CrossLife Church

Is Church Membership Important?

The population of Washington County has grown in the past ten years by over 12%, adding 13,400 people to the population. Johnson City’s population has added over 4400 people, as it has grown by about 8%. Yet the churches have not kept pace but have declined by as much as 14%. 

Back in 2010, there were at least 86,700 people not involved in an Evangelical church, in Washington County alone. Growth trends for Washington County predicted an additional 19,409 unchurched people by 2020. With continued growth and the effects of Covid, that number is likely over 110,000 by now. Yet, most would still consider this area to be highly religious. Even if all the current churches were healthy and growing they still would not have the space and resources to minister to this growing population. 

As the total church population is not just declining but younger generations are rapidly growing disengaged. There has never been a generation less churched, more biblically illiterate, and ambivalent towards Biblical Christianity.

We have seen the rise of the Nones. Those who may come from a religious or Christian background but no longer identify or affiliate with any formal expression of Christianity. There is also the Don'ts. They don’t know, don’t believe, or don’t care whether God exists! Another group is the Unconvinced. They explored or dabbled in Christianity but have unanswered questions or concerns and remain skeptical.

Finally, we have the Convinced. This group is made up of those who have wrestled with the claims and reality of Jesus and have believed. Unfortunately, there are too many among the convinced who remain uncommitted to God's people, in a local Church. 

In this message, we will consider the importance of membership involvement in a local church. 

Is church membership necessary and biblical, or simply negotiable? 

The world has been (and is) rapidly changing. Until the Mid 19th Century, the West (Europe and the USA) was defined by Christendom. Under Christendom, the values of culture were defined and shaped by Christianity and non-Christian beliefs and behaviors were considered wrong and shameful.

Tim Keller explains, “The disadvantage was that Christian morality without gospel-changed hearts often led to cruelty and hypocrisy…Also, the Church was largely silent over many abuses of the ruling class over the weak,” and overlooked a great deal of injustices.

The evangelistic strategies of churches have focused on attracting marginally religious people and inviting them to become Christians. Tim Keller continues, “In the conservative regions, it is still possible to see people profess faith and the church grow without becoming missional.”

Many churches have experienced success winning people to Christ who are still familiar with the spiritual heritage. But, the culturally Christian population is a shrinking market. Those who identify as secular--no longer feel the need to identify as Christian--are becoming the majority. Churches are declining and few Christians understand why or what to do about it.

The need is to abandon both the attractional strategy of the modern church and the institutional strategy of Christendom and return to the missional strategy of the early church.

This Sunday, we will continue our series reThinking Church as we consider how to move beyond institutional to incarnational.

In this message, we continue to consider what a true, authentic, and biblical church looks like as we examine its ultimate foundation: Christ, the Cornerstone.

In the middle of Paris, France, the epicenter of the secular and post-Christian world, the masses watched in disbelief. It was the evening of April 15, 2019, and the 900-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral was engulfed in flames. The magnificent cathedral had long stood as an enduring symbol of a sacred world that was remembered but had become easy to ignore.

Late into the night masses stood around praying and even singing "Amazing Grace" as they watched and wondered if the cathedral could be saved.

That night a powerful metaphor played out before our eyes. The Church, which Jesus Christ established with a handful of disciples, grew to maybe 25,000 by the end of the first century. By the fourth century, Christian churches had been established across the Roman Empire. Finally, Emperor Constantine ended the persecution of Christians and for the first time, Christianity became a government-sanctioned religion.

Christendom, established in the fourth century, has managed to survive in one form or another until the end of the last century. Today, we (in Western Civilization) live in a digital, post-Christian, and secular age. How have Christians responded? Some have continued to live their lives and "do church" as if nothing has changed. Others seem to be confused and in disbelief smelling the smoke but unsure what the fire might mean.

There are two passages that give some insights on how to respond. In 1 Chronicles 12:32 we read of the men of Issachar, "who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do..." Additionally, Jude urged in Jude 3, "I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

This Sunday, we will begin a new series, rethinking the Church, as we look to scripture and church history for insights on what kind of church CrossLife must be to faithfully contend for the faith and contextualize the Gospel in a post-Christian world.

There are many ideas and opinions about God. In fact, many people think they believe in the same God as others, yet when different people describe him it seems like they are talking about different gods. More specifically, within the population of people identifying as Christians, there is increasing confusion about who God is.

How exactly does one go about evaluating a god or gods? Should we assess our god based upon categories like power, creativity, originality, goodness, or likability?

The problem with so many views about god is that they cannot all possibly be true. According to the Bible, though God is eternal and transcendent, He has revealed Himself in creation. This is called the general revelation of God and is evidenced by the way the universe gives evidence of purposeful design. God has also revealed Himself specifically (specific revelation) through the Bible.

The last two verses of Jude (24-25) are a doxology to the God of the Bible. They serve as a testimony, recognizing and describing that God is uniquely worthy of glory.

As you prepare your heart to listen to the Word preached, consider who you believe God to be and how accurately your God compares with God as he has revealed Himself in scripture.

The letter of Jude is one of friendship and love to those who are beloved of God. It was written to an anonymous group of believers out of a sense of burden. With an urgency flowing out of his loving concern for the church, Jude calls these believers to contend for the faith.

Notice that Jude is not calling them to contend for a political candidate, party, ideology, tribal identity, gender, the latest science, philosophy, or social concern. Jude is concerned about the heart and soul of their faith and their confidence in the Gospel of Jesus. He knows trouble is coming, and they must be equipped and armed with the settled truth of the Gospel.

The first section of his letter reveals, why they must contend (5-19). The last section explains how they should contend (20-23).

For many Christians, this is the hardest part. How do you think a Christian should contend for the faith? Fight, run, hide, attack, words, deeds, or avoidance?

Jude’s encouraging words may surprise you and they will most definitely help you fight the good fight (the right fight and in the right way!)

Long-time pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis Tennessee, Dr. Adrian Rogers went home to be with the Lord in November 2005.

Known for his unique ability to simplify profound truth so that it can be applied to everyday life, Adrian Rogers was one of the most effective preachers, respected Bible teachers, and Christian leaders of our time.

Over the years Pastor Rogers mentored hundreds of pastors and Christian leaders throughout the world.

At the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference of 2006, Pastor Rogers’ family presented every pastor with a baton on which was written: “Baton passed by Dr. Adrian Rogers, Finish the race…Complete the task!”

Inside that baton was a poem written by Dr. Rogers’ daughter. Here is the last stanza of that poem:
“And so dear fellow runner this one thing we now ask: will you take up the challenge? Will you finish the task?
Baton in hand–t'will be so grand to finish the strong race and bask in all the glory of our Savior’s sweet embrace.”

This week we will be looking at a passage from Second Timothy chapter three, where we see the apostle Paul as a mentor passing on the baton to his beloved child in the ministry, Timothy.

Paul senses the urgency of the time as his earthly ministry is coming to an end. He warns Timothy of difficult times to come and encourages him to use the scriptures as he opposes evil and continues the good fight. Join us as we examine what it means to be a biblical mentor.

This world is a dangerous place for those who desire to pursue a clean conscience and pure heart. There are few safe places for those watching over their own soul.

We should not be shocked about the corrosive effects of being too immersed and entangled in the world. Yet, there is also potential danger among those who claim to be Christians and even appear to be spiritual leaders.

It is as if there are intellectual and spiritual tripwires placed all around. These hidden tripwires are ready to blow up, damaging the soul of any person who questions or violates the “assumed values of our present moment.”

“We are going through a great crowd derangement. In public and in private, both online and off, people are behaving in ways that are increasingly irrational, feverish, heard, and simply unpleasant. The daily news cycle is filled with the consequences. Yet while we see the symptoms everywhere, we do not see the causes” (Douglas Murray, The Madness of Crowds, p. 1).

Many of the ideas and teaching circulating among Christians today are often a mess of Biblical, theological, philosophical, and spiritual inconsistencies. The effects of which are usually evident in the actions, attitudes, and lives of false believers and pretenders.

Jude describes similar false believers as “hidden reefs” ready to shipwreck the faith of unsuspecting souls. Jude explains how to spot tripwires or hidden reefs, especially within churches and among those who claim to be Christian. Join us as we examine the tripwires of our day from Jude 12-19.

“Of the many that hear the report of the gospel there are few, very few, that believe it. It is reported openly and publicly, not whispered in a corner, or confined to the schools, but proclaimed to all; it is so faithful a saying, and so well worthy of all acceptance, that one would think it should be universally received and believed. But it is quite otherwise… To this day, of the many that profess to believe this report, there are few that cordially embrace it and submit to the power of it.” -Matthew Henry Commentary on Isaiah 53

In every generation, there’s a battle for the Gospel--a battle between the true Gospel and false gospels, a battle for the Gospel to not just be believed but lived out. While we are not unfamiliar with war in our day and age, the fiercest and most “high-stake” war is that of the true nature of salvation. If we get the doctrine of salvation wrong, everything goes wrong. With eternal souls on the line, the stakes could never be higher!

Paul understood this, hence the stern, rebuking message that we find within the letter of Galatians:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” (Gal. 3:1)

Paul is basically saying, “You have heard that salvation is by faith in Christ alone, you heard it preached every Sunday, plastered on every wall! It was diligently and clearly taught to you; how could you get it all so wrong?!”

Paul knew that if the Galatian people got the Gospel wrong, the generational impact would be catastrophic.

With a heavy heart, a stern tone, and the love of Christ, Paul challenges the Galatians to return to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The debate over the free flow of information on social media platforms is continuing to rage. Who has the right and responsibility for filtering fake news and false information? Up until the last few years, the majority of our population assumed that corporate news sources could be trusted. Today those who blindly trust the news media are now a minority.

Over the last few years, there is a rapidly growing movement of independent news sources, bloggers, and podcasters asking hard questions and doing the hard work of searching for the real answers. Unfortunately, there are also many new voices pushing more false stories as well. Discerning citizens can no longer assume they are getting the real story without doing a little work to vet their source.

The struggle to find and understand spiritual truth and meaning from false truth and false teachers is an equally difficult task. How can Christians separate false ideas and teaching from that which is true?

In his book The Discipline of Discernment, Tim Challies says, “it is the duty of every Christian to think biblically about all areas of life so that they might act biblically in all areas of life.”

He offers a helpful definition of discernment as “the skill of understanding and applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong.” The verses of Jude 11-19 are written for this precise purpose to aid believers in discerning truth from error and right from wrong.

We cannot separate our thinking from our actions. We must learn to see past the appearance of spiritual godliness to evaluate the subtle characteristics, attitudes, and actions that may expose spiritual pretenders, imposters, and false teachers.