PCC Church Member Responsibilities

The Bible describes the church as brothers and sisters who must “be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Rom 12:10a). We are to be together each Sunday, during midweek gatherings, and with fellow members as we’re invited to a home or to coffee. God says we are to be “rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, . . . [and] practicing hospitality” together (Rom 12:12-13). Church membership is like marriage. With marriage comes responsibilities to a spouse, to your children, and to your spouses’ family. To this end our constitution gives us several responsibilities that we have toward one another as the members of PCC. It says:

The members shall be responsible to the authority (Hebrews 13:17), maintain fellowship (1 John 1:6-7), maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), esteem others better than themselves (Philippians 2:3), be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), contribute to the needs of the saints (Romans 12:13), assume financial responsibility for the ministry of the church according to one’s ability (2 Corinthians 8:3-4), and be willing workers (1 Peter 4:10). Reconciliation between members will be encouraged in accordance with 1 Corinthians 6:1-4, and Matthew 18:15, 17 and with cognizance of Romans 14:19.

1.     The members shall be responsible to the authority. Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” We follow our pastor and elders, they lead, we follow. Even I, though I am an elder-pastor, am submitted to our elders.

2.     Maintain fellowship. 1 John 1:6-7 says “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Hidden sin blocks fellowship with God and with each other. Confess and repent of your sins.

3.     Maintain the unity of the Spirit. Ephesians 4:3 says “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Do nothing that would cause division. Do not put others down. Do not grumble to other members, but do everything to maintain our oneness as Christ’s body. 

4.     Esteem others better than themselves. Philippians 2:3 says “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” In everything put other church members before and above yourself. 

5.     Be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12c says “devoted to prayer.” Pray for the spiritual growth and renewal for every church member, constantly. 

6.     Serve one another. Galatians 5:13 says “but through love serve one another.” 

7.     Contribute to the needs of the saints. Romans 12:13 says “contributing to the needs of the saints.” If you see a brother or sister who needs anything give them what they need. 

8.     Assume financial responsibility for the ministry of the church according to one’s ability. 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 says “For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints.” Give to PCC regularly, sacrificially, and according to your ability. Figure out the percentage of your income that you are able to give to the church, and give regularly (weekly or monthly). If you have not worked this out, talk it over with your spouse, and make a decision. God expects us to give to our church, if we can. 

9.     Be willing workers. 1 Peter 4:10 says “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Our church has so many needs that go unmet. Consider helping in the nursery. Consider helping the men with various projects. Consider providing meals to church members, or working in the kitchen for a potluck. 

10.  Reconciliation. Matthew 18:15, 17 says “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.” We all are sinners, we all sin against one another, so we all need to perfect the process of reconciliation. If one has offended you or sinned against you, go talk to him or her. If it isn’t resolved, call me, or another church member to help you work it out. We must resolve our issues with one another. Church membership is a lot like marriage, divorce should not be an option, nor should leaving the church over unresolved sins and offenses.

God’s Word outlines many responsibilities for us. The church will take one day per week of your life, the Lord’s Day. Use these biblical responsibilities to direct your expectations of one another, and your ideas about church. Let’s link arms together to worship and serve Jesus Christ, we’re a family.

The Better Country

Only time will tell what legacy the 2016 election will leave behind for our nation, but there is already one lesson we Christians can learn from it today: Politics does not exist to inspire divine hope. Dearest Christian, you must remember that we are resident aliens in this country, our citizenship is in heaven. We live today as strangers waiting to go home to our eternal country with King Jesus.

The book of Hebrews reminds us of our eternal country that we will possess if we stick with Jesus, our only hope. The original readers of Hebrews were struggling to keep believing in Jesus. They were tempted to leave the gospel to go back to their old Jewish religion. The author of Hebrews argues that the old Jewish religion is obsolete because it pointed them forward to Christ. However, many believers died during those old covenant times before Christ came. They were people like Abraham and Joseph, who both died before inheriting all of God's promises. But they died in faith, looking forward to the hope coming in Jesus and ultimately in their heavenly country. The author writes:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on the earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV). 

Our hope for a sinless nation or at least one where all its citizens are Christians will only be fully realized when God's Son returns for us, and takes us to the place he has prepared for us. So for now we can only see these things from a distance; we can't clearly see it yet with our eyes. But we do see something, don't we? Each Sunday when we are gathered to hear God's Word and to worship him, we see a glimpse of the better country, the eternal one that will come. We gather as one body, focused on our God, worshiping our God in unison. It is a glorious glimpse of what is to come. 

The coming eternal nation will not gain power through an election cycle, but through Jesus' second coming. Its citizens won't disagree over sinful issues like abortion, rather its citizens will please God in obedience from the heart. This perfect city will be visibly ruled by our Messiah, who will rule with pure justice, love, and all power. This hope will soon call us away from our temporary residence and unto a better citizenship, and eternal country where God will be our God and our King and we will be with all his people, one Christian family and country.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).