We’re excited you’re thinking about membership.  There’s something powerful about walking with a body of believers as they walk with you.   Below are guidelines to help you take this step in your walk with Jesus as you commit to this incredible community of Christ followers.

What is the Church?

The Church is not a building. It’s a community of Jesus-followers connected in His name. While we gather in local communities; we believe these communities belong to a greater community of believers that transcends time, geography, nationality, and every other distinction humans create. We believe these communities are God’s chosen instrument to bring His salvation and goodness to a lost and dying world.

The New Testament compares the church to a person’s body:

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

 

This drives the idea of membership. The Bible uses the metaphor of a human body to describe how we as believers are intertwined with Christ and each other. Each of us plays an important role in God’s purpose. This body is nothing short of the body of Christ. We are “members” (or parts) of that body.

Misconceptions about church membership

Today membership often means belonging to something or having special access or privileges somewhere. Become a member of a fraternity, and you can go to their parties. Become a member of Costco, and you can buy a 5-gallon bucket of olives.

That is not what membership is about at Christ Our Redeemer.

Membership at Christ Our Redeemer is not about belonging or having special rights and privileges. A nonmember is just as welcome as a member. Anyone can call Christ Our Redeemer home the moment they walk in the door. Every ministry we offer is available to non-members.

What is membership at Christ Our Redeemer?

A few things…

  1. Being a host

Jesus said He came to serve, not be served (Mark 10:45). Membership at Christ Our Redeemer means doing the same. To become a member is to shift from guest to host. A member is one who strives to give more than receive, feed before being fed, and serve rather than be served.

When someone has a party, who does the planning and all the work? Who does the set up and the clean up? Who foots the bill? Who sacrifices their night to make sure others are having a good time? The host.

Likewise, who is the honored party? Who is served, fed, given special treatment, and all the necessary attention to make sure they’re well-treated and having a good time? The guest.

At Christ Our Redeemer, non-members are our guests. Members are people sold on the idea of serving our guests like Jesus. Wanting to be like Jesus means doing what He did. If Jesus came to serve, at some point a believer is going to want to live the same way.

  1. Partnering with a movement

To join a church is to unite with a movement of God among a particular group of people.

We believe the Church is God’s agent for bringing His restoration to a broken world. His call is not for us alone and Christ Our Redeemer exists for something bigger than itself.

Membership means living for something more than ourselves and pouring our lives into the vision and mission God has for Christ Our Redeemer. This entails discipleship – seeking to be a fully-devoted follower of Christ while simultaneously making disciples of Him.

  1. Expressing love by commitment

There often comes a moment when a person wants to marry someone they love as opposed to continuing a lower-commitment dating relationship. Love desires commitment and life yearns for full investment.

Membership is a way of showing love to God by committing to the people He loves, creating accountability with them and expressing desire to partner with what God is doing among them. Walking with God means walking with your brother and sister in Christ.

  1. Other random bits

Because of this commitment, Christ Our Redeemer leaders often take a more active role in helping members on their discipleship journey. Members at Christ Our Redeemer can also vote at Voters’ meetings, serve as Elders, and serve on our Church Council.

Why become a member of COR?

  1. Because you’re picking up what we’re laying down

Members resonate with Christ Our Redeemer and where we’re going. It’s the leap when you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Become a member if God is calling you to take an active role in where Christ Our Redeemer is going. Become a member if you want to commit to Christ Our Redeemer’s journey.

  1. Because you’re ready to give back

You want discipleship, not consumer spirituality. You want community, not convenient relationships. You want commitment and accountability, not self-serving autonomy. You want your life to fit into God’s plan more than God to fit into yours.

  1. Because you’re ready to stop dating and put on a ring

Being a member of Christ Our Redeemer is about committing to relationships. First, it is committing to the relationship you have with God. You can do this, however, at any number of churches. Membership is about committing to a relationship with this community of people who call themselves Christ Our Redeemer.

What’s expected of a member?

A member is someone who strives to live as a devoted disciple of Jesus and seeks to make disciples of him. This includes embracing his Biblical truths within the context of the mission and vision of Christ Our Redeemer and is summarized below.

  1. Reconnect

We believe the way of Jesus does not go alone and that we are called to be in fellowship with each other. Membership means doing life together.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

I covenant to: Worship regularly. Connect with others frequently in activities. Partner with others to further God’s work in this church and our world.

 

  1. Reaffirm

We desire to conform our lives to the teachings of Jesus, clinging to the orthodox, historic Christian faith. We hold the Bible to be inspired by God, governing what we do and believe. We see the writings of the early Lutheran reformers as a guide for better understanding these truths.

I covenant to: Deepen my understanding of these teachings and reaffirm them as the governing source of my life and worldview.

 

  1. Restart

Membership means radically turning our lives over to God. We believe we are loved by God. Though we are broken, God yearns to redeem and restore every aspect of who we are. We believe the only way to truly discover the depths of what God is calling us to is by stepping out of our comfort zones and taking leaps of faith. Following Him and the life of faith is an adventure. It is a journey of discovering and re-discovering a deeper life with Him every single day.

I covenant to: Restart my life every day—repenting of my sins, recommitting to live as God wants, and making myself accountable to the leaders and members of Christ Our Redeemer in my faith journey while I am a member here.

 

  1. Re-give

We believe all that we are and all that we own ultimately comes from God. A life of faith means giving back to Him. Membership means giving the first-fruits of what we receive in proportion to what God has given us. It is about embarking on a way of life where we continually become more generous and more sacrificial with our time and money—towards our church, our families, and the needs of others in this world. We find this a challenge. We find this a joy!

I covenant to: Give generously. Give sacrificially. Give the first of what I receive in proportion to what God has given me.

 

  1. Reignite

We believe the Church is God’s agent for bringing his restoration to a broken world. His call is not for us alone. Christ Our Redeemer exists for something bigger than itself. As each of us are called to be disciples, so each of us are called to make disciples. Membership means pouring ourselves into this call.

I covenant to: Be a witness. Make disciples. Ignite the mission and vision of Christ Our Redeemer.

 

Who can be a member?

Anyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior and Lord, agrees with our foundational theology, resonates with Christ Our Redeemer’s mission & vision, and commits to live as a child of God while interacting with the people of this congregation and community.

 

How do I become a member?

  1. Immerse into the life of Christ Our Redeemer.

Worship regularly, connect with others, grow spiritually, serve, give, witness…. Try us out for a while and see where this congregation fits into the calling God has put into your life. 

  1. Sit down with the Pastor and chat about your future place here.

The Pastor would love to get to know you personally, walk through what it means to be a member at Christ Our Redeemer, answer any questions you have, and help you connect.  If you wish to learn more about specific areas of your journey of faith, he can either work with you individually or, if there is interest expressed, lead an adult instruction class by request for more of an overview of the faith itself.

  1. State your intent to become a member.

If you are led to realize that Christ Our Redeemer is the place for you to grow in your journey of life and faith, let the Pastor know your desire to become a member.  You will be welcomed at our monthly Celebration Sundays on the first Sunday of the month. 

If you have not been baptized, we will baptize you as part of becoming a member.

 

Does becoming a member make my family members too?

If you have young children living with you that come to Christ Our Redeemer, they can become baptized members at the same time as you so long as they’ve been baptized or will become baptized.  Older children and spouses need to participate in the same process as you if they wish to become members.

 

How long does my membership last?

Membership at Christ Our Redeemer is not automatically for life. Membership lasts only as long as one remains active at Christ Our Redeemer and remains faithful to the Lord and this congregation. People who become inactive or who are living contrary to Biblical standards may be removed from membership at the discretion of our Elders.

 

If Christ Our Redeemer is a place you have come to call home and a people you want to walk with, then becoming a member might be the next step for you.  Membership is an incredible way to grow in your relationship with God and with others.  We hope you will commit to this incredible journey.