What God's Word Says About Membership

"The church was so important to Christ that He died for it."

"Membership moves the Christian from the category of attender to the category of committed."

THE MEMBERSHIP DEBATE Realizing that every Christian becomes a member of God’s universal family at the time of salvation, the question is often asked, "Why become a member of the local church?" This is a good question about the subject of membership and is one that has caused unnecessary tension and even division in some churches. Becoming a member of a local body of believers does not insure your salvation or have any effect on your eternal life. But we need to remember that the local church is where our spirits are fed and our needs are shared. It is where we corporately come before Him in worship and gather for prayer. Finally, it is the place that God has chosen to be filled with talents and abilities to do His work through spiritual gifts that are given by the Holy Spirit for the building up of His kingdom. The Bible refers to the church as the bride of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:25-33; Rev. 19:7,8; 21:9). As we consider the full range of responsibilities placed on the church to glorify Him and to be the organization that is responsible for the care and feeding of the His people, the need for a pure and high level of commitment becomes very clear. This commitment is demonstrated by membership in the local church. Membership says, "You can count on me." It confirms that you are "part of the family." And it sends a clear message to the others that you want to invest in your spiritual growth by using your Spirit-given gifts to glorify Christ. Membership says, "You can count on me." "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (1 Cor. 12:12)			MEMBERSHIP COVENANT STATEMENT A covenant is an agreement between two people or groups. As a member of Canyon Hills Community Church, you will be asked to enter into a covenant relationship with the church. The covenant with CHCC contains the following provisions: Involvement in ministry at CHCC Support of the Mission Statement of the church If not already tithing, commitment to strive toward the goal to tithe Agreement with the core values as stated in the Membership Manual Submission to CHCC leadership For information about our Membership Class click here.
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR MEMBERSHIP Commitment to membership Becoming a member of a local church distinguishes you through your expression of your love for God. Membership moves the Christian from the category of attender to the category of committed. Attenders are spectators; members are connected and involved. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors. Attenders take the benefits of the church; members contribute to the benefits and add to the overall health of the church. The difference is commitment. Commitment to your beliefs The Bible tells us that we are a body of many parts (1 Cor. 12:12), joined together as a holy temple where God lives by His Spirit (Eph. 2:21,22). As believers, we share together in the promise of Christ (Eph. 3:6), are held together by every supporting ligament (Eph. 4:16), and are caused to grow by God (Col. 2:19). Clearly, as believers we are no longer alone; each of us together form a body, the parts of which all belong to the other (Rom. 12:5). Commitment to care In addition to being an organization, the church is an organism with many living parts joined together in membership with one each having a specific function (Rom. 12:4,5). In order for each of the parts (organs) of the body to fulfill its function, it depends on other parts; none can function independently or stand alone. If one part becomes separated from the body, it immediately begins to weaken and eventually dies. The same is true for a member of the church who becomes separated. He is no longer connected to the love and food for growth and eventually becomes weak. The increased commitment of membership in the local church provides a higher level of the assurance of connection to the organism of the church. This helps explains the first sign of spiritual decline. It is usually evidenced in inconsistent attendance (connection) at worship services and other gatherings of Christians. Commitment to growth and maturity The person who believes that spiritual growth and maturity can occur without the church is lacking a full understanding of its significance. The church was so important to Christ that He died for it (Eph. 5:25). God commands us to love the church (1 Peter 2:17). One of the ways this love is demonstrated is through membership. Being a member of a church family identifies you as a genuine believer that is committed to a body of other believers (John 13:35). It shows that your focus is on God, not on yourself as you grow and learn how to support and rejoice with other believers (1 Cor. 12:26). As members of a body, we learn from each other while we offer support and encouragement and bear with each other through their growth. This process of learning makes us stronger as we participate and offer support to the other members (Eph. 4:16b). Commitment to serve Just like a part of the human body, as a member of God’s family, He has given each Christian a function to fulfill. This function, or set of assignments, is your ministry. It was given to you as a Christians to serve the entire church and not to be kept solely for your own private use (1 Cor. 12:7). As we fulfill our ministry and serve the other members, we are also mutually cared for. The relationships we develop are also a result of other members using their gifts and "watching out" for each one in the body. Through this mutual support, the member is encouraged and protected by godly leaders and if necessary, assisted in restoration to the body if a separation begins to occur (James 5:19). HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF CANYON HILLS     There are only a few requirements to become a member of CHCC: 1. The assurance of your salvation. Church membership is specifically for those who have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 2. Be baptized by immersion. 3. Fill out a membership application. 4. Attend the Discover Canyon Hills membership seminar. These classes area offered at least 3 times each year, on Sunday or Wednesday evenings 5. Sign the Membership Covenant. 6. Connect to the church by attending a LifeGroup and/or serving in a ministry. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Can I transfer my membership from another church? No. CHCC does not accept transfer memberships from other churches. 2. How old do you have to be to become a member? The minimum age is 18. 3. Is baptism by sprinkling as an infant acceptable? No. CHCC believes that Biblical water baptism is by immersion. 4. Do I get a membership card or something to show that I am a member? Yes. You will receive a certificate of membership. 5. Is membership required to serve at CHCC? In some areas of service, membership is required. These are primarily in positions of leadership