“So, Why Must I Be A GPC Member?”

When someone said that one of the purposes of church membership was for discipline, I was taken aback. Was joining the church formally merely a gateway to correction?

This left me initially shocked and, admittedly, somewhat amused. It seemed almost laughable. It sounded like we signed up to be part of a community just to be reprimanded when we stepped out of line.

Just like my Lord Jesus, who gave Himself up for me and committed Himself to me in love.”

But as I mulled over his words, I realised that his stark view stirred a deeper reflection within me about what church membership truly meant.

The concept of discipline, so starkly put, felt harsh at first. But it opened a door to a more significant understanding of accountability and growth within a church family. Discipline, I came to understand, wasn't just about correction but about nurturing - a way to guide each other back with love when we stray.

The more I thought about it, the more I saw the parallels between church membership and other committed relationships, like marriage. When you marry, you don’t do so just to have someone who will point out your faults. You marry for commitment, for companionship, for support, for building a life together based on respect and mutual love in Christ. Similarly, becoming a church member is about more than attending services. It's about becoming part of a living, breathing organism - a family that grows, celebrates, and yes, sometimes corrects, together.

This realisation shifted my perspective. I began to see membership not as a burden but as a bond. It's about making a public commitment to a community of faith, declaring, "I am part of this." It's about contributing to decision-making, supporting one another in times of need, and participating fully in the life of the church.

Moreover, in the light of crises or challenges, this bond of membership means you don't just walk away. You stay and work through the issues, just as you would with family. You're invested in the welfare of the community, not just as a recipient of its benefits but as a contributor to its well-being.

Reflecting on these aspects, I found my reasons for becoming a church member deepening. It was about belonging, yes, but also about contributing and growing together in faith and love. It’s about being part of something larger than myself, where collectively we strive to embody the teachings of Christ, living out our faith in real, tangible ways.

This perspective of discipline might not resonate with everyone at first glance. The idea of membership as a path to personal and communal growth through love and service might get overshadowed by the daunting idea of discipline. Yet, I believe that understanding the full scope of what it means to be a member can transform our approach to church life. It turns membership from a mere status into an active, vibrant part of our spiritual journey as followers of Jesus.

“So, why must I be a GPC member?”

For anyone standing at the threshold of this decision, consider this: church membership is your way to say, "I am here, not just to receive but to give, not just to be served but to serve, not just to be loved but to love. Just like my Lord Jesus, who gave Himself up for me and committed Himself to me in love."

In this shared journey, our lives are weaved together as one united and committed body in Jesus. We build a Gospel-centred church, rich with different expressions of our shared faith as Christ’s missional disciples. So that Bukit Timah, Singapore, and even the watching world may look at this church family and say, “Surely God is real and He is really among them!” (1 Corinthians 14:25)

In Missional Spirit,

Pastor Forest