The Sanctified Church Member
This week in our series on the church, the subject is church membership. I thought this aspect of the church would be the next logical step in our study since it was hoped the discussion of church ordinances would make it clear that participation in these cannot be enjoyed except in connection with church commitment. This is especially apparent with our understanding of the nature of the church. Many that have a universal invisible view would not see that it matters since their participation in church is not restricted to a particular local assembly. They enjoy privileges without responsibility.
This is truly unfortunate because acceptable service to Christ is affected by this erroneous opinion. The Bible teaches church decorum in the ordinances and the effect of church commitment upon the everyday activities of life. The Lord has expectations that are impressed upon us through the interactions of people who agree to be governed and disciplined by the church.
Recently, I read an article about a contemporary Christian musician who said he loved Christ, but he was not churchy. He explained he did not mean he disdains the fellowship of Christians in the church but that he did not want his life to be defined by what churches expect Christians to be. How he lived his life was a personal decision that may conflict with the expectations. I find this view to be unsupported by the New Testament scriptures. As such, they cannot be tolerated by the author of these scriptures.
Submission and conformity to the church are not burdensome and are two of the chief results of properly understanding sanctification. This musical artist, though vague, seemed to object to the culture of Christianity that imposes lifestyle restrictions that limit the way we talk, dress, etc. Rather, this person was comfortable with his description of what makes him a Christian. We agree that the basis of being a Christian is the relationship we have with Christ through our faith in His cleansing blood. Rather than freeing us of constraints, however, it harmonizes our thoughts with the scriptures and with a lifestyle that is congruous with them. This tends to make us act, think, dress, and talk alike. It certainly will not result in our undesirable separation from our fellow Christians. It is Satan’s work to divide the church. There is no virtue or spiritual heroism by rejecting conformity in favor of the individualistic mantra of “be true to yourself.” Christians are called to be true to Christ.
The pitfalls of conformity are found in the extremes of sanctification teachings. On one end are those we have just discussed. These are people who refuse to submit because they work their sanctification out of the satisfying influences of their subjective feelings. They desire to promote self and a Christ that is never convicting but always agrees with self.
On the other side of the spectrum are those who are theologically confused and manifest it by reversing sanctification and justification. Rather than sanctification being proof of justification, they confuse the order to make sanctification the means of obtaining justification. They tend to be law-leaning Pharisees who never met a rule they did not like. Ultimately, both are hooked into the same satanic deception. They trust their ability rather than surrendering to the Lord’s authority.
The least we can say about church membership is that it helps us plow straight rows in the middle ground of these extremes. Yes, we must submit and conform but not to our preferences. The scriptures are not vague about how Christians are expected to live. Every New Testament epistle teaches doctrine with a practical response to the doctrine. The practical is our sanctification. It is unequivocally clear what we must do. Submitting to the authority of the church is always a major step in the definition of what it means to love and serve Christ. Self-fabricated definitions will not conform to nor honor Him.
Pastor V. Mark Smith