The Reception of Church Members
SECTION INTRODUCTION.
Church of Christ provide one of the finest, if not the
very finest opportunity afforded to the minister for personal dealing with individual souls. For the most part, the age of the candidates is in our favor, because they are usually at an impressionable time of life. In the Church of England and the Episcopal Churches of America, it is continually found that the rite of Confirmation, (administered as it is to those who have reached the years of discretion as the fulfillment of the vows taken for them in infant baptism), provides an occasion of almost incomparable value for individual work and personal contact. Other Churches frequently testify to the value of a similar opportunity with the young people who come forward to join the Church. Be it ours to realize the splendid possibilities of our position and to make the best use we can of them.
a “HE occasions for receiving new members into the
We shall do this, first of all, by making sure of our own personal life. Unless the pastor is spiritually fit for the training of his candidates the whole preparation will suffer. “There is scarcely any occasion when he needs to be more ‘thoroughly furnished’ for the work of getting into the closest possible touch with individual souls on behalf of Christ. Another way of making the most of this time is by remembering that the preparation must be very much more than instruction. It must extend to inspiration, for we must ever keep in view the definite object of personal influence. Its crowning purpose is the genuine personal contact of the soul with Christ as Saviour and Master.
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SECTION 2. THE PREPARATION.
The approach of the season for receiving new members will naturally be introduced by announcements in Church, together with a sermon on the spiritual meaning and importance of the rite. At the close of this sermon an invitation should be given to candidates to send in their names, and arrangements be made for the meeting of the class. The length of the preparation may be determined by the discretion of the minister.
In the conduct of the classes care should be taken to make them definitely spiritual and personal. ‘They should lead up to decision each time, whatever the subject may be. A hymn to open is helpful, if found practicable. ‘The duration of the meeting should not be longer than forty-five minutes, and the gathering should be as bright and hearty as possible. “The minister should be at the door at the close, to shake hands with the candidates as they leave. He should invite inquiries on any points arising out of his teaching, and, above everything, he should put his very best into this work of preparation, the best that his mind and heart can produce. He will never regret it; he will always thank God for the time and streneth given to this important part of his ministry.
At the time of application for Church membership, there will most naturally be found an opportunity for a private interview between pastor and candidate. This need not be long, and should close with definite personal prayer. It is so easy to use the occasion for a very frank, personal talk. and this in almost every case will prove spiritually fruitful, if there is faithfulness on the part of the minister with a view to decision for Christ. He will not be unduly encouraged or elated if some of his candidates are quick to respond to his inquiries and appeals, nor unduly discouraged or disappointed should they show a need of further effort on their behalf.
A spirit of expectation should be encouraged and cultivated at the last meeting of the class and the significance of the approaching service impressed as deeply as possible on the candidates. If the preparation has been earnest, thorough, and
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detailed, the truths of the Christian life will be very real to them, and they will look upon the occasion as a blessed opportunity of entering into the fulness of fellowship with Christ and His Church.
It is of the greatest spiritual value to make as much as possible of the first administration of the Holy Communion after the reception of new members. In many Churches it is the custom for both services to be included in the morning worship of a particular Sabbath, and for the new members to join with the rest of the congregation in partaking of the sacrament. “Thus, the occasion may be made one of special blessing to the entire Church.
A useful practice pursued by many ministers is, as soon ‘as possible after the service, to write to each of the new members a friendly pastoral letter of welcome, urging them to faithfulness in church attendance and co-operation in the various departments of religious activity. A definite interest in Sunday School, young people’s society, choir, or other organization may be suggested, and the letter may close with a personal message of spiritual counsel or encouragement.
SECTION 3. AN OUTLINE OF TEACHING.
Two main ideas must ever be kept in view; instruction and impression. Perhaps the greatest need of all is the endeavour to invest old truths with something like freshness of treatment for the young life that comes before us.
The main lines of preparation may be suggested as follows : —
I. The Meaning of Church Membership.
1. Show that at baptism we were designated, or dedicated to, and introduced into, the privileges and opportunities of the Christian community after prayer and sponsorial promises to
teach what personal Christianity really means. Baptism may
be illustrated by the soldier’s enlistment, and then, after the necessary training and discipline, uniting with the Church may be likened to his putting on his uniform, when he confesses Whose, and what he is.
or
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2. Uniting with the Church implies that we have been taught this, that we realize its meaning and intend to follow it for ourselves.
3. The Christian life may be summed up in two ways. (az) ‘I give myself to God’ (Josh. 24: 15; 1 Kings 18: 21; Matt. 6: 24; 2 Cor. 6: 14-16). (4) ‘God gives Himself to me’ (Luke 11: 9-13; John 14: 14, 16, 26; Phil. 4: 13, 19).
4. Nothing less than this is personal Christianity, and it must be faced clearly. ‘Then, when we are right with Christ, we enter into a true relation to Christians,
II. The Christian Life: Its Divine Side.
Three blessings are offered.
1. Forgiveness and life. Sin separates, Christ unites (John 5: 24; John 15:5; 1 John 1: 7).
2. Grace and strength. Arising out of the former bless-Pomiercin ben 2: Gal. 37°26; 2 Cor. 6: 17518; Eph. 3: 14-16).
3. Protection and preservation. Present grace and future Sette 13. 1450 Pil. 40°19s) John 14: 2; 3; 2Cor Da uovarbet, 1s: 4):
Observe the completeness of these blessings, covering past, present and future. All possible circumstances are provided for.
All these are ours because of God’s love. The three circles of love: (a) the world (John 3: 16; (6) the Church (Eph. 5:25; (c) the individual (Gal. 2: 20).
All become ours when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. In Him all gifts and blessings are included.
Dwell wholly in this lesson on the Divine side and not at all on the human. ‘This will encourage and inspire. Give Isaiah 41: 10 as a motto,
II. The Christian Life: Its Human Side.
Now, comes the question: How are these three gifts to be enjoyed as our own? ‘The answer is, By Repentance, Trust,
and Obedience.
(1) Repentance.
We are to renounce everything that is sinful, or liable te lead to sin. Three special enemies:
(a) The enemy above us, the author of all evil, who tempts
directly by suggestion, especially to unbelief and pride (Gen..
3: 1-5; Jas. 4: 7; 1 Pet. 5: 9). Note that all Bible temptations of Satan are against believers, not against people of the world. Satan has no need to tempt them. ‘This should keep us from discouragement when we are tempted by him.
(4) The enemy around us. Everything evil, or likely to lead to it, in persons and things around us. We have no difficulty about what is actually evil; only about what is doubtful. How are we to know what is ‘worldly’? One test will settle almost everything: either, What would Jesus have done? or, still better, What would He wish me to do (Rom. 12: 2; 1 John 2: 15-17)?
(c) The enemy within us, the flesh. Everything in our own hearts, thoughts, and desires. Distinguish carefully between temptation and sin. We cannot prevent thoughts coming, but we can prevent them staying. Luther wrote to his own son that we cannot prevent the birds from flying around our heads, but we can prevent them from building their nests in our hair (Rom, 8: 5-8; Gal. 5: 17-21). On this occasion, but only quite generally, make pointed reference or allusions to sins of the flesh. )
Place strong emphasis on the true meaning of repentance, that it is not penitence, or sorrow for sin, but the forsaking of sin. ‘This is the key to the Christian position. Without repentance, no blessings of Christ are possible.
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1. ‘The particular points of Christian belief are found in the Bible as a whole and yet are summarized conveniently in the Apostles Creed.
(a) Three parts: belief in God the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost. Dwell upon all these sections without undue detail.
(6) Words to be explained: ‘holy,’ ‘quick,’ ‘Catholic Church,’ ‘Communion of Saints.’
2. Belief is not everything that is required. From belief
Tue RECEPTION OF CHURCH MEMBERS 201
of facts, we have to ascend to trust in a Person. Not belief in facts. about God only, but trust in God Himself (Heb. 11: O7O3 Acts) 15: 313) Jas. 2; 19; John, 1:12).
3. Emphasize the necessity of personal trust: faith is found essential in every department of life. So in religion, it is the only answer to God’s revelation if there is any connection between Him and man.
(3) Obedience.
1. What is obedience? ‘The expression and proof of our repentance and trust.
2. What is the standard of obedience? ‘The Bible as the Word of God.
3. What is the summary of that standard? The Ten
Commandments.
(a) Observe the outline: God and others. (4) Note the completeness: covering thoughts, words, and deeds in relation to God and our neighbour.
4. What is the motive of obedience? Redemption.
IV. The Christian’s Need of Grace.
(1) Prayer.
1. What prayer is. Trustfully telling God what we need, and asking Him for it according to His will. Illustrations of prayer: the telegraph, telephone, microphone.
2. Encouragements to prayer: (a) the promises in the Bible; (4) examples of men and women of prayer.
3. Times for prayer: (a) regular; (0) stated.
4. Ejaculatory prayer. Prayer that ‘darts’ up to God like an arrow. Illustrations from the Bible: e. g. ‘Lord, save me;’ ‘Lord, help me.’
5. The model prayer: the Lord’s Prayer, with its (a) three petitions for God’s glory; (4) three (or four) petitions fcr our needs.
In all our instruction on prayer make the matter quite simple, easy and natural, as the expression of our spiritual life.
(2) The Bibie.
1. The Bible as a means of grace covers everything, since grace rests upon Divine revelation,
2. The uniqueness of the Bible. It is the only Book revealing (a) God’s love; (4) deliverance from sin.
3. This is due to Christ the Living Word as (a) God’s revelation; (4) God’s power.
4. To be read primarily for ourselves and not for others: see the examples, promises, warnings, precepts, hopes. ‘What saith my Lord unto His servant?’
5. To be read with prayer. Prayer and the Bible are the two sides of communion. Our talking to God and God talking to us.
6. To be read with definite personal application to our own needs day by day. ‘This is the meaning of meditation.
7. To be read daily. Food is needed regularly for the body, and this is the food for the soul. Even five minutes will suffice, if we cannot spare more, Quality, not quantity, is to be insisted on.
8. This method of daily personal Bible meditation is the supreme safeguard against all backsliding. ‘The Bible is the mirror in which we see ourselves (Jas. 1: 23-25), the water to cleanse ourselves (Eph. 5: 26, 27), and the food to strengthen ourselves (Jer. 15: 16).
9. ‘The value of regular systematic reading in connexion with a Bible Union or other definite plan of study.
10. In all this teaching on the Bible, try as far as possible to make it novel and fresh in treatment.
(3) The Holy Communion in Scripture.
|. ‘The teaching must be positive, not negative; spiritual and devotional, and not at all controversial.
2. The leading ideas from the New ‘Testament: (a) a Remembrance; (2) a Picture; (c) a Promise. Distinguish between knowing and remembering. We cannot remember if we do not know, and we cannot ‘do this in remembrance’. unless we know Christ as our personal Saviour.
3. In the New Testament observe the various aspects of Christ’s work expressed in the Lord’s Supper: Christ for us; in us; with us; coming.
4. “Two points in regard to the Lord’s Supper: (@) What it is: a remembrance of Calvary and of its spiritual benefits; (6) What it does: strengthens and refreshes.
5. In all this teaching on Holy Communion, endeavour to fix the minds of the candidates on Him, not on it. Point out that the relation between the sign and the thing signified is one of parallelism, not of identity. There are two givers: the Lord and the minister; two receivers: the body and the soul; two methods: the mouth and faith. When we approach with a true and living faith the two acts are simultaneous; the Lord gives His grace as the clergyman gives the elements, so that we can eat and drink the elements zz faith, and at the same time we feed on Christ dy faith.
V. After Uniting with the Church: What?
1, Either just before, or preferably just after, the special first Communion, an address should be given, showing of what is to be expected from the new members.
2. ‘The Christian life must first be emphasized: (@) on its human side of consistency; (4) on its Divine side of grace sufficient for every need.
3. Christian service must then be taught: (a) a general witness of the life; (4) some definite form of Christian work in connexion with the Church.
4. Once again the endeavour should be made to put the new life at once brightly, earnestly, and definitely before the new members.:
It has of course been impossible to do more than give the barest suggestion for this work. But it is only right before passing away from the subject to emphasize afresh in the plainest way the unspeakable privilege and great responsibility of this opportunity of coming so closely in contact with the spiritual needs of the young people of our Church and parish. The man who undertakes this work in the right spirit will often feel overwhelmed as he contemplates the solemn possibilities, and yet will find his heart rejoicing again and again in the indication of God’s gracious blessing resting upon his prayerful efforts,