What Is Expected of Church Members?

Growing up the son of a minister, I have a weird habit of always looking around churches for old printed material. Not that I have any desire to collect historical material, but a morbid curiosity as to what things churches have printed or read.

One such old piece of literature I found is entitled: What the Church expects of its Members. It is a very pointed piece and lifts up an interesting idea that the church actually expects something of me as a member. See what you think….

To accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and to unite with his church is to become part of a spiritual fellowship with significant meaning for your life.

The Christian church is more than a club or a lodge. It is the body of people God has chosen to carry out his work in the world and on whom he is counting to be like him as he has revealed himself in Jesus. Thus, the church exists as a divine channel for our gifts and service.

For this reason, it is expected that members of the Christian church:

1. Will put God, as they know him through Christ, in the center of their lives rather than seeking the fulfillment of their own desires.

2. Will constantly study to learn more of what it means to be Christian, applying what they learn to their own way of living.

3. Will seek—following the example of Jesus—to make serving and giving the major principles of their lives rather than being served and receiving.

4. Will be a Christian influence in every club, lodge, or organization of which they are members as well as the community at large.

5. Will hold fellowship with all persons in a spirit of humility and gentleness, and will extend help to any who may be in need.

6. Will regularly attend the services of their local church to express, with others, their wonder at God’s greatness and love; to seek to relate their way of living more closely to the way of Jesus; and to let others see their loyalty to Christ’s church.

7. Will give time and ability to the active outreach program of the church. Will pray for the church everywhere that it may effectively present the claims of Christ to all people.

8. Will pray for those outside the church that they may find the answer to their yearnings in the love and fellowship which Christians know in Christ Jesus, working for their good regardless of their attitude and actions.

9. Will pray for pastors and people as they seek to advance the Lord’s work in their respective communities.

10. Will make every effort to give at least a tithe of their income for the work of the church so that the claims of Christ may be effectively presented both in the community and throughout the world.

11. Will transfer their membership to a nearby church when moving out of commuting distance from their present local church.

CHRISTIANS WILL:

PRAY: Christian will make prayer a part of their everyday life and the source of their spiritual strength and confidence.

STUDY THE BIBLE: By habit they will study the Bible and will strive to make the mind and spirit of Christ the chart and compass of their lives.

ATTEND CHURCH: They will be loyal to the church by attending its services regularly to worship God and to have fellowship with God’s people.

GIVE: They will give as God has prospered them and will make it one of their primary responsibilities to support the church and the kingdom.

SERVE: They will abstain from that which is evil and do good. They will serve Christ and his cause in every possible way and live as Christians should live.

If you have not been all you could be, give thanks that God is a God of second chances—and resolve to begin again. I know we would love to have you in our midst at Monticello First UMC!! And I am pretty sure you would be welcome at any church in Jasper County. May God bless us with the grace to live out the faith we profess