CCC Gainesville | Blog
Exodus 18 brings us into the topic of leadership in Christ’s Church.
“In evangelical circles today we are witnessing the abuse of ecclesiastical
authority in two directions. There is, on the one hand, an abdication of
church authority by some. Confronted with the individualistic, anti-law
spirit of our time, cowardly church officers refuse to exercise the biblical
oversight entrusted to them by Christ. In many circles authoritative preaching
and corrective church discipline are conspicuously absent. Equally dangerous,
however, is the tendency by others to overreact against such laxity.
Church leaders lose sight of the fine line between the virtue of biblical
counsel and guidance and the vice of usurping control over the conscience.
. . . Counsel becomes control, control becomes coercion, and coercion
becomes tyranny over the conscience.” –Roger Beardmore
When Jethro got saved he joined the church. Or to put it another way: I find it very noteworthy (and borderline instructive) that when he began being loyal to the one true God, Jethro “brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders to eat bread with him before God.” Honestly reading that text–and the rest of the Scriptures, lead me to the conviction that being a knower and lover of the one true God through Jesus Christ enevitably leads folk to a “HERE I AM! HOW DO I CONNECT AND SERVE?” relationship with a less-than-perfect flesh and blood gathering of people; i.e. A Local Church. Here is something from 9 Marks Ministries of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
Membership
What is it?
According to the Bible, church membership is a commitment every Christian should make to attend, love, serve, and submit to a local church.
Where is it in the Bible?
Throughout Old Testament history, God made a clear distinction between his people and the world (see Lev. 13:46, Num. 5:3, Deut. 7:3).
Christ says that entering the kingdom of God means being bound to the church “on earth” (Matt. 16:16-19; 18:17-19). Where do we see the church on earth? The local church.
The New Testament explicitly refers to some people being inside the church and some people being outside (1 Cor. 5:12-13). This is much more than a casual association.
The church in Corinth consisted of a definite number of believers, such that Paul could speak of a punishment inflicted by the majority (2 Cor. 2:6).
Not only does the New Testament speak of the reality of church membership, but its dozens of “one anothers” are written to local churches, which fill out our understanding of what church membership should practically look like.
Why is it important?
Biblical church membership is important because the church presents God’s witness to himself in the world. It displays his glory. In the church’s membership, then, non-Christians should see in the lives of God’s changed people that God is holy and gracious and that his gospel is powerful for saving and transforming sinners.
Jethro’s confession “know I know” in Exodus 18:11 is standard Exodus language (see 6:7; 7:5; 8:10; 9:29). Although neither the Egyptians nor the Amalekites get it, Jethro, the Midianite, has learned the lesson of the Exodus: “The LORD is greater than all other gods.” –Peter Enns
And so, Lord, may we and scores of our neighbors—for your glory.
Babies!
These people were great. Led splendidly by Greg Hamilton.
