplary lifestyle that mirrors the moral and ethical standards of Christian living as outlined within the scriptures of the Bible.
The question is asked, “Why be baptized to join a local church?” First, because of the example of the early Christians. Those who believed were baptized (Acts 2:41).
Second, all who professed faith were considered members of the local church where they served, and all who were baptized were considered part of the local body of Christ.
Since, all who professed Christ were baptized and considered a part of the fellowship, there was a strong tie between baptism and church membership. The third reason is the symbol which baptism gives of the identification in the death, burial, and resurrection, of being with Christ (Rom. 6:4-5).
Therefore, a Christian should give testimony by being placed in water as a sign of being identified in the death and resurrection of Christ. In the Bible narrative, all of those who professed faith were baptized before they were added to the church.
What is Doctrine?
The doctrine of a local church is the beliefs, or set of beliefs, held by the church as the best (or right) way to do things. Doctrine reflects the culture of a church and the understanding of how those beliefs relate to the members roles and responsibilities.
According to scriptures, immediately after conversion, a new Christian was taught “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Any who rejected the gospel was rejected by the church (Titus 3:10).
The short answer is, that we want you to know what we believe and what the local church’s expectations are; before you enter into a covenant relationship with us at Vienna Church of God.
So, prior to joining our congregation we ask that you will join us in a three-week overview of our church’s doctrinal beliefs and practical teachings.
SUNDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
Childcare provided for ages 0-12 on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Phone: (229) 947-9841
Vienna Church of God
420 6th Street
Vienna, GA 31092