Becoming a positive church member

During the COVID-19 shutdown, many were proclaiming that, “The church has left the building.” Well, the church leaves the building every Sunday. Others declared that the church is not a building. This seems obvious to most Christians I know. A good number of folks were proclaiming the church as an assembly of believers and were striving to maintain relationships in the face of the challenges presented by social distancing.

Social distance is a term as inaccurate as it is unfortunate. We needed physical distance and social nearness in times like these. Many of the churches that left the building continued to meet online; not forsaking the gathering.

I recently completed a series of sermons based on Thom Rainer’s excellent book “I Am a Church Member.” The small book (79 pages) outlines what it means to be a church member in a clear, biblical manner with a focus on relationships. I wanted to explore and expound on what the Bible says about church membership.

Rainer stands opposed to the idea that the church exists, primarily, to serve the needs of its members. That would make it more like a country club. A place where, if your needs aren’t met, you will take your money elsewhere.

Church members are the body of Christ gathered to worship, love one another, and bear witness to God’s love for the world. However, we often behave badly towards each other. Some will bully others to get there way. Some will become possessive of their turf. Backbiting and gossip are not uncommon. Jesus said that the world will recognize us as His disciples by our love. We can do better.

“I Am a Church Member” encourages us to move beyond being spectators and consumers. We are to give of our time, talent and treasure in service to God through the church. We are to be loving and humble in our relationships with others. We are to respect and pray for the leaders of our church. We ought to view church membership as a gift; an opportunity to be part of something greater than ourselves.

 

VBS in the time of COVID

We just finished VBS this week. It was a marvelous triumph, despite its small size relative to past years. VBS at Baptist Temple has included as many as five churches and often involves the assistance of a visiting short term mission team. We have recorded attendances of over 200 and one year had 40 professions of faith.

 

VBS is a big deal in the American church. It is bigger than Easter and Christmas in most churches. Lifeway, Group, Concordia, and other publishers put out elaborate kits around themes that capture the imagination. Oriental Trading puts out decorations and trinkets linked to the various themes. It is big business. Baptist Temple spent over $2000 in 2019 for VBS.

Kay Richardson has been directing VBS for the past several years, presiding over impressive productions that included a diverse group of leaders and children that included a wide range of age, cultural and economic strata. There have been light shows, worship bands, witty treat and elaborate decorations. Once we had an airplane with a six foot wingspan on stage. This year, however, was her best.

COVID led to the cancellation of VBS last year. This year seemed a bit iffy. The churches with which we usually partnered opted out. Our children’s ministry was small and we were unable to accomplish our typical summer outreach. Kay overcame these challenges and coordinated a VBS program that maximized our resources without taxing our workers. The children had a wonderful time and the workers an enriching experience.

Most important is the fact that we pushed forward in the face of uncertainty and adversity. We were faithful our service to the Lord and emerged victorious. It wasn’t our biggest VBS nor did it set a record for professions of faith, but it was, arguably, our most successful.

A big thank you to Kay and her steadfast team. To God be the glory

Should a church borrow money?

Some churches are totally against going into debt. They will cite Romans 13:8: “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

On the other hand, in the parable of the talents, the master praises the two servants who had invested his money, while rebuking the unfaithful servant who buried his allotment. “You ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest” (Matthew 25:27).

Sometimes, loans are needed for a church to continue or expand its mission. When our air conditioning system failed, we learned that it would cost $300,000 to replace the broken parts. The decision to secure a loan was easier to make because Baptist Temple had begun to reverse its decline. The building was being used daily and our forecasted income would cover the loan.

The Baptist Church Loan Corporation (BCLC) granted us the loan based on their understanding of the history our church and our prospects for the future. BCLC is a ministry of Texas Baptists with whom we are affiliated. Their ministry focused calculations are different than a bank’s, but they can only loan money when there is a reasonable chance of repayment.

Without this loan that three story building would have been unusable. Too many urban churches fall into disrepair because of deferred maintenance. However, mission must come first. If a church is on mission for the gospel, God will supply the needed resources. In fact, this loan was paid off early thanks to an unexpected financial blessing.

We secured a second loan based on capital campaign pledges. Members and friends of Baptist Temple pledged a certain amount over a three-year period for the replacement of our roof systems and other needed repairs. The loan (again, from BCLC) allowed us to get to work right away; before we experienced any more rain damage. The generosity of our folks was extended for a few more years and we have reached the end of that obligation.

A third loan was secured to replace all of our existing lighting with more energy efficient fixtures. While the matter was less urgent, we needed to act in order to take advantage of a CPS grant. The loan will be paid from the savings on our energy bill.

Loans should not be sought for foolish reasons but, if it is clear that the church’s mission can be expanded or sustained, then a loan is a sound ministry strategy.