Meetings…Rule?

PARTICIPANTS?

Currently, here in Canada, non-profit corporations have been required to file documents of continuance with our government. In the process of this filing, I am aware of at least one church that has redefined what we normally call members of the church, as participants of the church. 

Initially this did not sit well with me, since as long as I have been aware of the church, those in it had been called members; and this change seemed to be driven by certain changes in corporate law for non-profits. It did not seem to me to be a biblical change. (here I have reasoned from tradition)

However as I considered this matter over several months, I realized a certain value to designating those once called members of the church as participants. 

Suppose, that the key departure from biblical church in our day, was the lack of involvement by its members. Suppose, that the idea of membership in the local church, no longer conjured up the idea of personal sharing in responsibility for the support and progress of the local church’s vision and mission. Suppose, that for most people, church membership means primarily benefits, with little or no responsibility.

In fact, the forgoing suppositions seem to be well confirmed by every survey of the western church over the past decade. From biblically defined financial support, to church attendance, and adherence to a biblically defined world view and lifestyle; what it means to be a member of a local church no longer seems to call for committed involvement.

If the surveys of the past decade are accurate, the key departure from a biblical pattern of church, that separates the church from being what is envisioned in scripture, is the departure from a biblical quality of participation by its membership. 

We must recapture a biblical quality of participation in the local church. Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, has a vision and mission for His Church. The quality of each members participation in the church is not left to contemporary designs, but rather is made clear in Scripture. 

It is our hope that we will all respond to the biblical encouragement to be participating members or our local churches, fully involved in the actualization and conduct of Jesus’ vision and mission for His Church.

George T. Frey, Jr.

pastor @faithchristiancenter.ca

www.faithchristiancenter.ca

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The Christmas Story

The scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is God, who came to earth as a man to make full provision for our eternal salvation. (John 1:1>14; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7)

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 

This prophetic utterance by Isaiah, was spoken some 735 years before the birth of Christ. 

In the historical narrative, the virgins conception and bearing of a Son, is a sign of both impending judgment and the provision of salvation. Judgment for the unbeliever, and salvation for the believer. (Isaiah 7)

Immanuel, the prophetic name of this Son who will be born of a virgin, means “with us is God.” This Son is more than just a man, He is the Christ. He will possess the full nature of man; also possessing the full, unmingled, nature of God. (2 Peter 1:1b)

The Holy Spirit was responsible for Mary’s pregnancy. He created and placed an original seed in Mary’s womb. Therefore the Scripture records that, “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit,” and “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18, 20)

The child to be born, will be a special Son; the Son of God; the only begotten Son being born to die a horrific and unjust death, to “save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21; John 3:16; Hebrews 10:5-10)

In Christ, God has subjected Himself to the human experience. According to Philippians 2:7,8, when coming into the world, Jesus “made Himself of no reputation;” kenoo Heautou, meaning that He “emptied himself,” that He divested Himself of His rightful dignity and privilege as God, subjecting Himself to the human condition.

He did not empty Himself of His essence as God; but He did set aside at least three aspects of the dignity and privilege He had eternally enjoyed as God. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. – 2  Corinthians 8:9

•Jesus, coming into the world, set aside His divine glory. (John 17:5) The glory He demonstrated in His earthly life is the glory of Original Righteousness, like that which Adam enjoyed before sin, and like the glory to be restored to man by Jesus’ victory over sin. (Hebrews 2:10) 

•Jesus, coming into the world, set aside the independent authority He had the right to as God. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane demonstrates His perfect submission to the will of another; i.e. God the Father. (Matthew 26:39; see also, John 5:30; 15:10)

•Jesus in coming into the world set aside His inability to be tempted by evil, or to suffer certain external results of Adam’s sin. Scripture clearly reveals God’s inability to be tempted by evil (James 1:13); but it also reveals that Jesus, in His human nature was tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15) 

The Christmas story is much more than the circumstances of Jesus’ birth; it is the beginning of the great climax of history, and the confirmation of the purpose of creation. 

May your heart rise above the normal activities of the Christmas season to embrace the eternal significance of the coming of Immanuel; God with us; Jesus the Christ. 

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