When an individual is saved, he becomes a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13, 27) together with other members of the body. But when one puts himself under the membership of a church, he is committed to the purposes of that particular church which generally include – instruction of God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2), serving one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11), administering the sacraments (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:42), and proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matthew 28:18-20). In addition, when one becomes a member of a church, he submits himself to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified shepherds that God has placed in that church.

Biblical Basis for Church Membership
Although the Scriptures do not contain any explicit command to formally join and be a member of a local church, the biblical foundation for church membership permeates the New Testament. This biblical basis can be seen most clearly in (1) the early church and (2) the church government.

1) Example of the early church- In the early church, when one received Christ, one becomes a member of the universal church. Believers were baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). More than simply living out a private commitment to Christ, they joined together formally with other believers in a local assembly and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). Also notice that the epistles of the New Testament were written to churches spread across the known world, thus the New Testament epistles themselves demonstrate the assumption that believers would be committed to a local assembly in their area.

2) Existence of church government – The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that it is the responsibility of the shepherds to oversee the local body of believers. The specific duties given to church leaders are: to shepherd God’s people.  (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2); to labor diligently among them (1 Thessalonians 5:12); to have charge over them (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17); and to keep watch over their souls (Hebrews 13:17). The shepherds need to give an account to God for the individuals allotted to their charge (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:3). However, leaders can shepherd the people and give an account to God for their spiritual well-being only if they know who they are; they can provide oversight only if they know those for whom they are responsible; and they can fulfill their duty to shepherd the flock only if they know who is part of the flock. The leaders of a church cannot be responsible for the spiritual well-being of every individual who visits the church or who attends sporadically. They can only be responsible for those who have submitted themselves to the care and the authority of the leaders, and this is done through church membership.

I recently realized the importance of this fact as I was asked to link up with some members of Charis whom we have not seen for awhile. Whilst talking with them, I was able to understand their whereabouts and spiritual wellbeing, thus creating opportunities for pastoral care and follow up. If they are non-members, who would be responsible to care for them? Would a newly appointed pastor who does not know them personally be able to care for them if not for a membership list which enables him to contact them?

Final Words
There are some who say that as long as they are committed Christians, there is no need for that “piece of paper” (membership). Church membership is not a piece of paper; it is not a country club membership card; it is not a discount coupon; it is not a passport to greater privileges. These are thwarted views of church membership. Church membership is really about being part of a family and being accountable. Yes, indeed we are in the family of Christ universally with God as our Father and Christ as our head, but notice that the body of Christ is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), and the church is the physical representation of God on earth. Why then should we not be a part of it? If one would argue that he is a committed Christian, then what’s to stop him from being committed to a local church, to be her member and pledge to serve her God’s given cause and vision? If he is not convinced to be a member of his present church, then go ahead and be a member of a church where he feels belonged, where he believes God is calling him to.  Rather than be an unaccounted non-member, he should be a formal member of a church so that there is accountability and a visible commitment to God’s call and direction for that church.

In conclusion, membership matters.

~ Ps Andy Goh

1. PREPARE YOURSELF – BODY, MIND AND SOUL – FOR WORSHIP.

In Exodus 19:10-11 the LORD commanded Moses to tell the people how they were to prepare to be in the LORD’s presence.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”

They were to take sufficient time, to consecrate themselves physically and mentally – putting on clean clothes, resting from their journey.

How do we prepare for Sunday worship service?
What is your Saturday night like?
Do you go to bed early so as to ensure you are up early so as to be punctual and alert during the service?

2. REMOVE ALL THINGS THAT DEFILE THE LORD’S SANCTUARY.

When King Hezekiah succeeded his father King Ahaz of Judah, he introduced comprehensive religious reform. He repaired and reopened the temple which his father, bent on pagan worship, had closed.  He told the people, “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.” (2 Chronicles 29:5)

This he did by “removing the high places [or shrines], smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.” (2 Kings 18:4)

He was committed to reviving the relationship between God and the people. He was not afraid even to destroy the bronze snake that God instructed Moses to make, as the people were worshipping it.

What might we be bringing to the sanctuary that defiles it?
• our unconfessed sins,
• an unrepentent spirit,
• unforgiveness or  hatred against a sister or brother,
• a judgemental or critical spirit,
• idols that control our thoughts and actions,
• a prideful or boastful spirit,
• offerings and sacrifices that are blemished, that cost us nothing …

3. WHEN IN THE LORD’S SANCTUARY

• Talk only to God
• Listen only to God
• Speak only with God

~ Kwok Wan Yee

Artist: Sheryl Crow
Album: Live in Central Park
Title: If It Makes You Happy

I’ve been long, a long way from here
Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes
And drank till I was thirsty again
We went searching through thrift store jungles
Found Geronimo’s rifle, Marilyn’s shampoo
And Benny Goodman’s corset and pen

Well, ok I made this up
I promised you I’d never give up

If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad

You get down, real low down
You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train
Well who hasn’t been there before?
I come round, around the hard way
Bring you comics in bed, scrape the mold off the bread
And serve you French toast again

Well, ok I still get stoned
I’m not the kind of girl you’d take home

If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad

We’ve been far, far away from here
Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes
And everywhere in between
Well, ok we get along
So what if right now everything’s wrong?

If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad

(Sheryl Crow / Jeff Trott)

Pastor found this song in the web by Sheryl Crow. It is very much the thinking of the times. The criterion for what is the right thing to do is “if it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad”, so just do it. We often think that such thinking belongs to those who have not found Christ. But you will be surprised how many Christians live by this very same criterion when it comes to choosing what is right to do or not to do. “If it makes me happy, I’ll do it. I’m not doing anyone harm, so what if it harms me, it’s just me. Nobody needs to know or care or be responsible. It’s my choice.”

I was quite struck by what Percy shared last week about Susanna’s Wesley’s advice to her children to apply her rule in their choices. No matter how innocent something may look, how plausible it may seem, avoid evil. Why should I avoid evil?

If you cherish what Christ has done for you: 2 Peter 2:20-22 “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” Don’t undo what the Lord has done.

If you are a part of the body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks [unbelievers] or the church of God — even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” How can the body’s witness not be compromised, when one part of it continues to singe in sin. Imagine leaving one finger in the fire, and the rest of the body is supposed to be immune to the pain.

The chief sin at the Holy Communion is to disregard your relationship to the body of Christ, the Church. When we would satisfy our own freedoms and liberties, are we doing it without taking the church into our considerations? We are no longer our own and no longer alone. We have been initiated into Christ’s body. Let us show our gratitude to the Lord in our choices, we say “no” to vomit, we do not make choices that compromise our loyalty to Christ and to His church. Susanna’s rule of thumb is still very helpful for us today. Use it frequently.

~ Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan

In that year, I only managed to complete my course work as I needed time to recuperate from exhaustion and also to re-connect with my girls. I had the privilege of studying under Dr Simon Chan, Dr Daniel Koh, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon and Mr Anthony Yeo. However, by the end of that year, the required thesis was left undone as there simply wasn’t time. I submitted my proposal the following year but the thesis committee did not find it acceptable. I laid it off for quite a while as I had started ministry again and was rather discouraged after my first attempt at the proposal. It was with the continual encouragement of the leaders in Charis MC that I continued to pursue the writing project. Bishop helped me to narrow the context of the study so that I could explore the topic in greater depth. Last year between January and April, I worked on my thesis with the blessings of the PPRSC. The PPRSC gave me a lot of flexibility with my work arrangements so that I could write and complete it. My Companions in Christ class kept me going with their encouragement too. I just know that I couldn’t have done it without all of you and God’s guidance.

The title of my thesis reads, “How two church fathers viewed the challenges in their pastoral ministries and the strategies that kept them to their calling.” The two church fathers that I made reference to in the thesis were both Eastern church fathers from the fourth century: Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. They gave me perspective about a lot of the situations that pastors find themselves in every now and then and the ways they coped and dealt with them.

If one wishes to survive the rigors of ministry, we need the following:
• A robust eschatological perspective of the purpose of our ministry and the rewards promised to us.
• A healthy fear of God
• Conferencing with the Lord frequently
• Deep spiritual friendships
• Growing one’s core identity as beloved son or daughter of God. 

Thank you all for being part of my journey in completing my studies. You are most welcome to attend my graduation at St Andrew’s Cathedral at 3.00pm on the 15th May. My only regret is that the venue may prove too small for all the guests. All glory be to God!

~ Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan

This day together with the raising of Lazarus are signs pointing beyond themselves to the mighty deeds and events which consummate Christ’s earthly ministry. The time of fulfilment was at hand. Christ’s raising of Lazarus points to the destruction of death and the joy of resurrection which will be accessible to all through His own death and resurrection. His entrance into Jerusalem is a fulfilment of the messianic prophecies about the king who will enter his holy city to establish a final kingdom. “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.” (Zechariah 9:9)

Finally, the events of these triumphant two days are but the passage to Holy Week: the “hour” of suffering and death for which Christ came. Thus the triumph in an earthly sense is extremely short-lived. Jesus enters openly into the midst of His enemies, publicly saying and doing those things which most enrage them. The people themselves will soon reject Him. They misread His brief earthly triumph as a sign of something else: His emergence as a political messiah who will lead them to the glories of an earthly kingdom.

Our Pledge
The liturgy of the Church is more than meditation or praise concerning past events. It communicates to us the eternal presence and power of the events being celebrated and makes us participants in those events. Thus the services of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday bring us to our own moment of life and death and entrance into the Kingdom of God: a Kingdom not of this world, a Kingdom accessible in the Church through repentance and baptism.

On Palm Sunday palm and willow branches are blessed in the Church. We take them in order to raise them up and greet the King and Ruler of our life: Jesus Christ. We take them in order to reaffirm our baptismal pledges. As the One who raised Lazarus and entered Jerusalem to go to His voluntary Passion stands in our midst, we are faced with the same question addressed to us at baptism: “Do you accept Christ?” We give our answer by daring to take the branch and raise it up: “I accept Him as King and God!”
 
Thus, on the eve of Christ’s Passion, in the celebration of the joyful cycle of the triumphant days of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, we reunite ourselves to Christ, affirm His Lordship lover the totality of our life and express our readiness to follow Him to His Kingdom:

“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)