Are you a Parasitic Christian?

To understand this query, we must first look at what a Christian is. Point blank it's a member of the body of Christ.  Humanly speaking,  a member of the human body is a part that serves a purpose to contribute to the overall health and functionality of the body. (ie hands, feet, ears, eyes, etc.)

Ephesians 4:16 speaks of the body of Christ, "from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
From this verse, we can see that there is unity in the body as it functions together for the overall health and goals of the spiritual body of Christ.  

So what is church membership? 

Many local church organizations ‘sell’ church memberships as being accepted into the body of Christ. Their idea of church membership is often a person or family that is baptized in the church or entered the church by written testimony AND pays their tithes to be in good standing.  We feel this is an unbiblical practice as no man or man-made organization has the authority to declare if a person is saved, forgiven, or in any other way a member of the Body of Christ. The authority is God’s alone and frankly, we don’t have a say in who is in and who is out. Our position then is that church membership is membership in the Global Body of Christ rather than a local congregation (often called a church) or local expression of that body. That said there are many benefits the Christian will experience as a member of the Body, primarily Peace with God. However, we also experience Love, Joy, Forgiveness, and Conviction/Correction from God.  While we stress the importance of the Global Body of Christ, being a ‘member’ or active participant in a local congregation is vital to your faith. Participating in a local congregation promotes spiritual growth and gives the believer an opportunity to use the gifts the Lord has given him to promote the overall health of the body.

Hebrews 10:25 warns us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” How can we be encouraged if we are not together? How can we serve and exhort others if we are not doing life with them? Just as the human body must have every part working effectively to be healthy, so it is with the Body of Christ. What is your function in the body?  Are you effectively serving your purpose?

So what is a Parasitic Christian?

A parasite is an organism that lives on, or in, a host and gets its food from, or at the expense of, its host.

With this understanding, we could say a 'Parasitic Christian' is one who neglects to meet the needs of the body. It is one who is disconnected or disjointed, they may intentionally, or inadvertently, cause dysfunction in the local body because they fail to do their part. Ultimately, it is one who does not produce fruit. As Jesus warns in John 15:2 " Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  Further in vs 6, He explains that these branches that don't abide in him are cast into the fire.  

How can you avoid being a parasite in your local congregation? In short; serve. Do not neglect meeting together, encourage, and be encouraged! Discover your function in the body of Christ and lean into your calling. This promotes health in the body and unity in working together for Christ.


Full sermon from Pastor Steve Kerns