Confusion reigns in the religious world about church membership. The typical reference is join a church of your choice and then whichever group is chosen, the supplicant has to conform to whatever rituals and doctrines are required for becoming a member of that group. The one accepted doctrinal practice is the ecumenical doctrine of accepting any person who expresses some belief in God and Jesus Christ when moving from one church to another. Otherwise, a new member must follow the doctrine taught for joining a given church.

Lost in all the dogma and words is the reason for the church and what the Bible says about it. Paul wrote to the brethren at Corinth: [1 Corinthians 12:27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. The members of the church of our Lord are his body and are instructed to carry on the work of the ministry he set in motion before ascending into heaven. He wrote to the Ephesians the following: [Eph 2:19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [Eph 2:20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [Eph 2:21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [Eph 2:22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Members of the church aren’t strangers, being members of the household of God and are the place of God in a church's life through the spirit.

The Lord's body is unique and no one joins it as is taught by many churches. The teaching for being a member of the Lord’s body is that one is convicted of sin, wishes to be saved, and to live a different kind of life. But to many, the teaching for the necessity of baptism which begins the new life in Christ is being dogmatic, narrow minded, and old fashioned to name a few of the attitudes people hold. [Rom 6:3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [Rom 6:4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Not one word can be found in scripture that speaks about joining a church. To the Galatians he wrote: [Gal 3:27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Being baptized into Christ makes one a member of the body and being clothed in Christ means that sin and its stain are hidden from God.

What passes for Christendom and much of its teaching, when compared to the Bible, is an abomination to God. At some point in time humans discarded the scriptures that weren’t popular and substituted false doctrines. Verses are lifted out of context to prove some point or teaching of doctrine that usually proves to be false, and many are about how to “join a church” which can’t be found in scripture. Paul told Timothy that false teachings would abound. [1 Tim 4:1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [1 Tim 4:2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [1 Tim 4:3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Such doctrines of the devil are very much in evidence today.

The question is where do men find the authority to change the teachings of the Bible about how to be saved and thus become a member of the body of Christ, the church?  There is none but they continue to speak as if they have found it and are leading people astray as the result. As Paul told Timothy: [1 Tim 4:16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.  Just joining a church won’t save anyone, but following the doctrines taught in scripture will put into effect the promise of salvation and makes one a member of God’s body and an heir to the promise of eternal life.

© 07-09-2006 DEC

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