The Church

The New Testament describes the Church as the Bride of Christ [Eph 5, Rev 19], as a body made up of many parts [1 Cor 12], a temple indwelled by the Holy Spirit made up of spiritual stones[Eph 2, 1 Pet 2], and a family made up of blood-bought siblings in the household of our Lord [1 Tim 3].

Church membership means active belonging, shared commitment, spiritual responsibility, and steadfast love.

Nowhere does the New Testament describe a lonesome Christian living out his or her life in union with Christ but estranged from His Body. The Church is not a service-provider, it is the living, breathing assembly of those who have been united with Christ.

The Church is a universal —all times, all places— reality. Faithful local churches are particular expressions of that glorious reality.

So church membership is not a loose attachment to a local church, it is glad and dedicated participation within the life of that Body knowing the Lord has joined us together in Christ for His glory and our flourishing.

Moreover, we understand in order to obey God’s commands, instructions, and invitations in His Word, we simply must be joined with a Body of believers who gathers regularly to sit under the authority of God’s Word and who correctly practices baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Pathway

Receive the Gospel → Repent and Believe in Christ → Join the Family → Come to the Table

  • Hear and understand [Rom 10:14-17]the Good News of Christ [Rom 5:6-11, 2 Cor 5:21, Eph 2:1-10]

  • Personally appropriate the Gospel by grace through faith: repent[Mk 1:14-15]and believe [Rom 1:16, 5:9, 10:8c-10]

  • Be joined to a church: the local expression of God’s eternal family [Eph 2:11-22]with baptism as the entrance ceremony [Acts 2:41]

  • Participate in the life of the Body [Gal 2:20] and partake regularly of the Lord’s Supper [1 Cor 11:23-29]

Central Baptist Church Covenant

Having been led by the Spirit of God to love and follow Jesus Christ, we do now joyfully covenant with God and each other: 

To walk together in Christian love; 

To worship God, observing Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; 

To commit ourselves to prayer and Bible study; 

To love and forgive others, as God loves and forgives us; 

To pray for and help others in times of sickness and distress; 

To contribute cheerfully to the mission of the church; 

To share our faith with our families, friends, and neighbors; 

To pray and work for a spirit of unity among all Christians; 

To strive for justice, freedom, and peace in our world; and 

To join with some other Christian Church when we move from this community; 

And that, in every area of our lives, we will strive to do God’s will by the power of the Holy Spirit to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen!