Church Membership

Have you been following the discussions over at IX Marks re: church membership? Pastor Anyabwile posted some great examples today that I encourage you to check out:

Membership Based on a True Story

I have always been so grateful that when the Lord saved me, He placed me into membership in a local church. I was taught that was “just the way Christians live.”

We know that there are spiritual forces at work; that the world tempts us; our own flesh hates the thought of crucifixion … and so we run to the church for accountability, discipline, oversight, protection AND so that we can serve others as members of the Body of Christ.

I was in my late twenties before I even knew that people questioned this. I went to undergrad and joined one church and committed myself to it the entire five years I was there. I went to grad school and did the same. One church in Chicago and now we’ve been members of our local church here in Billings since we moved here in 1999.

You know, with all of its failings; given the fact that my worst suffering in life happened in my local church; even though I so often feel like a complete misfit … I just can’t imagine life apart from the local church.

So anyway … I thought you might enjoy the thread and, in particular, the post I linked to above.

Happy Saturday to you! We’re heading to “Peter and the Wolf” with our friend Megan Sande this morning.

Blessings,
Tara B.