Part 8 of 8 qualities of the heart that resists error
Church membership is like an umbrella in a downpour.
This is the concluding article in a series examining eight soul qualities that make us immune to false teaching.
8. Church membership
Jesus says you are a sheep who needs the protection of shepherds (see John 10:1–15 and John 21:15–17). If enfolded in the flock, you benefit from the spiritual covering of your church (see 1 Corinthians 5) and from human shepherds who watch over your soul (see Hebrews 13:17).
Wolves eat stray sheep. Jesus intends that church be the safe place.
Membership is a matter of the heart, not a formality. A member’s attitude is, “I belong; I am involved; I am submitted; I contribute.” It is the opposite of independence, anonymity, and consumerism. The church keeps you safe when you engage in meetings, build relationships, and submit to shepherds. Your attitude toward the church determines how well it can protect you.
The church protects because it is the body of Jesus Christ. He is its head, the one who ultimately cares for the members of his body through his body.
Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep, the chief Shepherd over the under-shepherds (see 1 Peter 5:1–2; John 21:15–17). It is he who ultimately keeps you from falling prey to wolves.
Jesus is the truth. It is he who ultimately enables you to pass the test of error by giving a love and ear for truth.
Jesus is the Word. It is he who gives the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and promises, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Luke 21:33).
And so it is Jesus Christ who faithfully helps you pass the test from false teaching and prove true to him. As you do your part to navigate through a world of errors, you can rest assured you are safe in the arms of Jesus.