TAKING VOWS SERIOUSLY

Our lives would be much better off if we simply took our vows seriously. The breakdown of marriage, family, and faith can easily be attributed to a lack of faithfulness to important vows. We are quick to make them, but slow to keep them. We are guilty of making piecrust promises––easily made, easily broken. Followers of Christ, however, should take vows with profound seriousness and solemnity. Indeed, there should be a blood-earnestness in the taking and fulfilling of our vows. The Psalmist commands: “Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them” (Psalm 76:11a).

We take vows for all kinds of reasons: marriage, ordination, and public office, to name but a few. None of these vows, however, are more significant and meaningful than vows for church membership.

Fierce and unyielding commitment to a faithful church body deeply affects every facet of our lives (Acts 2:42). In the context of a biblical church God matures, disciples, protects, comforts, encourages, disciplines, and teaches his children (Heb. 10:19-25; Eph. 4:9-16). Through the ministry of the Word and sacraments, and the loving spiritual oversight of the ordained leadership, God’s redeemed are nourished, guarded, and guided as they make their way through the thorny wilderness of this present evil age to the Promised Land of the age to come (II Tim. 3:16-17; I Pet. 2:2; Heb. 13:17). Who wouldn’t want this kind of spiritual encouragement and direction? Why would any serious Christian deny such spiritual benefits?

Over the last twenty years of pastoral ministry, I have recognized a few things about those who are truly committed to the ministry and body life of the local church. They generally have stronger faith, healthier marriages, godlier families, and deeper friendships. Moreover, they are marked by godly contentment. Alternatively, those “once-or-twice-a-monthers” who are masters of excuses while perpetually staying on the fringes of congregational life always seem to be the ones who have ongoing problems.

These results should come as no surprise to us, however. It is by God’s design that Christians flourish when committed to the faithful ministry of a local church. The Christian committed to a biblical church is like a tree planted in rich soil by streams of water (Ps. 1:3).

It is in the church that believers are powerfully driven to Christ through the proclamation of the gospel in Word and sacrament. It is in the church that believers learn how to live the Christian life through biblical discipleship. And it is in the church that we share one other’s burdens, and exercise mutual accountability (Gal. 6:2). Church membership, therefore, is meant to be more than just a formality. It serves as one of the most significant commitments of our lives. Through our devoted membership in the church we worship, grow, serve, and love with Christ-centered intentionality. Apart from the church we are like a ship without a rudder–– aimless and wandering. Without the ministry of the church our spiritual growth is stunted, and we are dangerously exposed to the temptations of the devil.

This Lord’s Day we are blessed to welcome several new brothers and sisters in Christ into the membership of Christ Church Presbyterian. As they stand before us and take their membership vows, may we, the members of Christ Church, be mindful of our own commitment to these vows as well.

The following vows are taken by every person who joins a congregation in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Vows for Church Membership

1. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save [except] in His sovereign mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel

3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?

4. Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?

5. Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

- Pastor Jon