We believe that God joyfully adopts broken, undeserving people through Jesus alone – not through good works or our local church membership. Joining a local church does not make anyone a Christian. Jesus does. When we respond to the good news of Jesus by trusting in him to reconcile us to God, God Himself brings us into His family. So, even before we join a local church, we are already members of the universal church – God’s rescued people from all times and all nations.
However, we believe that the local church is the means by which God has ordained that His people grow more fully into the image of Christ. This growth takes place as the church body corporately grows up into its head and chief leader, Jesus Himself. The local church community is where we encourage each other toward becoming a disciple who worships, abides in, and reflects King Jesus in all of life. As this happens, the world gives tangible, real-world witness and expression to the good news of Jesus and His Kingdom. Followers of Jesus can only live out many of Scripture’s teachings in real, local, recognizable communities of Christians. As Dallas Willard has said, “The church is still God’s best arrangement for His people.”
Though we firmly believe this to be so, it does not mean we are ignorant of many throughout history who have used organizing religious structures to exercise worldly power and control over its members. Though these institutions might have worn the label of “church,” we reject that the church is meant to function in this manner. Our prayer at New Eden is not to be perfect and finally “get it right.” We recognize we will make mistakes along the way. But we unashamedly hope to cultivate a culture of goodness, beauty, justice, and grace within our community. And as we are spiritually and communally formed, we trust God to bear fruit in our lives as we go on mission in our city and beyond.
For us, the leading factors in having church membership at New Eden are as follows:
We believe the pattern in Scripture is one of both members and leaders taking ownership within their local communities of faith (also known as churches). Taking this ownership requires some form of knowing who is committed to the local assembly.
We believe strongly in the call for elders to care for the flock God sends them, and this shepherding is not something the elders do forcefully. Membership allows elders to distinguish between those who desire to enter into that care and those who would rather receive more generally from the discipleship opportunities we offer.
We believe that the church is ultimately the bride of Jesus and that the cultivation of a healthy, life-giving church is the responsibility of its members, not just the church leaders. Membership allows elders to share that responsibility and authority in tangible ways.
MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
Review the Membership Commitments and our Statement of Beliefs.
Attend the two-week Covenant Member Class (or watch online below).
Fill out the Membership Request Form.
One of our elders will reach out and schedule a time to hear your story of belief in the good news of Jesus and review the elder and member commitments.
Verbally agree to the Member Commitments.
Receive your Welcome Letter into Membership at New Eden Church.