Church Membership
This section is meant to help you understand Church membership, what it means, why we do it, and how to become a member of our ChurchChurch Membership is NOT about joining a club. Church Membership IS about making a committment to the local body of Christ out of obedience to God's Word, and to the furthering of his Kingdom. If you have any questions about the information below, please contact the Church Office.
Membership defined is: "A formal process by which professing Christians are interviewed by, received into, and publicly identified with a specific congregation of believers." (Colson, The Body, 46) “Charles Spurgeon once told his congregation this story about church membership: ‘I well remember how I joined the church after my conversion. I forced myself into it by telling the minister, who was lax and slow, after I had called four or five times and could not see him, that I had done my duty. And if he did not see me, I would call a church meeting myself and tell them I believed in Christ, and ask them if they would have me.’ Why was the young Spurgeon banging on the door of the church to get in? No doubt he knew that commitment to a local church and obedience to leaders were necessary to his spiritual growth, and he greatly feared the God who had issued those commands. But there also may have been another compelling reason for him to force his way into membership in the church—the benefits he would fain by being a part of it.” (Wayne Mack, Life in the Father’s House, p. 27) Being a member of Knox is not necessary to salvation, but it is greatly beneficial to the one who is a member. Some of the reasons we become members are;
- Membership clarifies the difference between believers and unbelievers.
- Formal membership has been a pattern and practice of church history since the days of the New Testament Church. (Colossians 4:9,12, Acts 2:41,47, Phil. 1:1)
- Formal attachment to the visible people of God is always portrayed as a precious thing in the bible (Psalm 26:8, Psalm 122:1, Acts 2:42-47)
- The Mutual accountability inherent in church membership is a sure way for us to continue in the way of obedience and orthodoxy. (1 Tim. 3:15, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:2-25)
- In joining the church, we voice our testimony of faith in Jesus Christ to the world.
- Being a member helps us grow spiritually by providing discipline and accountability.
Anyone who has professed faith in Christ, gone through proper instruction (i.e. membership class), and received baptism can become a member. The first step is to put your faith in Christ, then attend one of our New Members classes. We offer a one day (Saturday) edition of this class about three times a year. Call the Church office to find out when the next class begins. To become a member at Knox, you must do a few things:- Profess faith in Jesus Christ
- Go through proper instruction (That's what the membership class is for)
- Be interviewed by the Elders-this is not so they can grade how spiritual you are, rather, this is so we don't accept people into membership who don't really profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
- Go before the congregation and make your vows
The following are the vows recited by members of our congregation and of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church;
- Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God and without hope for your salvation except in His sovereign mercy?
- Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of sinners, and do you receive and depend upon Him alone for your salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?
- Do you now promise and resolve, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
- Do you promise to serve Christ in His Church by supporting and participating with this congregation in its service of God and its ministry to others to the best of your ability?
- Do you summit yourself to the government and discipline of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and to the spirtual oversight of this Church Session, and do you promise to promote the unity, purity and peace of the Church?
If you have a current membership at another Church, simply call that Church and ask for your membership to be transfered to Knox. The session accepts transfered memberships.
If you move away, or switch to another Church, you can request that we transfer your membership to another Church. Transferring a membership is easy, and people do it all the time when they move. As part of the shepherding at Knox, and in accordance with the book of order which helps guide church policies, we do not baptize children of believers who are not members. We offer around three Membership classes per year, please contact the church office or check the calendar for the next available class.
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