I want to start by saying THANK YOU. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re already getting pretty involved and committed at Bluff First. That means the world to us. 
But what’s the deal with church membership? If everyone can belong here, why does it matter if I “officially” join?

While you won’t find the words “church membership” in your Bible, it is an answer to some legitimate questions for us.
 

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) says: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

This verse raises two questions:

1. Which LEADERS should a Christian follow or submit themselves to? 

2. Who will I, as a PASTOR, give an account to God for? Everyone?

Other passages raise a third question, how do we practice church discipline without defined members?

I think you we’d agree that you don’t have to do what every preacher on TV tells you to do. I thank God that I won’t stand before Him and give an account for every Christian that’s ever lived. And everyone is thankful that we don’t have to get in the middle of every messy situation and place sinners under “citizens arrest” for violating our beliefs. That would be absurd!

The Bible may not say “church membership” but it does speak of elections, elders, programs with enrollments, and handling church affairs in an organized, orderly way. 

We believe that God’s plan is that we as Christians commit to and belong to local churches. That a good sermon online isn’t enough if we are physically able to be present with a community of faith. That the local church would provide us with protection and when needed, even correction. That it would help us grow and help us serve. We believe church is not just a buffet for us to consume, but something we contribute to.

Church membership requires Biblical humility, Christlike submission, Godly obedience, and Biblical accountability.

Our members meet 8 qualifications that you’ll read about below.
MANY people will attend church, join a small group, be baptized, even start serving, without ever joining. Membership is not a requirement or exclusive club. 
However, our heart is that all who are willing would join us in willfully coming under neath this spiritual umbrella and covering. That we would enter a covenant with one another to put each other first and to sacrificially serve each other. 

With that commitment and responsibility come some unique privileges such as having a voice and a vote when it comes to electing your pastor, choosing deacons, amending our bylaws, purchasing or selling land, and so forth. The committed are the people we want prayerfully making those decisions. And so church membership helps us take this jumbled bag of individual marbles and try to become more like a connected cluster of grapes. 

Maybe we can keep reaching people without losing our marbles :). 
Again thank you for considering taking this step, feel free to reach out with any questions. 

– Pastor T.J. 

Bluff First Membership Requirements
 

According to Article 1, Section 1 of our Constitution and Bylaws, official church membership is open to any applicant who meets the following qualifications

1. A testimony to an experience of the “new birth.”
2. Have been baptized in water by immersion, post-conversion.
3. Evidence of a consistent Christian life.
4. An indication of a willingness to tithe regularly to the financial support of the church of which they are to become a member. (tithe = giving 1/10th or 10% of income)
5. Acceptance of the Tenets of Faith.*
6. Having reached at least 16 years of age.
7. Having regularly attended services of, and supported, this assembly for a period of at least three consecutive months prior to the date of application for membership.  
8. Agreement to being governed by the bylaws of this assembly, and of the Southern Missouri District Council of the Assemblies of God.
 
The official church board, chaired by the Lead Pastor, will review all application and determine the eligibility of all applicants.
 
Members who fall below the standards of membership, in faith or in practice, may be removed from the list of voting members if patient efforts to restore do not succeed. Members who stop attending or financially supporting the church for a month or more may be moved to “inactive” status, except in the cases of disability or other special circumstance. 
 
*The “Tenets of Faith” can be viewed at: https://ag.org/Beliefs/Statement-of-Fundamental-Truths
 
In summary, the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God are beliefs in…
– The Scriptures Inspired
– The One True God
– The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
– The Fall of Man
– The Salvation of Man
– The Ordinances of the Church
– The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
– The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
– Sanctification
– The Church and Its Mission
– The Ministry
– Divine Healing
– The Blessed Hope
– The Millennial Reign of Christ
– The Final Judgment
– The New Heavens and the New Earth
If you agree with these commitments, your application will go to our pastors. They will confirm with our treasurer that there is evidence of at least 3 months of attendance & financial support/tithing. If that is not the case, or some other requirement hasn’t been met yet (like baptism) then we will reach out and let you know why we pressed “pause” on processing your application. Otherwise, our board will process your approved application at our next board meeting, which shouldn’t be more than 1-2 months away. Upon acceptance we will reach out in congratulations and recognize all new members at or before our next Annual Business Meeting.