What makes a Member?

I recently took a look at our Church Constitution.  Most Pastors and even some parishioners look at this document when they join and never give it a second thought.  But have you ever taken a good close look to the requirements for communicant membership.  When I looked at these requirements, I asked myself how many people actually live up to these.

The first thing I noticed in our Church Constitution was the progression.  It progressed from belief in canonical books of the Bible to the Small Catechism to Christian Life to reproval of one another to finally not participating in false religious activities.  It is interesting to think about how most people define each of these.

How do you define belief in the Bible?  Is it belief in every word written there to be given by God for a purpose?  Is it belief in the general story and meaning?  Or is believing that every word is God breathed and the truth?

How do you define belief in the Small Catechism?  Does this mean subscription to all the Lutheran Confessions?  Or does it mean subscription to those parts of the Book of Concord we so choose?

How about leading a Christian Life?  The Christian Life is one full of repentance for our continual falls  into sin.  The Christian avoids sinful lifestyles and repents of their wickedness and desires to lead a holy and pure life.

This means we have to be open to reproval.  We have to be open to people calling us back to the right path and Holy Living.  It is through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit calls us back to faith, repentance, and forgiveness.

Finally, how does one avoid false religion and participation in such groups?  One needs to read their constitutions!  One needs to read their Confessions of Faith!  Or make sure they have no statements of Faith!  But then what does participation mean?  I will leave you to answer that question.  But I think it may be time for each of us to look to what organizations we work for, practice in, or pledge to join forever.  Thank you.

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