Did the First-Century Church Have Members?

In our ongoing exploration of church membership, we now turn our attention to the roots of this concept in the first-century Christian communities.

The early church, birthed in the cultural milieu of the Roman Empire, operated in a vastly different context than the institutionalized structures we know today. Let’s unearth the foundations of belonging in the early Christian assemblies. Read Full Post

The Evolution of Church Membership

Joshua's Baptism

Baptism did not save me, but it made me a church member!

Perhaps I should clarify. In my hometown church, membership is automatic when you get baptized. So I have been a member of a local church for over 26 years now because I was baptized in the fall of 1997.

Salvation made me a member of Christ’s body, the universal church. But baptism joined me with the local church in Mason City, IA. Read Full Post

It Is Time to Rethink Church Membership

On Sunday night a group of us were discussing the topic of church dropouts, and the question arose, “What is church membership?”

We did not come to any conclusions at the moment, especially since it was technically not the main topic of the hour. I mostly sat and listened without saying anything despite the fact that I have been thinking deeply and reading extensively about the topic for over a year. Read Full Post

You Might Be Stealing Promises…

Have you ever claimed the truth of this verse in your life?

“I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29:14). Read Full Post

The Illusory Effect Destroys Theology

The year: 1692.

The setting: Salem Village in colonial Massachusetts.

Tension and unease filled the air as the sun cast long shadows over the Puritan settlement. An unfortunate, history-altering mysterious affliction befell several young girls.

Their behavior became erratic, marked by spasms, contortions, and eerie visions. Desperate to explain the inexplicable, the girls pointed accusatory fingers at fellow villagers, igniting a spark that would engulf the community in a fervor of paranoia and persecution. Read Full Post