Member

I finally did it.

I became a member of a church.

I have been a believer for at least 16 years. Today is Kaytee's sweet sixteenth birthday. I was planning on spending this day with her until she informed me that she'd rather hang out with her boyfriend. I wasn't surprised at all...
so I signed up for the bayside 101 class. A 4 hour crash course on what Bayside is all about.
I've never understood why churches always want you to become a member? Here are the reasons they gave...
1. Because Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. see Ephesians 5:25
2. Commitment
3. Membership tells the church who they can count on.
4. Putting down roots produce spiritual growth.

But do you want to know what really sold me? As I was reading through their core beliefs, I read this...

In non-essential beliefs- we have LIBERTY. "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters...Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Romans 14: 1,4,12,22

Folks, I've never seen a church use this verse. Especially in their core beliefs. Agree to disagree? Be tolerant and above all love your neighbor? I have never found a church that I agree so much with. Everything is biblically based. Nothing weird or crazy. Ah, I have found my home.

I knew what becoming a member would mean. There are things I would be expected to do. Most of them I have already been doing and the results in my life have been amazing. First let me tell you what it means to be a member and then I will tell you which ones I will need to start doing...

Being a member means I will...
1. protect the unity of my church
a. by acting in love toward other members (I think it applies to everyone, dah)
b. by refusing to gossip
c. by following the leaders (cool, like kindergarten!)

2. share the responsibility of my church
a. by praying for it's growth
b. by inviting the unchurched to attend
c. by warmly welcoming those who visit

3. serve the ministry of my church
a. by discovering my gifts and talents
b. by living a godly life
c. by developing a servant's heart

4. support the testimony of my church
a. by attending faithfully
b. by living a godly life (isn't that in number 3?)
c. by giving regularly

Doesn't that sound easy? What in the world was holding me back? I know what you're thinking...but Kathy, it says GIVE regularly! Does that mean tithe?

Yep. And I've already been doing it. I started tithing 10% of my income over 3 months ago. In fact, I tithe 20% of what Michael gives me for child support and alimony. Why? Because when I was married, tithing was not something we agreed on. He didn't want to and since the idea of giving that much money was so scary, I found it far to easy not to do it. But guess what...I was only hurting our family. Now that I'm single I make my own financial decisions and I figured that giving Michael's portion might help along with regular prayers for him. Last month I stumbled upon a Bible verse that actually supports my theory.
"And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living." Hebrews 7: 7,8. Not that I think Michael is lesser! We are equal.

Tithing is not about money. It's about commitment and faith. Though I was a Christian, I never trusted God to take care of my needs financially. Even when we made almost 100k a year. Now I am single with 2 teenagers and I am finally trusting God and giving him what is indeed his. He gave me everything I have. How can I steal from God? How can I say it is not fair for him to ask this of me? I gave him my life because he gave his for me. I love him because he first loved me.
God loves a cheerful giver...and I will rejoice that I am able to give.
So it's been 3 months and I have just as much as I did before. My bills still get paid. We go on trips (skiing last weekend). I have not cut back on anything (except eating out when I'm working). I can't explain it, but it's true. He is faithful, so I will be too.

Here is what the Bible says about tithing...

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this' says the Lord 'and see if I won't throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you won't have enough room for it!" Malachi 3:10
This is the ONLY place in the Bible that God asks us to test him.

So what I am not doing that I need to do?
Find a small group, get connected. Going to Church every Sunday is great, but I need to be involved in a small group where people can get to know me, pray for me and support me and vise versa. There are a bunch. I'm considering an art group or one that helps parents with their teenagers. Also I want to start helping out with the homeless. I already give my hotel shampoos and soaps to this group who minister to the homeless on the last sunday of every month. I'd like to ride along and help.

Faith without action is dead. Talk is cheap. I want to be like Christ...so I will DO what Christ did...love others.

I will end this post with an awesome quote...

"Beware of spending too much time looking back at what you once were, when God wants you to become something you have never been!"
Oswald Chambers