Why Membership Matters (Part 1)
August 20th, 2008
The following is adapted from the Grace Church Elders’ Distinctives on Church Membership.
In a day when commitment is a rare commodity, it should come as no surprise that church membership is such a low priority to so many believers. Sadly, it is not uncommon for Christians to move from church to church, never submitting themselves to the care of elders and never committing themselves to a group of fellow believers.
To neglect—or to refuse—to join a church as a formal member, however, reflects a misunderstanding of the believer’s responsibility to the body of Christ. And it also cuts one off from the many blessings and opportunities that flow from this commitment. It is essential for every Christian to understand what church membership is and why it matters.
The Definition of Church Membership
When an individual is saved, he becomes a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Because he is united to Christ and the other members of the body in this way, he is therefore qualified to become member of a local expression of that body.
To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include receiving instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 Pet. 4:10-11), participating in the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42), and proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matt. 28:18- 20). In addition, when one becomes a member of a church, he submits himself to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified elders that God has placed in that assembly.
The Basis for Church Membership
Although Scripture does not contain an explicit command to formally join a local church, the biblical foundation for church membership permeates the New Testament. This biblical basis can be seen most clearly in (1) the example of the early church, (2) the existence of church government, (3) the exercise of church discipline, and (4) the exhortation to mutual edification.
The Example of the Early Church
In the early church, coming to Christ was coming to the church. The idea of experiencing salvation without belonging to a local church is foreign to the New Testament. When individuals repented and believed in Christ, they were baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). More than simply living out a private commitment to Christ, this meant joining together formally with other believers in a local assembly and devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
The epistles of the New Testament were written to churches. In the case of the few written to individuals—such as Philemon, Timothy and Titus—these individuals were leaders in churches. The New Testament epistles themselves demonstrate that the Lord assumed that believers would be committed to a local assembly.
There is also evidence in the New Testament that just as there was a list of widows eligible for financial support (1 Tim. 5:9), there may also have been a list of members that grew as people were saved (cf. Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). In fact, when a believer moved to another city, his church often wrote a letter of commendation to his new church (Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; Col. 4:10; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1-2).
In the book of Acts, much of the terminolgy fits only with the concept of formal church membership. Phrases such as “the whole congregation” (6:5), “the church in Jerusalem” (8:1), “the disciples” in Jerusalem (9:26), “in every church” (14:23), “the whole church” (15:17), and “the elders of the church” in Ephesus (20:17), all suggest recognizable church membership with well-defined boundaries (also see 1 Cor. 5:4; 14:23; and Heb. 10:25).
(To be concluded tomorrow)
Thank you for this excellent post. I appreciate the fact that this shows clear biblical support for the importance and priority of church membership. It is true that many view church membership has something that is of no significance. A very informative post!
I appreciate this one is very good and clearly except the phrase- “Although Scripture does not contain an explicit command to formally join a local church.” Please explain me about that clearly, Thanks. I see that this article stated that it should come as no surprise that church membership is such a low priority to so many believers. it causes us to confuse about that.
Pls repond me about that asap, Thanks.
Have a nice day!
“Although Scripture does not contain an explicit command to formally join a local church.”
The exhortion to become a member of a local church body is implied or inferred from other NT passages.
Ergo, if you’re a Bible-believing follower of Christ, then you’re commanded by Scripture (albeit indirectly) to join a local church.
TUaD said: “The exhortion to become a member of a local church body is implied or inferred from other NT passages.” and “…then you’re commanded by Scripture (albeit indirectly) to join a local church. ”
I’m not aware of anything in the NT that describes somebody “becoming” a member. I find this idea to be foreign to the bible. The last time I looked at all passages that dealt with membership, I remember every one of them being in the passive. Membership is not something we do, it is something that happens to us. I don’t recall a passage that puts membership in the active. (Please correct me if I’m wrong here.)
“…if you’re a Bible-believing follower of Christ, then you’re commanded by Scripture (albeit indirectly) to join a local church.”
You’re commanded to be a part of the body for the sake of using your God-given spiritual gifts to their effect and for their intended purpose. That is where your gifts will be put to use, but the entire concept of “membership” is, in Scripture, used to describe the believer’s position in Christ and how they relate to other believers: It is never explicitly used as some sort of second level to the Christian life that differentiates some Christians from other Christians. There is no “member” versus “regular attender”. You become a member of the body of Christ when you are saved and you naturally seek out the local gathering of the body. That’s all it is.
What I find is that churches that harp on “membership” as some sort of additional requirement placed on the believer above and beyond their TRUE membership, which is God-given in Christ by the Holy Spirit, are often those that insist on some extra-biblical requirement(s) being placed on believers before they will consider them a “member”. They (either ignorantly or purposefully) desire to imprison you in the very ways the apostles warn believers against, and they generally use peer pressure to bring it about. We are not to bind ourselves with any man-made, extra-biblical covenants, for example, at least if you are being obedient to the warnings against such in the word of God. It doesn’t matter how good the intentions are. That’s liberal theology – that intentions excuse poor practice or requirements that go beyond what Scripture requires. As a Christian you are not bound by such laws and will not be somehow inferior if you refuse such man-made shackles.
If anything, it’s a demonstration of a lack of faith to require such things of the flock temporarily entrusted to your care. It’s certainly unheard of in the Bible.
You wrote- “In fact, when a believer moved to another city, his church often wrote a letter of commendation to his new church (Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; Col. 4:10; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1-2″
These are not proof texts at all for your idea. While there are commendations alluded to, they are not proof that it was required and or expected. In the case of Apollos, he was a teacher, and needed an endorsement for this reason alone .
The 2 Cor 3 passage seems to refute you suggestion of church membership. Paul said that they didn’t need it from them, (for others). Not a strong argument here.
Love the blog, My wife and I attend a local church where membership is not required to attend. We submit ourselves to the pastor and elders. We worship freely and are accepted as part of the body. We tithe to this church and give in other offerings. When asked by community people where do we go church and who is our pastor we have no reservation about saying this is our home church. There is a casual membership drive once a year but no real pressure to join by signing a card. after reading the above basis for church membership I am not driven to sign on the dotted line. We love the body of christ as a whole and our home church in particular. our commitment to this body is and has been through thick and thin foover twenty years. the only major thing we are not able to do is vote on those issues that members would vote on. My pastor has told me he appreciates my prayers and council and confides in me at times when needed. I am currently teaching a mens bible study that our pastor and deacons attend. I have made this a long story to ask. Am we not members in the new testament church in our local community or is there somthing missing? Like mabey my signiture on a piece on paper….. WE ARE COMMITTED!!!