"From my youngest days, I heard
the definition of the church as a “body of baptized believers.” This is
the way Baptists have always looked at the church and defined our
membership. Simplistic but clear, this definition rips away many
extraneous aspects and focuses on a regenerate membership in the church.
During those days, I also heard Billy
Graham state that he believed 50 percent of church members were lost. I
struggled to understand that statement. At first, I reconciled Graham’s
statement by suggesting that was true in churches where the Gospel was
not preached faithfully, but surely not Baptist churches. Today I am
challenged to consider the truth of both the definition of the church
and Dr. Graham’s assertion regarding the state of the churches’
membership among Baptists.
Let me be clear. I affirm with every
fiber of my being that Baptists’ simple definition of church membership
is an accurate statement of biblical truth. The church is not a club to
join, but a fellowship of those who have chosen to receive the free gift
of eternal life by repenting of sin and believing that Jesus Christ is
their only hope of salvation.
Belief demands repentance. When I chose
to place my faith solely in Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God who
has paid the penalty for my sin, forgiven me and called me into a
personal relationship, I chose to repent and change the direction of my
faith and life.
The New Testament also asserts clearly
that believers are to be baptized believers. To believe in Jesus calls
me to identify with Him through the act of baptism.
I confess my faith in the Gospel—the
death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—through believers’ baptism.
Baptism is one of the reasons Baptists hold to immersion as the only
true baptism.
The original word translated “baptism”
means to plunge under or immerse. The picture that baptism by immersion
displays is the picture of the full effect of the Gospel in our lives.
So why the concern for church members? I
am concerned because public profession and baptism as acts of piety do
not save us; however, we are saved through heart change and spiritual
regeneration, marked by spiritual re-creation.
Emotional change and even head change do
not constitute conversion. Getting wet in the baptistery does not equal
believer’s baptism.
No, conversion demands full-orbed rejection of sin and
self, and a surrender of all we are to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
To be saved, a person must choose to deny self and become a
fully-devoted follower of Christ.
Church membership based on anything else
is an aberration and false witness. Unfortunately, too many people have
had emotional experiences without repentance and/or intellectual belief
without rejection of everything but Jesus. Church members should be
those people who trust Christ alone by faith alone. Anything else is
counterfeit and suffices as religion but not as authentic Christianity.
When considering the state of the church
today, one must consider that Billy Graham’s statement of years ago just
might be on target. On any given Sunday, it is likely that 40 percent
or less of those on the rolls show up in church. Maybe Dr. Graham’s
estimate is low.
Perhaps the challenge of Paul to the Corinthians is worthy in the modern church. “Examine
yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do
you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test” (II Cor. 13:5). In the end, a regenerate church membership is the only authentic church membership.
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Reposted from Dr. Anthony Jordan, Perspective: Authentic Church Membership
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