Mark Redfern has a fantastic post about the marks of healthy church members:
A Biblical Church Member is...
(1) Cheerfully committed to the membership of the church (Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:41,47)
(2) Humbly submissive to the leadership of the church (Heb. 13:17)
(3) Conscientiously affirms the confession of the church (Jude 3)
(4) Growing delight in the sabbath of the church (Exodus 20:8-11, Is. 58:13-14)
(5) Consistent attendance at the services of the church (Heb. 10:24-25)
(6) Vigorously engaged in the worship of the church (John 4:23-24, Eph. 5:19)
(7) Faithfully observe the ordinances of the church (Mt. 28:19, Luke 22:19)
(8) Sacrificially involved in the ministries of the church (1 Pet. 4:8-11)
(9) Actively participate in the fellowship of the church (Acts 2:42-47)
(10) Hopefully concur with the discipline of the church (Mt. 18:15-20, 1 Cor. 5)
(11) Passionately burdened for the mission of the church (Psalm 67)
(12) Joyfully support the finances of the church (2 Cor. 9:7)
(13) Eagerly seeks the unity of the church (Eph. 4:1-6)
6 comments:
What does "affirm the confession" mean? (3)
Sarah,
Great question.
Our church has a confession of faith that we ask all those who become members to subscribe to. Our church's confession is the 1689 Baptist Confesion of Faith.
The purpose of it is so that we know what we believe God's Word teaches and have written it down in clear statements. It aids in keeping the church doctrinally healthy.
Justin - thanks for the link!
Mark- thanks for clarifying that! I think that we do that but we call it our "what we belive, doctrinal statement". Its nice to have it in hand and know what a church really believes the bible teaches BEFORE you become a member of that church!!!! (at least I think they are the same things..)
Yeah, they are basically the same. A doctinal statement can typically be a little more vague, where is a confession tends to be more specific. But, their goal is both the same - to preserve the purity of the church.
What a great list. Thanks for sharing!
ooooh. Thanks! I learned something new!
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