THC's Policy for Accepting Christians

What is the Purpose of “Church”?

Matthew 28:18-20 –

“18 And Jesus came and said to them [disciples], “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Simply put, the purpose of the Church is the “win the lost” and “make disciples”.

We know this was Jesus’ timeless call to His followers because of the last part of verse 20. Jesus promises to be with us (His followers) “to the end of the age” as we go about and make disciples of all nations.
 
Why Should We Have a Process for Christians Joining The Home Church?

Though it may sound exclusive and off-putting. The three primary reasons we want to be careful of which Christians we allow to join our church are:

1. Making Sure One Has a Valid Reason to Leave Former Church –

There is a strong “church-hopping” culture across churches today. When Christians bounce around from church-to-church they stifle their own growth as well as the local churches ability to achieve their mission. The sad truth is that too many Christians don’t see the local church as a place they need to invest in like a marriage (through the good times and the difficult times).

* Now, we do recognize that there are good reasons to leave a church in search of a new one (move to a new city, church closes down, etc.) but we want to make sure that one is coming to The Home Church with biblical/valid reasons for leaving their former church. If we allowed Christians, who left their former churches for invalid/unbiblical reasons, to join The Home Church, it will hurt us in the long-term.

2. Making Sure We Know What One Believes - 

What does this person believe? Is THC the best fit for one's doctrinal beliefs/preferences? Does one understand what THC believes?

This process allows for these issues to be addressed.

3. Making Sure One Understands Church Membership Commitment at THC –

At The Home Church, we have a Church Membership process which allows our members to understand what committing to THC looks like. After the classes, one commits to The Home Church through the Church Membership Covenant (see “The Home Church Covenant” at end).

At The Home Church, one cannot serve in any of our ministries unless they are a covenanted member of The Home Church. Why is this? Well, first of all serving is a blessing and a privilege.

But also, we believe that it is the church member’s responsibility to serve at The Home Church. Anyone who serves represents The Home Church.

Paul said in Ephesians 4:11-12 –

“11 And he [Jesus] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

It is the Pastor’s job to equip/train the members (“saints”).

It is the Member’s job to do the “work of ministry”/"build up the church”.

Our aim is to be a church that equips members to “win the lost” and “make disciples”. This aim is more important than our Praise Team, Children’s Ministry, Programs, Production on Sundays, or our Greeting Table. We can have excellent programs and ministries in the church, but if we aren’t actively engaging in “winning the lost” and “making disciples”, we miss the point of “Church”!

Any Christian that joins our church needs to fully embrace this mission and must commit to our primary strategy for how we achieve this mission:

“House Church”.

This process is important for those who desire to join THC because it gives them time to pray and evaluate to see if they can meet such a commitment at this time in their life.

If a Christian wants to join The Home Church, they would need to take "Church Membership" classes within 6 months.
 
What is Church Membership?

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Cor. 12:14)

“It is impossible to be in Christ and not belong to others. A Christian, by definition, has a connection with and a responsibility to other Christians. You cannot claim Christ and avoid his people.”   - Sam Allberry

~ Church Membership is the formal process for Christians joining and committing to The Home Church.
 
Why is Church Membership a Good Thing?

1. Consumeristic Culture – The reality is that “church-hopping” is very common. When people “pick” & “choose” churches, jumping back and forth, it makes it increasingly difficult for churches to make an impact for the Kingdom of Jesus.

~ Church Membership helps in protecting the local church from future pains of people leaving their church for unbiblical reasons because they come to understand what commitment to a local church looks like.  

2. Accountability – In becoming a member, one understands that they want to commit to The Home Church.  

~ In Church Membership, you are, willingly, asking for a greater level of expectation than just a normal “Sunday-only-Attender”. You take “ownership” of The Home Church and see your time, talents, & treasures as a crucial part of how The Home Church grows in spiritual maturity and in engaging the “mission” Jesus gave us (“winning the lost and making disciples”).

3. Clarity – What does The Home Church believe? If I stay here for a long time, what will be expected of me? What part do I play in THC’s future? How can I pray and serve more effectively? How can I align my gifts in accordance with the mission of The Home Church?

~ In Church Membership, you learn more about the function and mission of The Home Church and your part in it!

4. Biblical – Plainly said, church membership is simply reinforcing what the New Testament already makes plain when it comes to what it means to “belong” to a Church.

The descriptions of the Early Church, as found in the New Testament, “assume” a great level of commitment that the members had to one another.

~ Church Membership classes simply reinforce what the New Testament already makes plain about what it means to “belong” to one another.  
 
So… What are the Requirements for a Christian Joining The Home Church?

1. Sit Down Meeting w/Pastor Mitchell –

2. Willingness to Embrace Vision of THC – “Winning the Lost and Making Disciples”.

3. Attend an "A.S.K. Meeting" Within 3 Months. (Sign up link here)

4. Join a House Church & Regularly Attend.

5. Regularly Attend our Sunday Corporate Worship.

6. Became an Official Member of THC by Taking Church Membership Classes and Agreeing to Membership Covenant Within 6 Months.
 
A Final Word…

I know there are plenty of awesome churches in the area that have more ministries and programs than we do. There are plenty of churches that don't ask for this level of commitment from their congregation. Many of these churches are great places to grow and they all have plenty of needs themselves, so if you decide to go to one of these churches, that is totally fine.

Church is essential for Christians. It’s not supplemental to our faith, it's essential to it! Our spiritual growth and obedience to Jesus is directly tied to our commitment to a local church! A Christian without a church is like a child without parents. Church is a place that all of us need for our spiritual growth.

But I also think that Church is meant to be a training center that prepares Christians to “reach the lost” and “make disciples”. Sometimes we, as Pastors and church leaders, focus too much on creating a church for the Christian rather than training and mobilizing Christians to engage in the unchurched as a response to the Great Commission our Lord gave us. This concerns me as a Pastor and I believe too much of Western “individualism/consumerism” has crept into our understanding of finding a church “for me”.

I hope you understand why we, at The Home Church, are trying to be selective of which Christians we allow to join our church. It's not that we don't want people to come to our church - we do!

We simply want to foster a strong spiritual culture where I, the Pastor, prepare you, the church members, to "do the work of ministry" (Ephesians 4:11-12) and to do your part in the "mission" Jesus gave us (Matthew 28:18-20).

Take the next couple of months to come to our church on Sundays and get to know our people and what we are all about. You are more than welcome to continue to come on Sundays as you pray and consider if our church is where the Lord leads you to grow in and commit to.

If you are interested in making The Home Church your "home church" I would love to sit down with you, answer any questions you may have, and talk about how to fulfill your commitments. You can sign up to meet with me here.

If you feel you are unable to make the commitments of our membership here, but need help finding a church in the area – I’d be more than willing to help connect you to several great churches in the area.

Praying for you as you find a church where you can worship and grow.

Let me know if you have any questions or would like to know how to go forward.

- Pastor Mitchell Perez

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