Why Become A Part of Bethel Deliverance International Church
Although there’s no Bible verse that commands church membership, when we look at the evidence, it’s clear that being a member of a local church is understood and assumed.
Church Membership Cultivates Spiritual Growth For The Individual.
As a person comes to faith in Christ, it’s vital to their growth that they place themselves under the teaching and authority of the Word of God. By joining a local church, each person is making a statement that they identify with a particular doctrinal position of who God is and what role His Word has in their life. It’s there, within the body of the church, that they exercise the spiritual giftings they receive from God. Those gifts given to the individual were also given, in a sense, to the local church. Each local body is healthier if they have ears, eyes, a nose, and so forth (1 Corinthians 12:12-24). Church membership isn’t simply for the benefit of the individual but also for the benefit of the local assembly. We welcome your gifts and abilities to Bethel, and it is our desire that you thrive with us and bring us your abilities and talents to make us grow and develop into a functional body of believers.
The Offices of Leadership Show Church Membership Is Assumed
These positions were to be chosen from those who were members of the church. When the first deacons were chosen, they were selected from within the church body. These were men who were known by people of the church and possessed certain qualifications. Those who are leaders, pastors, and elders of the church, had certain responsibilities to those under their care. They were to care for the widows and the sick and "have charge over" the congregation (1 Thessalonians 5:12). The members are to "submit to" these leaders (Hebrews 13:17) and to honor them as such (1 Timothy 5:17). This only makes sense if there are members of each local church.
Jesus Taught Church Discipline In the Context of Church Membership.
We see this in Jesus's teaching in Matthew 18:15-20. This is the passage commonly referred to as the teaching of church discipline. We see a clear process whereby a person found in sin goes through steps to either restore them or remove them from the church. This only makes sense if there is membership in a local church. Otherwise, from what would they remove the erring brother? Also, why would the erring brother agree to go through a process at all?
Church membership is essential for you to practice the scriptural "one anothering". When you are part of a local church body, you will be in the position to practice the "one anothering" of Scripture.
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Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:10 (KJV)
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Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7 (NIV)
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Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sakes has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
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Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
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Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 4:7)
If you would like to join our fellowship, the first step is New Members Application. Once accepted, you'll be enrolled in New Member Orientation. New Member Orientation’s purpose is to prepare people for membership at Bethel. They receive insight through an eight-week class. Upon receiving the right hand of fellowship, we continue to help them in becoming active in the Bible school and in various ministries and activities.