Does the Lord Want You to
Join the Church Organization?
The Rev. Kenneth J. Alden
I
n the General Church of the New Jerusalem we carefully distinguish between
the church organization that we see and the church whose members are
known to the Lord alone. These latter are the people who have the church in
them: the universal church in the case of people who have some measure of
faith in God, charity or goodwill toward their neighbor, and who live according
to God’s commandments; and the specific church in the case of those who
worship the Lord Jesus Christ as God, and who know and believe the truths of
the Word and live by them.
Baptism serves as a sign that, spiritually, a person is in the specific church
(if an adult), or is being prepared to be in it (if not yet an adult). Baptism serves
as a meaningless, hypocritical or false sign if a person, after baptism, turns
away from the Lord and from living according to His commandments.
Adults who have been baptized are eligible for membership in the General
Church. This is an organization, visible to people in the natural world, and
formed for the purpose of worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ and propagating
the Heavenly Doctrine. “Worship” suggests not only the familiar activities of
the Sunday service, but all that is implied by honoring the Lord: refusing to
do or intend anything that goes against His will and doing His will by serving
the neighbor such that the Lord’s heavenly kingdom increases in numbers
and quality. Propagating likewise implies not only a physical act of publishing
Swedenborg’s theological Writings, but also making them available to people
in ways that they may be sown in people’s thoughts, affections and lives.
Although there are direct benefits for ourselves in joining the Church, we
benefit most when we join it for the sake of benefitting others. For one thing,
what we can do for others’ spiritual life is enhanced and multiplied by the
support and reinforcement of others with similar goals and complementary
principles.
Parents often find it easier to teach their children about the Lord and His
Word when they also bring their children to church and Sunday school and
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