What Is a Church Member?

Introduction

“The world will know if we are Christians or not by the way we who are believers act toward one another.

Have you ever been to an ugly business meeting in a church? Do you think an outsider would have been impressed with the “Christian” behavior she witnessed? Have you ever heard Christians gossip about other Christians? Is that loving one another?

Look at your pastor’s e-mail inbox if he’ll let you. I bet some of you would be shocked by what some church members say to him.

When you become a Christian, God expects you to be a part of His church. But when you become a part of His church, He wants you to be a unifying presence there. Let’s state that a bit more strongly. He demands that you become a unifying presence there.”

Rainer, Thom S.. I Am a Church Member (pp. 21-22). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” ~Christian author Brennan Manning

Modified: “One of the greatest single causes of people’s disillusionment of the church in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, go to church Sunday, and deny Him by bickering and fighting with one another. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

1. The Imperative: Maintain Unity (4:3)

Ephesians 4:3 (ESV)

. . . eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Be Eager for Unity

“Eager” = be zealous, serious, earnest

Two aspects:

(1) A disposition: we are to garner and stoke a desire and passion to have unity.

How? It takes a re-framing of one’s thoughts, mind. Having one’s desires and passion align with God’s will takes conscious effort of thinking about things differently.

(2) Something we do: This is not something accomplished passively. It takes intentionality; it takes being proactive. It is something that takes hard work.

It is like a target: to hit the bullseye, an archer must be disciplined and continually practice.

Maintain Unity through Peace

The context in Ephesians: The Jew vs. the Gentile

Ephesians 2:11–15 (ESV)

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Grant Osborne:

The new humanity, the new Israel, is a new community in which peace has replaced conflict and fractured relationships.

Christ brings peace, but we also have to work at being peaceful. We must remind ourselves that we are ONE. This does not come naturally or easily because we are sinful, tempted to be divisive and give in to our sinful nature and unguided passions.

But HOW do we to this?:

2. The Horizontal Relationship: Live in a Way that brings Unity with One Another (4:1-2)

Ephesians 4:1–2 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Walk in a Worthy Manner

What does “walk” imply? Active, not passive. It’s a word used throughout Scripture to describe how God’s people are to live. Here, we are exhorted to walk/live “in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”

Calling = people of God; as people of God, we are called to unity (the point).

What does this look like specifically?:

Practice Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Bearing in Love

Rainer’s book gives some practical and helpful advice on what this looks like:

(1) [Humility] Give Up One’s Own Preferences:

Philippians 2:3 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

“You have a responsibility as a church member. You are to be a source of unity. You are never to be a divisive force. You are to love your fellow church members unconditionally. And while that doesn’t mean you agree with everyone all the time, it does mean you are willing to sacrifice your own preferences to keep unity in your church.”

Rainer, Thom S.. I Am a Church Member (p. 23). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

(2) [Gentleness/Patience] Avoid Gossip:

2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV

For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

James 3:6 ESV

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

“Few things can destroy the unity of a church like gossip. A unified church is powerful. Gossip tears apart that unity and renders a church powerless.”

Rainer, Thom S.. I Am a Church Member (p. 25). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

1 Peter 3:10 ESV

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

“Love life. See good days. Control your tongue. Stop the gossip. Be a unifier.”

Rainer, Thom S.. I Am a Church Member (p. 26). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

(3) [Bearing in Love] Be Forgiving

Foundation is love:

John 13:35 ESV

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Out of love for one another, forgive:

Colossians 3:12–14 ESV

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

“Unity in the church will not happen if members have unforgiving hearts. Too many times members have anger and hurt because of something another member has said or done. Some members are angry and hurt at the pastor and staff because of something they said or did or failed to do.”

Rainer, Thom S.. I Am a Church Member (p. 28). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

How to keep unity with one another in the forefront of our thought—remember:

3. The Vertical Relationship: We have a Foundational, Supernatural Unity with One Another (4:4-6)

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Trinity Unites Us

Just as there is a unity and diversity (in a sense) in God himself, we are to have a unity (and diversity) in the body of Christ:

There is one being/essence of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in purpose and will.

One will and purpose for creation: communion with us his image bearers

Diversity is work: the Father speaks creation into existence through His Word Jesus while the Holy Spirit forms and molds.

One will and purpose for humanity’s salvation: re-establish communion with his image bearers.

Diversity in work in salvation: Father sends his Son, who dies on the cross and is resurrected, and the Son sends the Holy Spirit to remake us when we put faith in Jesus.

We, too, although being diverse (in many ways) are in fact united: Paul says there is only ONE body and ONE Spirit. ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism and ONE God.

There is a real, supernatural phenomenon that unites us all together: The Trinitarian God of all. As Paul says, he is “over ALL and through ALL and in ALL.”

When the church is divisive or there is disunity in the church, it is like a mockery of the nature of God who is ONE God in three Persons. In a sense, what we do as a church reflects the nature of God. We as a church, whether unified or divisive, reflect an accurate picture of who God is or a distorted one.

Example of disunity in the church: worship wars.

We must constantly keep in mind what is necessary and important and what is not. We must constantly keep in mind what hill we ought to die on and what we ought not to die one. What is opinion and not important and what is truth and important.

Besides the Trinitarian God who unites us, there are two elements that must unite us:

Our One Faith and Baptism Unite Us

Paul says there is only ONE faith and ONE baptism.

Jude 3 (ESV)

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

(1) One faith:

Literally: “The once-for-all-delivered-to-the-saints faith”

The ONE faith = that Jesus was put to death on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day and will return again. Because of this, we are saved by grace through faith and not by good works, or deeds.

“Contend” = attack, argue for

Cambridge Dictionary: “to compete in order to win something”

Webster’s Collegiate: “to strive in opposition”

So what unites us? The faith once for all delivered to the saints.

What do we strive and contend for? The faith once for delivered to the saints.

What we do not strive for and argue about: type of music, what the building looks like, how we ought to do certain outreach efforts, how a church member does his or her ministry, what the carpet looks like, i.e., our own preferences.

Keep the main thing the main thing: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church is not a country club composed of people who demand and then receive. It is a people who contend for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and proclaim his excellencies to the world.

(2) One baptism:

“Baptism” is used in different ways in the NT. Here, however, it is the baptism we undergo at our confession of faith and having put our faith in Jesus—often referred to as “water baptism” by some.

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Illustration: Questions to Consider About Unity:

Am I eager to have unity with my church family, or am I passive with my relationships and just “want to be me—take it or leave it?”

Do I say and do things that promote peace with my church family or that promote arguing and outbursts, whether actively or passively?

Do I focus on the main thing (the faith once for all delivered to the saints), or do I get carried away with minor, insignificant matters like music, how things are done, or otherwise?

As a church member, do I approach other members with humility, love, and forgiveness, or am I quick to point out something they have done wrong and be critical?

Do I forgive other church family members or do I hold a grudge?

Do I encourage and support others or do I gossip and tear them down in the name of “being honest?”

Do I care more about contending for the Faith or my personal opinions and perspectives?

John 17:17–23 (NASB95)

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.