CHURCH-MEMBERSHIP by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 18, 1880

CHURCH-MEMBERSHIP.

By Editor

THOSE who are invited to become members of the Christian church, are required to make a confession of Christ, rather than a profession about themselves. But it is not to be disguised that many who might otherwise make that confession are prevented from doing so, because, so far as they can see, church-membership does very little good to those who enter into it. Now, in reply to such an allegation, it might be fair to say that even if it did not tend to promote the development of Christian character in those who enter into its ranks, the church, as a visible organization, is necessary for the maintenance of all aggressive evangelistic work at home, and for the diffusion of the gospel abroad. Those who make this objection forget that they are themselves indebted to the church-membership of others for the Christian privileges which they enjoy, and for all the knowledge which they have of the gospel of Christ, and it is only fair that they should take their part in securing for others the benefactions which others have conferred upon them. If all who "believe with the heart" were to act as they do, the church would die out in a generation or two, and thus the world would be deprived of all those beneficent agencies which are sustained and carried on under its influence. Thus for the sake of others, if not for their own, it would still be their duty to enroll themselves among those who confess that Christ is Lord.—Christian at Work.