Becoming a member of a church is not like becoming a member of your local gym, country club, or grocery store. Rather, to become a member of a church is to formally covenant and commit yourself to God’s people, in Christ, in a local context. Church membership is a tangible way of demonstrating that you are a member of the household of God (Eph 2:19), a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), and a partner in the gospel (Phil. 1:5) by faith in the person and work of Jesus.
In Christ, we are spiritually united; the local church is the primary place where that new union is tangibly expressed. The church is meant to be a home, not a hotel, where members gladly exercise their God-given gifts to “build up” the church in love (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12-14). Therefore, a vital component of membership is participation in the life of the church: to know and be known by others, to use your God-given gifts to serve others, and to faithfully steward your financial resources for the care of the church and the spread of the gospel.
In addition to your participation and commitment to OCF, membership formalizes OCF’s commitment to you. Elders are called to care for, lead, feed, protect, and oversee the church as undershepherds to our Chief Shepherd, Jesus (1 Peter 5:4). They are to do so joyfully and personally, as they will give an account to God for those entrusted to their care (Heb. 13:17). Membership means that you are entrusted to our care, where we can joyfully and personally care for you.
By God’s grace, OCF will always be a church where all are welcome to attend, to hear the gospel preached and practiced, and to experience a Christ-centered worshipping community. However, while all are welcome to attend, not everyone is permitted to partner with OCF in ministry and leadership. Nor will nonmembers have a voice in the direction of OCF. As an elder-led and congregationally-governed church, it is the members of OCF that are ultimately responsible for who will lead the church (the elders) and how resources are allocated for the mission of the church (the budget).
In a world plagued by sin, individualism, and consumerism, church membership may seem counter cultural. In many ways it is. But cultural norms have never been the plumbline for God’s people; Scripture is. And the New Testament has a lot to say about the necessity of thick community found in local church membership.
