What is Creekside all about? Our purpose is to obey Christ’s commission to go into all the world and make disciples. We are here in central Iowa to multiply disciples that focus on worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and outreach.

WHY MEMBERSHIP?

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, according to Romans 12:12-13 you are a member of the universal church, the body of Christ. But the Bible does not envision the Christian life as one lived apart from other believers. The Bible is clear that members of the universal church are to be actively and intimately involved in local churches. Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

So why have church membership? Can you just attend a church and participate without becoming a member? While there is no specific command in the Bible for churches to officially recognize their members, we see the example of the early believers who met each week and were very devoted to each other. And we believe there are a couple of very compelling reasons to practice church membership.

1. COMMITMENT

Formal membership enables you to nail down a relationship to a group of believers with whom you can fellowship, serve, and be accountable to.  Church membership says, “I’m committed to a people, a people who hear the word of God preached, a people who perform the ordinances that Jesus gave to his church (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), and a people who commit to the ‘one another’ commandments (love each other, exhort each other, admonish each other, hold each other accountable).”

When you commit to a local church in membership, you are committing to not only attending there and participating in the Sunday morning services, but you are committing to a church body: to using your spiritual gifts to build God’s kingdom there, to being involved in church activities, and experiencing fellowship at a deeper level.

2. ACCOUNTABILITY

This idea is also a struggle in a culture that strongly values individual freedom. When you commit to a church in church membership, you place yourself under the authority and teaching of the leadership of that church. You also enter into relationships with other believers who will help hold you accountable in areas you may struggle. Accountability also allows for the Biblical practice of church discipline, spelled out in Matthew 18:15-17, where Jesus gives a detailed process for dealing with sin in the church. While the term “church discipline” can sound unloving, it’s actually an act of love that can free a professing believer from sin (1 Cor. 5:5), warn others of sin’s danger (1 Tim. 5:20), purify the church as a whole (1 Cor. 5:7), present a more faithful witness (Matt. 5;16; John 13:34-35), and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12).

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

1. Be a born-again Christian who has trusted in Christ alone for your salvation (John 3:3).

2. Attend a newcomers lunch.

3. Be willing to embrace the overall direction and essential beliefs of Creekside and be willing to submit to the Elders (Hebrews 13:17).

4. Meet briefly with a couple elders/deacons for a personal interview.

5. Be formally recognized by the congregation during a Sunday morning service.

Expectations of members:

1. Regularly attend one of our Sunday morning services and participate in our small group ministry (Hebrews 10:25-26).

2. Give financially regularly to Creekside Church (2 Corinthians 8-9).

3. Seek to honor God by living a godly lifestyle as outlined in Scripture (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 3:18). Members can be subject to church discipline as outlined in Matt. 18:15-18 for major, unrepentant sins that hurt the body of Christ.

4. You must promote unity in the church and not division through gossip, slander, backbiting etc. If you have a grievance or concern that you cannot resolve on your own or with the help of another believer, please approach one of the leaders for help to resolve it.

5. Seek to win others to Christ through personal relationships.

We’d love for every individual in our congregation (every generation, old and young) to make a serious commitment to Christ and Creekside, to worship, to personal growth and discipleship, to service and outreach. We need this “every member ministry” in order to fulfill God’s Great Commandment and Great Commission.

Our doors are open to anyone, including those who are attracted to the same sex, and all are welcome to attend our services and events. In terms of what we affirm, Creekside acknowledges God’s design and purposes for relationships and marriage as described in the Bible. In Genesis we read that God created human beings as male and female, and the complementary, relational nature of the human race as “male and female” reflects the created order given by God when He created human beings “in His image”. While the significance of marriage goes beyond the regulation of sexual behavior (the bearing and raising of children and the union between Christ and the church) we acknowledge that Scripture grants two options for sexual behavior: monogamous marital relations between a man and woman, or celibacy—both are gifts of God.

If you’re attracted to the same sex, don’t check out yet. We want to be clear where we stand, but also clear that we want to listen to your struggles and walk alongside you on this issue.

We distinguish between same-sex attraction, sinful lust, self-selected identification, and sexual behavior. Temptation, including sexual attractions, is not sin. Sin is yielding to temptation in heart or deed. Not all agree on the source of homosexual attraction, whether it arises out of social, genetic, or a combination of factors. In any case, we believe such attractions (along with every sinful desire) are a result of life in a universe broken by the effects of disobedience to God. We’re all born into sin and in need of the forgiveness and redemption that comes from the gospel.

We give special attention to this issue here only because a clear and Biblical response is necessary in a culture that has challenged the historical understanding of marriage and sexuality. But more broadly, we affirm that ALL sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful. Homosexual behavior is specifically condemned as sin in the Bible, but so are a host of other activities.

Creekside will not compromise the biblical standard for sexuality, but at the same time know we must treat everyone, including those who struggle with same-sex attraction, with gentleness, compassion, and love, while pointing them to the only hope any of us have, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are “welcoming” but not “affirming”, seeking ways to minister to and support those among us who struggle with same-sex attractions, and help those who have gay friends or family members. While we empathize, we encourage behavior that follows the clear divine teachings of Scripture. In view of this, we affirm celibacy and singleness within the church family for those with same-sex attractions.

For more on this topic, please see A Creekside Statement on Human Sexuality