wings
Membership requires
nurturing & growth
In the last issue, I examined the seven vows that members assume when they become part of the United Methodist Church. These vows are explained in Paragraph 217 in the 2004 Book of Discipline.
In the third part of this "Meaning of Membership" series, I want members to understand that when they join the church, they commit to more than acceptance and pardon from God. They also commit to nurture each other and to grow in the faith.
The word "nurture" has been so misunderstood in our local churches. Many of our members believe nurture means "to take care." The dictionary states that nurture means "to educate, to rear, and to bring up." The dictionary also points us to the word "nourish" which means "to supply with food; to feed and cause to grow."
It appears to me that every time a new member takes the vows of membership (or, if they participate in the United Methodist Hymnal's "Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith,") congregational members commit themselves to nurture each other as well as the new member. In days gone by we would simply say, "We are going on to perfection."
The 2004 Book of Discipline (page 47, paragraph 101, under "Sanctification and Perfection") states:
We hold that the wonder of God's acceptance and pardon does not end God's saving work, which continues to nurture our growth in grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to increase in the knowledge and love of God and in love for our neighbor.
The Apostle Paul admonishes the church in Ephesians 4:11-15:
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every word of doctrine, the people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceit- ful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
You see, God expects that after we profess our faith in the saving work of Christ, we will go on to "grow up."
This "growing up" is understood to be the lifelong pursuit of the member, the disciple, and the Christian. But at this point after accepting a new member into the congregation, the church seems to drop the ball. We fumble away our chance to lead the new convert into discipleship. Perhaps this is the reason why some, after reading this column series, want to argue with me - because what we have called membership in the church has often been Wesley's prevenient and justifying grace, without moving on to sanctification. Wesley assumes that to accept grace is to seek a change in life reflected in good works. The 2004 Book of Discipline, under the section "Faith and Good Works" states, "For Wesley, even repentance should be accompanied by 'fruits meet for repentance,' or works of piety and mercy."
Membership demands something from us that is more than our attendance, our money, or the holding of leadership positions. Membership is a commitment to working with the Holy Spirit so that we are transformed, made into new creations reflecting Jesus to the world - not just while we're in the church building, but while we interact with our families, communities and even our enemies. Paragraph 220 of the Book of Discipline makes this clear:
Therefore, each member of The United Methodist Church is to be a servant of Christ on mission in the local and worldwide community. This servanthood is performed in family life, daily work, recreation and social activities, responsible citizenship, the stewardship of property and accumulated resources, the issues of corporate life, and all attitudes toward other persons. Participation in disciplined groups is an expected part of personal mission involvement. Each member is called upon to be a witness for Christ in the world, a light and leaven in society and a reconciler in a culture of conflict. Each member is to identify with the agony and suffering of the world and to radiate and exemplify the Christ of Hope.
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