Member | A part of a whole
What does it mean to be a "member" of Redeemer?
It does NOT mean...
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you're part of a "club"
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you're automatically "good with God" (just because your name is on a membership list)
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you've got to pay your dues (like Sam's Club membership)
What does it mean to be a "member" of Redeemer? It means...
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you belong to Christ and are part of his body through baptism. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
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you share a common belief with the body of believers at Redeemer. (Ephesians 4:2-6)
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you come to worship regularly to receive God's grace and forgiveness in Word and Sacrament. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
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you are part of a body and you seek to use your unique gifts to serve others. (John 13:34)
We use the word "member" because the Bible speaks of believers in this way. Romans 12:4-5 says, "For just as each of us has one body and many members, and these members to not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
How does someone become a member of Redeemer?
Be Baptized
Before Jesus ascended into heaven he told his disciples, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19) All people are born with a deep need for baptism. Christians desire baptism for themselves and their children in order to receive the blessings of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) which God offers through baptism.
There is no such thing at "Lutheran" baptism, but only Christian baptism. A person who has been baptized in the name of the Triune God, Father - Son - Holy Spirit, does not need to be baptized again. If you are interested in baptism either for yourself or your child, please contact our pastor and he will be happy to assist you.
Be Catechized
"Catechized" is a big word which means "to be instructed." Jesus not only commanded that his followers be baptized but that they also be taught: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
Since membership in a congregation implies that a person believes what that church teaches, wouldn't it be important that he or she be instructed first in the teachings of that church? For this reason we ask people who are considering membership to enroll and complete our Bible Instruction Course called Redeemed to be His own. Even if after the classes a person decides not to become a member of the congregation, studying God's Word is never a waste of time! Click here to find out more and to register for our next session of Redeemed to be His Own. Contact Pastor Cortright if you have any questions.